vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

5.08.2009

Room for talking

It appears that the legislative session will end Saturday. The House is scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. The Senate at 1 p.m.

Theoretically, the House will be voting on the budget, which the Senate has already approved.

But wait, is there still room for a deal with the governor so he won't veto the budget? Sen. Richard Mazza said he tried to get the governor and legislative leaders to talk Friday. Some talking went on, he said.

The governor, the speaker and the pro tem wouldn't deny it but also wouldn't admit it. As if they consider it a sign of weakness to acknowledge they are talking to each other. One sign that they were talking: Gov. Jim Douglas and Speaker Shap Smith both used identical language to say that the lines of communication remain open.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: legislature, politics, Vermont

posted by vt.Buzz | 10:38 PM |

Comments:

The Legislature -- incredibly -- couldn't resist increasing the budget and raising taxes, despite a free gift of, what, $150 million or so from the federal government?

I look forward to the Governor's veto of the budget.

That's a veto that Mr. Smith will not override.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:06 PM, May 08, 2009

The Senate leadership will once again throw the House under the bus and cave to the Governor. This has been the Senate's style for at least the last 20 years. Too many wannabe Governors!

# Posted by:

Older is Better | 8:21 AM, May 09, 2009

I'm disappointed that they did not include bonding to improve the roads as they are just terrible. A dedicated revenue stream to pay for the bond would cause minimal angst and would have the benefit of creating hundreds of jobs. It would also keep my car repairs down!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:04 PM, May 09, 2009

Oh, yeah!!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:34 PM, May 09, 2009

"Too many wannabe Governors!"

Gee, could the correct interpretation of that statement be that, when push comes to shove, and these panderers want to hold the top statewide office, they realize they need to be fiscally responsible, because that's who the statewide voters will elect to be Governor?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:31 AM, May 10, 2009

The list of Democrats that want to be Governor and want to beat Douglas now includes Peter Shumlin

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:37 AM, May 18, 2009