January 6, 2023 - Vermont Chamber of Commerce

State House Shakeup: Committee Assignments

January 6, 2023January 6, 2023

State House Shakeup: Committee Assignments

With substantial turnover in both the House and the Senate, many legislators find themselves on new committees, and some committees find themselves largely made up of new legislators. Some committee purview was also restructured, with the Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, being dissolved, and the Committee on Energy and Technology Committee expanding to undertake those policy areas. Additionally, military affairs have moved from the Committee on General and Housing to the Committee on Government Operations. In a biennium that also welcomes a new President Pro Tempore of the Senate and three new statewide elected officials, the shuffle seems to be the theme of the session so far.

Key Senate Committee Assignments

Appropriations
Sen. Jane Kitchel, Chair, D-Caledonia
Sen. Andrew Perchlik, Vice Chair, D/P-Washington*
Sen. Richard Westman, R-Lamoille
Sen. Robert Starr, D-Orleans
Sen. Dick Sears Jr., D-Bennington
Sen. Philip Baruth, D/P-Chittenden-Central
Sen. Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, D-Chittenden-Southeast*

Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Chair, D-Chittenden-Southeast
Sen. Alison Clarkson, Vice Chair, D-Windsor
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin
Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington*
Sen. Wendy Harrison, D-Windham**

Finance
Sen. Ann Cummings, Chair, D-Washington
Sen. Mark A. MacDonald, Vice Chair, D-Orange
Sen. Christopher Bray, D-Addison
Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden-Southeast
Sen. Thomas Chittenden, D-Chittenden-Southeast*

Natural Resources and Energy
Sen. Christopher Bray, Chair, D-Addison
Sen. Anne Watson, Vice Chair, D/P-Washington**
Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor
Sen. Mark A. MacDonald, D-Orange
Sen. Rebecca White, D-Windsor

Key House Committee Assignments

Appropriations
Rep. Diane Lanpher, Chair, D-Vergennes*
Rep. Robin Scheu, Vice Chair, D-Middlebury
Rep. Patrick Brennan, Ranking Member, R-Colchester*
Rep. Tiffany Bluemle, D-Burlington*
Rep. Eileen Dickinson, R-St. Albans Town*
Rep. Katherine “Kari” Dolan, D-Waitsfield*
Rep. James Harrison, R-Chittenden
Rep. Rebecca Holcombe, D-Norwich**
Rep. Marc Mihaly, D-East Calais**
Rep. Woodman Page, R-Newport*
Rep. Trevor Squirrell, D-Underhill
Rep. Tristan Toleno, D-Brattleboro

Commerce & Economic Development
Rep. Michael Marcotte, Chair, R-Newport
Rep. Stephanie Jerome, Vice Chair, D-Brandon
Rep. Logan Nicoll, Ranking Member, D-Ludlow
Rep. Kirk White, D/P-Bethel
Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington
Rep. Heather Chase, D-Chester**
Rep. Edye Graning, D-Jericho**
Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, P/D-Burlington
Rep. Monique Priestley, D-Bradford**
Rep. Jarrod Sammis, R-Castleton**
Rep. Jonathan Williams, D-Barre City**

Environment and Energy
Rep. Amy Sheldon, Chair, D-East Middlebury
Rep. Laura Sibilia, Vice Chair, I-West Dover*
Rep. Seth Bongartz, Ranking Member, D-Manchester
Rep. Paul Clifford, R-Rutland**
Rep. Kate Logan, P/D-Burlington**
Rep. Kristi Morris, D-Springfield
Rep. Avram Patt, D-Worcester
Rep. Larry Satcowitz, D-Randolph
Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins, D-Burlington**
Rep. Brian Smith, R-Derby*
Rep. Dara Torre, D-Moretown**

House General & Housing
Rep. Thomas Stevens, Chair, D-Waterbury
Rep. Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, Vice Chair, D-Middletown Springs*
Rep. Kathleen James, Ranking Member, D-Manchester Center*
Rep. Ashley Bartley, R-Fairfax**
Rep. Elizabeth Burrows, D/P-West Windsor*
Rep. Caleb Elder, D-Starksboro*
Rep. Mary E. Howard, D-Rutland
Rep. Emilie Krasnow, D-South Burlington**
Rep. Dennis LaBounty, D-Lyndon
Rep. Larry Labor, R-Morgan
Rep. Saudia LaMont, D-Morrisville**
Rep. Joseph Parsons, R-Newbury

Ways and Means
Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, Chair, D-Brattleboro
Rep. William Canfield, Vice Chair, R-Fair Haven
Rep. Carl Demrow, Ranking Member, D-Corinth*
Rep. Julia Andrews, D-Westford**
Rep. Peter Anthony, D-Barre City
Rep. Scott Beck, R-St. Johnsbury
Rep. Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgia
Rep. James Masland, D-Thetford
Rep. Christopher Mattos, R-Milton
Rep. Carol Ode, D-Burlington
Rep. Katherine Sims, D-Craftsbury*
Rep. Curt Taylor, D-Colchester*

* New to the committee
** New to the legislature

January 6, 2023

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Chairs Take the Helm in Key Committees

January 6, 2023January 6, 2023

Chairs Take the Helm in Key Committees

With 12 newly appointed committee chairs, some of whom will oversee policy that impacts the business community, there’s been a notable shift in the House and Senate leadership this session. In the Senate, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale will be the new chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, & General Affairs. Sen. Ram Hinsdale recently joined a roundtable discussion with business leaders convened by the Vermont Chamber and has expressed her support for housing reform and a commitment to prioritizing policy action that addresses workforce shortages. The Senate Committee on Finance will once again be chaired by Sen. Ann Cummings, whom we recognized as an “All-Star Legislator” last year for her work to pass the manufacturing tax exemption as well as securing $17 million in savings for health insurance costs for small businesses and employees.

