SIN CITY

Leonine Public Affairs As the work day drew to a close late on Tuesday afternoon the members of the House Judiciary Committee filed into the House chamber to take testimony from supporters and opponents on H.610. The bill would require alleged domestic abusers who have been served with a restraining order to relinquish their firearms. At the same time people from all over Vermont poured into the statehouse to weigh in at the public hearing. Additional security staff began segregating the opposing sides into two lines up the spiral stairways to the chamber. Once the hearing was underway the committee members remained composed, though at times they looked visibly moved while listening to hours of often tense and emotional testimony. Organizations working to combat domestic violence and survivors of domestic abuse testified in support of the legislation. Many of them said the bill, if enacted, would offer security and solace to a victim who feels scared for their safety and their life. The committee will continue working on the bill next week.

Another newsworthy item that occurred this week was the House floor debate on H.688, the “Global Warming Solutions Act.” The bill sets up a “Climate Action Panel” charged with developing a plan for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below by 2050) and tasks the Agency of Natural Resources with adopting rules to implement the plan. Significantly, the bill would allow lawsuits against the state if efforts to cut emissions fall short. After a lengthy floor debate on Thursday the bill received initial approval on a 105-37 roll call vote and final approval on Friday on a voice vote.

Representative Matt Trieber, D-Rockingham, announced he would resign his seat last week and served his final day in the legislature on Thursday this week. Trieber said he felt the need to resign because he would have to take a leave of absence from his job as a counselor for high school students with disabilities in order to continue to serve. Trieber was appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin in 2011 and re-elected four times after being appointed.