It was a unanimous vote amongst the senate’s Democratic caucus when electing the next session’s president pro tempore, majority leader and the third member on the committee on committees.“Today was terrific. I think we’re off to a wonderful start together it was a great opportunity for our caucus to actually meet each other. We have seven new caucus members and not everyone had an opportunity to get to know them during the campaign season,” said Sen. Alison Clarkson (D) Windsor. Clarkson, going into her third session as the senate’s Democratic majority leader.“It’s very stimulating work. it’s stimulating intellectually and it’s very moving working with your constituents and all of the challenges that they face,” said Clarkson. With the full vote from all 30 senators in January, Sen. Dick Mazza will be onto another session as the third member who works with the lieutenant governor and Senate Pro Tem. to assign the senators to their committees. “There are a lot of openings this year. As you know, there are 10 new senators. and then some people want to make the switch themselves. so you try to fit that person with what their desire is,” said Mazza (D) of Grand Isle. While Clarkson and Mazza enter the next session in roles they’ve had before, there is a new face in the role of president pro tempore, the position once held by Vermont Congresswoman-elect Becca Balint. Sen. Philip Baruth will be taking over the role.“It’s wonderful to have the support of your peers. as I said in the room, we’re all people who have done a lot of elections none have meant more to me than this one because I’ve worked so closely with these people for the last 12 years, so to have their trust means the world to me,” said Baruth. He’ll be responsible for determining the senate’s agenda and the flow of legislation as the pro tem. pending an official vote in January. “The word, ‘super majority’ strikes people as ‘we can do what we want whenever we want,’ and it just doesn’t work that way. So, we have 23 votes, if everyone’s on the same page. We’re a big family but we’re not always on the same page so my hope is that of course, we’ll work with the governor of course we’ll work with the administration, of course, we’ll work with the house and we can hopefully get something done,” said Baruth. The first day of the session is Jan. 4.
It was a unanimous vote amongst the senate’s Democratic caucus when electing the next session’s president pro tempore, majority leader and the third member on the committee on committees.
“Today was terrific. I think we’re off to a wonderful start together it was a great opportunity for our caucus to actually meet each other. We have seven new caucus members and not everyone had an opportunity to get to know them during the campaign season,” said Sen. Alison Clarkson (D) Windsor.
Clarkson, going into her third session as the senate’s Democratic majority leader.
“It’s very stimulating work. it’s stimulating intellectually and it’s very moving working with your constituents and all of the challenges that they face,” said Clarkson.
With the full vote from all 30 senators in January, Sen. Dick Mazza will be onto another session as the third member who works with the lieutenant governor and Senate Pro Tem. to assign the senators to their committees.
“There are a lot of openings this year. As you know, there are 10 new senators. and then some people want to make the switch themselves. so you try to fit that person with what their desire is,” said Mazza (D) of Grand Isle.
While Clarkson and Mazza enter the next session in roles they’ve had before, there is a new face in the role of president pro tempore, the position once held by Vermont Congresswoman-elect Becca Balint. Sen. Philip Baruth will be taking over the role.
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“It’s wonderful to have the support of your peers. as I said in the room, we’re all people who have done a lot of elections none have meant more to me than this one because I’ve worked so closely with these people for the last 12 years, so to have their trust means the world to me,” said Baruth.
He’ll be responsible for determining the senate’s agenda and the flow of legislation as the pro tem. pending an official vote in January.
“The word, ‘super majority’ strikes people as ‘we can do what we want whenever we want,’ and it just doesn’t work that way. So, we have 23 votes, if everyone’s on the same page. We’re a big family but we’re not always on the same page so my hope is that of course, we’ll work with the governor of course we’ll work with the administration, of course, we’ll work with the house and we can hopefully get something done,” said Baruth.
The first day of the session is Jan. 4.
