Peter Hirschfeld
ReporterHelp shape my reporting:
The Vermont Statehouse is often called the people’s house. I am your eyes and ears there. I keep a close eye on how legislation could affect your life; I also regularly speak to the people who write that legislation. The more I hear from you, the better I’ll be at my job. So, what issues do you want lawmakers to focus on? What info do you most urgently need?
I'm eager to hear from you. Get in touch using the form below:
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About Peter:
Peter Hirschfeld covers state government and the Vermont Legislature. He is based in Vermont Public’s Capital Bureau located across the street from Vermont’s Statehouse.
Hirschfeld is a Vermont journalist who has covered the Statehouse since 2009, most recently as bureau chief for the Rutland Herald and Times Argus. He began his career in 2003, working as a local sports reporter and copy editor at the Times Argus.
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Democrats in the Vermont House have passed three bills that would raise taxes and fees by $130 million per year, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott is sounding the alarm. We'll break down that dynamic for this week's edition of the Capitol Recap, and share how it could impact local elections in November.
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The Vermont Statehouse this week became the front line in an ideological battle over the role of state government after Democrats in the House of Representatives approved $131 million in tax increases that Republicans derided as “off the rails and out of control.”
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Democratic leaders in the House dialed back some of the Republican governor's top priorities in favor of other initiatives. The proposal does not include $131 million in new spending initiatives approved by House lawmakers in separate bills earlier this week.
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The legislation would put millions of dollars back into low-income seniors' pockets, but would also give Vermont the highest corporate income tax rate in the country.
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Democrats in the Vermont House have identified more than $250 million in new initiatives to tackle in the next fiscal year, despite warnings from Republican Gov. Phil Scott to keep the budget lean. Now, lawmakers must let some of those priorities go – or find new ways to cover the extra spending, like tax increases.
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Lawmakers are seeking increased allocations for housing, health care, public safety and more, but they will soon have to decide whether to throw those initiatives by the wayside and live within the current revenue forecast, or raise taxes so they can accommodate the additional spending.
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Moderate Republicans in Vermont are pondering their next move after falling short in their effort to stop Donald Trump from becoming their party’s presidential nominee.
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The measure would end a one-year residency requirement for New Americans who want access to educational grants to help cover classes like English or drivers ed.
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Nikki Haley has won the Republican primary in Vermont, the Associated Press said. President Joe Biden won on the Democratic side.
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A recent national survey found that nearly half of all local elections workers are worried about the safety of their colleagues. While Vermont already has a law against voter intimidation, there’s no explicit prohibition against bringing a gun to the ballot box.