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The Senate gave both preliminary and final approval to the bill Tuesday morning after Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden Central, proposed suspending the rules to expedite the process by a day.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth said he was open to revisiting what information senators are asked to disclose on their ethics forms. “I think it’s fair to say, in part because of your reporting, we’ll be discussing this and trying to figure out if the way we’re doing it makes sense,” he said.
The Legislature’s rules define a conflict so narrowly that they almost never prevent lawmakers from crafting and voting on bills — even when they or their employers stand to benefit financially.
As it’s currently written, Proposal 1 seeks to establish qualifications for Vermont sheriffs, following a series of scandals during the past year.
Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, was a vocal opponent of Vermont’s reproductive rights amendment. She believes her advocacy work led to her removal from the House Health Care Committee.