Vermont legislators returned to the State House Monday for a special session to decide whether to give towns and cities authority over establishing their own indoor mask policies. After hours of discussion, both the House and Senate voted to support the bill. “So this is another effort to recognize where we’re at, the pandemic’s not over, and to support municipalities in taking measures that they need to take to keep their communities safe,” said Lt. Gov. Molly Gray.Governor Phil Scott, who has made it clear he will not reimpose statewide masking requirements at this time, called for the special session as a compromise. This comes after repeated calls from legislative leaders, urging him to do more to protect Vermonters from COVID-19.”I know the governor said he was offering this to us as an olive branch, and I’ve been joking that actually he offered us a stick because what he said was you could do this, or not,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, (D) Windham County.The governor previously said he would veto any other efforts to impose mask mandates. Those against the bill didn’t think it set the right precedent.”I think that we have the potential of turning Vermont into an airplane. We see what happens with airline mandates when people who are not trained and don’t have enforcement capability run into with that very very small group,” said Sen. Randy Brock, (R) Franklin County.Meanwhile outside the State House, protestors were fighting against any form of mask mandates.”For local municipalities, they do not have the education nor the science behind mandating, making it law, to have to wear a mask in public,” said Matthew Sellers, one of the protestors. “It’s unprecedented.”Back inside, legislators on both sides of the aisle were wishing the circumstances were different.”I wish we had done more, but the least we can do is say that we will have their backs as they deliberate these policies and face the possibilities of threats and hostilities as they do so,” said Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, (D) Chittenden County.”I’m concerned that we haven’t given municipalities the resources they need to be able to maintain and enforce mandates,” Brock said. Governor Scott must sign the bill before it can take effect. This authority for municipalities only stands until April 30, 2022. Any policy must be reviewed at least 45 days after it’s adopted and then at least every 30 days after that.Before passing the bill, the Senate also passed a resolution urging Gov. Scott to use all available measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Vermont legislators returned to the State House Monday for a special session to decide whether to give towns and cities authority over establishing their own indoor mask policies. After hours of discussion, both the House and Senate voted to support the bill.
“So this is another effort to recognize where we’re at, the pandemic’s not over, and to support municipalities in taking measures that they need to take to keep their communities safe,” said Lt. Gov. Molly Gray.
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Governor Phil Scott, who has made it clear he will not reimpose statewide masking requirements at this time, called for the special session as a compromise. This comes after repeated calls from legislative leaders, urging him to do more to protect Vermonters from COVID-19.
“I know the governor said he was offering this to us as an olive branch, and I’ve been joking that actually he offered us a stick because what he said was you could do this, or not,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, (D) Windham County.
The governor previously said he would veto any other efforts to impose mask mandates. Those against the bill didn’t think it set the right precedent.
“I think that we have the potential of turning Vermont into an airplane. We see what happens with airline mandates when people who are not trained and don’t have enforcement capability run into with that very very small group,” said Sen. Randy Brock, (R) Franklin County.
Meanwhile outside the State House, protestors were fighting against any form of mask mandates.
“For local municipalities, they do not have the education nor the science behind mandating, making it law, to have to wear a mask in public,” said Matthew Sellers, one of the protestors. “It’s unprecedented.”
Back inside, legislators on both sides of the aisle were wishing the circumstances were different.
“I wish we had done more, but the least we can do is say that we will have their backs as they deliberate these policies and face the possibilities of threats and hostilities as they do so,” said Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, (D) Chittenden County.
“I’m concerned that we haven’t given municipalities the resources they need to be able to maintain and enforce mandates,” Brock said.
Governor Scott must sign the bill before it can take effect. This authority for municipalities only stands until April 30, 2022. Any policy must be reviewed at least 45 days after it’s adopted and then at least every 30 days after that.
Before passing the bill, the Senate also passed a resolution urging Gov. Scott to use all available measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