The House Committee on Ways and Means, the committee with jurisdiction over tax policy, will be newly chaired by Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, who we also recognized for her work on the Manufacturing Tax Exemption. In recent weeks, Kornheiser has discussed increasing government spending, stating, “I think that the scale of budgets that we were able to see during the pandemic, and the impact of huge federal spending on our communities, I think and I hope shifted the scale of our thinking somewhat so that it takes a larger number for us to blink.” The House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development has a returning chair, Rep. Michael Marcotte. Marcotte also received “All-Star Legislator” recognition last session for his work to secure the VEDA forgivable loan program.

Senate Committee Chairs
Agriculture: Sen. Bobby Starr, D-Orleans
Appropriations: Sen. Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia
Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs: Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast
Education: Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington
Finance: Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington
Government Operations: Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison
Health and Welfare: Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden Southeast
Institutions: Sen. Russ Ingalls, R-Essex
Judiciary: Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington
Natural Resources: Sen. Chris Bray, D-Addison
Transportation: Sen. Dick Mazza, D-Grand Isle

House Committee Chairs
Agriculture, Food Resiliency and Forestry: Rep. David Durfee, D-Shaftsbury
Appropriations: Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes
Commerce and Economic Development: Rep. Michael Marcotte, R-Coventry
Corrections and Institutions: Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield
Education: Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall
Environment and Energy: Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury
General and Housing: Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury
Government Operations and Military Affairs: Rep. Mike McCarthy, D-St. Albans City
Health Care: Rep. Lori Houghton, D-Essex Junction
Human Services: Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury
Judiciary: Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-South Burlington
Transportation: Rep. Sara Coffey, D-Guilford
Ways and Means: Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D/P-Brattleboro

January 6, 2023

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Legislature Must Balance Economic Conditions with Priorities

January 20, 2023January 6, 2023

Legislature Must Balance Economic Conditions with Priorities

The Vermont economy is showing signs of distress, and as the legislature convenes, they need to carefully balance current conditions with the weight of the work ahead. Consumers’ disposable personal income has been hurt by:  

7% inflation  
20% increase in the cost of groceries 
10% increase in the cost of gasoline 
7% increase in the cost of housing

This has put further pressure on businesses. American businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities are now contending with:  

Supply chain disruptions cost them an average of $228 million per year 
A historic workforce shortage, which fueled 21% wage growth over the past two years in Vermont 
Falling consumer consumption 
The Federal Reserve’s ongoing interest rate hikes 
Policy changes passed by the Vermont legislature over the past biennium, including the enhanced Unemployment Insurance benefits

Business leaders are proceeding with caution because of the increasingly uncertain economic news. This often means taking less risk – the ideas remain, but expansions and increased capital investment are put on hold. Hiring is also slowing, as businesses struggle to shoulder additional costs. While these are financial concerns that they can control, there is so much they can’t. Supply chain disruptions due to global conflicts upset even the smallest Vermont businesses.

As the 2023 legislative session has barely begun, spending proposals to fund programs are already mounting. While proposals are worthy endeavors, the cumulative impact of these millions of dollars of new taxes and spending could overwhelm the Vermont economy. The Vermont Chamber is tracking these impacts on the business community and its workers. Email us at govaffairs@vtchamber.com if you have one to add to the list. 

Anticipated in 2023:

New investments in the childcare system are projected to cost hundreds of millions more per year
Paid Family and Medical Leave, previously estimated to cost $80 million per year
Universal School Meals, estimated to cost $30 million per year
Education Spending, estimated to cost $1.711 billion per year
Affordable housing proposal for $175 million
Clean Heat Standard, vetoed last year, is likely to be revived as the “Affordable Heating Act.”
A tax on sports betting is expected to raise $10 million per year
A doubling of the tipped minimum wage would double the total cost of labor for restaurants to employ front-of-house workers
Amending the Renewable Energy Standards to require 100% renewable or carbon-free electricity

January 6, 2023

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Governor Scott Echoes the Vermont Chamber’s Commitment to the Economy

January 20, 2023January 6, 2023

Governor Scott Echoes the Vermont Chamber’s Commitment to the Economy

In his Inaugural Address, many of the policy priorities presented by the Governor reflect those that the Vermont Chamber has highlighted. Housing, workforce recruitment and retention, and valuing economic stewardship, were all key themes.

On housing, the Governor discussed the need for regulatory reforms, to ensure housing can be built as quickly and affordably as needed. He called on legislators who campaigned on housing as a top priority to make modernization a priority this session. When reflecting on workforce shortages, an issue the Vermont Chamber has been shining a light on for years, he noted that the most recent data shows the gap is seven times the size it was in 2019, with Vermont in need of 22,500 workers. The Vermont Chamber has presented innovative ideas to address this problem

The Governor also reflected on inflation, and the economic conditions facing Vermonters, stating, “We must find ways to achieve our shared goals without adding taxes and fees because this only increases the cost of living.” The Governor went on to promote his voluntary paid family and medical leave program, which does not impose any new taxes while offering businesses a path to providing this benefit to employees. It is anticipated that the legislature’s alternate proposal may be funded by a significant payroll tax.

Governor Scott closed his speech by calling on the legislature to recognize the “once in a lifetime” opportunity of remaining one-time federal funds available from pandemic recovery assistance. The complete transcript of the speech is available, here. The Governor will address the legislature again on January 20th, when he presents his budget.

January 6, 2023

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