While the first week of a new
legislative biennium is filled with “pomp and circumstance”, i.e.
the swearing in of new members, election of the Speaker, appointments
to standing committees, and the inauguration of the Governor, the
next two weeks are generally spent introducing the committees to the
agencies and departments they will be working with as well as to
non-governmental stakeholders in the policy areas that they will be
dealing with. Most committees have a majority of members new to the
committee, and it is important to ground everyone in the basics
before the real work of considering legislation begins.
Most legislative work is done within
the 14 standing committees such as Energy and Technology,
Transportation, Health Care, etc. However, most legislators have
interests beyond the areas in their own committee's jurisdiction.
Legislators with similar interests will often meet together in a
caucus to discuss strategy, hear from interested parties, and advise
the standing committees on policy. There are at least 15 such
caucuses in the Vermont House. Caucus meetings are held in the
Statehouse at set times each week and are open to the public. Most
are tri-partisan, i.e. not restricted to members of one political
party.
There are, of course, the Party
caucuses – Democratic, Republican and Progressive. Every Tuesday
morning the Party caucuses meet to hear announcements, get
introductions to bills that are being offered or that are scheduled
for debate, and to hear from Party leadership. While these caucuses
are partisan, there is usually a member or two from the other parties
to observe and report back to their own caucus.
Of the non-partisan caucuses there are
several regional caucuses – Rutland County, Addison County,
Franklin County, and Windham County. Like college, new members of the
legislature who haven't served before are called Freshman.
Relationships developed during orientation among the “class”
members tend to persist and are helpful in bridging partisan divides.
Hence, there is a Freshman Caucus that provides both a social and
supportive framework for folks going through a very accelerated
learning process.
Then there are the working caucuses
that are focused on interests that may span several policy areas.
These include the Rural Economic Development Caucus in which issues
common to rural areas are discussed to identify problems and suggest
solutions. The Climate Solutions Caucus, as the name suggests,
includes members who are concerned about climate change and the
effects it will have on Vermont. They discuss approaches to helping
Vermonters reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The Working
Vermonters Caucus is oriented toward labor and business issues,
giving working Vermonters a voice, and improving job opportunities
and working conditions in Vermont. I am a member of and attend all
three of these caucus meetings when I can.
Three other caucuses include the Youth
Caucus, the Older Vermonters Caucus, and the Legislative Women's
Caucus. Finally, a Parliamentary Review Caucus meets early every
Friday as a class in parliamentary procedure. Knowing the rules of
debate and procedure is very helpful during floor debates. The
caucus system enables the Vermont legislature to work more
harmoniously and effectively because it helps to identify areas of
agreement and improve working relationships among legislators with
differing political philosophies.
I welcome your emails
(myantachka.dfa@gmail.com),
phone calls (802-233-5238), or in person contacts.
