vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

3.08.2007

Legislative break time

The Legislature is, of course, off this week for its annual Town Meeting week recess. Gives legislators a chance to go home and hear from constituents, lets the business they're pondering settle into the folds of their brains, allows the Statehouse cafeteria crew to regroup and allows some legislators to work on their tans in tropical climes.

It wasn't always so. According to the state archivist's office, the Legislature has only taken the full week off regularly since 1996 (they would have shut down for Town Meeting Day, though). There's nothing in statutes prescribing the break. It's something the House and Senate agree to by joint resolution each year.

Gov. Jim Douglas, the Legislature's chief critic, suggested the break is inappropriate for a number of reasons: They didn't do it when he was in the Legislature; it's a break in momentum just as legislators are hitting the halfway point in the session; some legislators can't exactly just jump back into their real-life jobs for just a week, so there they are without pay from anywhere for a week; and it extends the session.

What's your take? Is it a healthy break that allows them to regroup or an unnecessary interruption?

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 2:14 PM |

Comments:

Taking a break for Town Meeting week is fine, if the crossover deadline - the deadline for bills to be reported out of committee in one house in order to be considered by the other house before the end of the session - were set on the Friday before Town Meeting, not, as is the case this year, the Friday of the week after Town Meeting. We all know from our real-world jobs how deadlines, especially deadlines just before vacations, concentrate the mind and force people to act. Plus, if the Education Committee had had to report its bill on school finance by last Friday, legislators would have had something concrete to take back to their town meetings, and Jim Douglas would have less of an opportunity to criticize them for not doing anything about property taxes.

Legislators should be paid an annual salary (actually a 4 1/2 month salary), not a weekly salary. That way they could take a break for 3 days and those who depend on the legislative salary don't get hurt. The salary should be based on the assumption that the session runs from the first week of January to May 15. If they can't finish their business by mid-May, too bad, they have to work without pay until they adjourn.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:13 PM, March 08, 2007

Let the career politician cast the first stone... Oh, he did. Someday, maybe Vermonters will force Douglas to have to work an actual job and then he might learn what it's like to be away from home for extended periods, wanting to get home and spend some time with your family. After Douglas is done boring Vermont to death, maybe he can go to work on his brother-in-law's farm. He could reduce the family's dependence on illegal immigrant workers.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:27 PM, March 08, 2007

I think it's foolish to argue about goofy little things like this.

There are larger issues that need to be addressed.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:37 PM, March 08, 2007

Jim Douglas and the Vermont GOP worked hard to get a friendly crowd to Wednesday's meeting.

Looking around the room showed a large number of local Republicans feeding the theme that Douglas is in charge and tha the legislature is at fault. Unfortunately, that's not true.

Douglas skims over the surface. He has proposed a 3% school speding cap but doesn't talk about the consequences. Which state mandated programs should be cut? What teachers who provide those services should be fired.

It's all so simple for the governor to give a 30 second sound bite and then walk away.

I've never been so disappointed in a governor who is really out of touch with reality.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:57 PM, March 08, 2007

Sticking to the topic, I don't like the break; two days would have been plenty. And I'm one of those gallant 150....

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:35 PM, March 08, 2007

nothing to prevent you from going in and doing some work. I don't think the statehouse is locked. Now, who are you going to blame? The janitor?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:52 PM, March 08, 2007

I agree, it's foolish to argue about this. I mean, the state legis-"not so much"-latures wouldn't get anything done either way.

hmmm.. ding ding ding. Point to me!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:24 PM, March 08, 2007

Todd I saw your face on TV

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:07 PM, March 08, 2007

"hmmm.. ding ding ding. Point to me!"

Yea, what amazing wit you have ... just don't quit your day job.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:25 AM, March 09, 2007

Something tells me that guy doesn't actually have a job to quit.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:27 AM, March 09, 2007

Week off is just an excuse for the President Pro-Tempore to work on his tan instead of the issues that Vermonters have told him are important to them. Hint - it ain't global warming

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:21 PM, March 09, 2007

All good senate pro tems (past and present) need a good tan!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:41 PM, March 11, 2007