2019 Votes
Last session, as you can see below, I listed all the bills we voted on and how I voted.. This process became rather cumbersome. This session I would like to try something different. Below is the link to all bills that passed out of the chamber. Clicking on the bill number provided will take you to the bill's pertinent information as well as any roll call votes. Also below is the link to my legislative page which provides all the bills and resolutions I sponsored and my voting record. I"m happy to provide more information, just reach out!
legislature.vermont.gov/bill/passed/2020
legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2020/27166
2018 VOTES
To see all bills introduced you can click legislature.vermont.gov/bill/released/2018
To see all bills passed you can click legislature.vermont.gov/bill/passed/2018
S.237 4/11/2018 An act relating to providing representation to needy persons concerning immigration matters. Bill passed 97-40, I voted yes. This was putting in law what is already occurring in practice.
S.221 3/30/2018 An act relating to establishing extreme risk protection orders. Roll call vote 136-0. I was absent for the roll call, but voted yes on 3rd reading. This law provides State's Attorney's the tool to restrict a person's ownership or possession of firearms if they pose a danger to oneself or others.
H.923 3/28/2018 An act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment. Roll call vote 136-0, I voted yes. This bill provides the funding for capital budgets and this year also allocates $5m for school safety initiatives.
S.55 3/27/2018 An act relating to the disposition of unlawful and abandoned firearms. Roll call vote 89-54, I voted yes. Below is the explanation of my vote as recorded in the Hose Journal:
Rep. Houghton of Essex explained her vote as follows: “Madam Speaker: I know that this legislation alone will not keep Vermont safe, but it is a step toward that goal. This legislation may make purchasing a firearm a bit harder for some but it won’t prevent a law abiding citizen from purchasing or owning a firearm. This legislation may give school children a few precious seconds to live. This legislation may prevent a troubled youth from making a life altering decision. This legislation may allow our youth to focus on learning and not jump at every sound they hear. I vote yes for them. I vote yes for life.”
H.897 3/22/2018 An act relating to enhancing the effectiveness, availability, and equity of services provided to students who require additional support. Bill passed 144-0, I voted yes. This legislation changes the funding model from a reimbursement model to a census-based model which provides more flexibility in how funding can be used, is aligned with the State's policy priorities of service students who require additional support across the general and special education service-delivery system, and simplifies administration. I believe this bill will allow our district to more effectively help students in need.
H.911 3/21/2018 An act relating to changes in Vermont's personal income tax and education financing system. Bill passed vote 85-54, I voted no. There was a lot of good in this bill - changing our income tax structure to move away from the federal system and the exemption of social security benefits. However, I didn't agree with the creation of a School Income Tax Surcharge. Specifically I feel that this bill is simply shifting pots of money while creating another tax and not including cost containment. In the future a legislative body would now have two sources of revenue to raise - property tax and the school income tax surcharge. I'm hopeful we will find a path forward to ensure at least the passage of the income tax and social security benefit changes.
H.560 3/21/2018 An act relating to household products containing hazardous substances. Bill passed 89-54, I voted yes.
H.639 3/15/2018 An act relating to banning cost-sharing for all breast imaging services. Bill passed 138-2, I voted yes. Currently a person receiving a preventative mammogram does not pay for that procedure. However, should the person notate a potential issue during that appointment or be called back due to inconclusive results, they are now charged. This was not the intent of previous legislation and we heard testimony that many people are not getting the procedures they need to find breast cancer in early stages.
H.730 3/15/2018 An act relating to State response to waters in crisis. Bill passed 118-16, I voted yes.
H.707 3/14/2018 An act relating to the prevention of sexual harassment. Bill passed 131-2, I voted yes.
H.636 2/22/2018 An act relating to miscellaneous fish and wildlife subjects. This bill makes some minor technical changes but also bans Coyote Contests. I heard from many people in Essex who agreed with banning these contests. The bill does not prohibit the hunting of coyotes. Bill passed 95-44, I voted yes.
H.571 2/21/2018 An act relating to creating the Department of Liquor and Lottery and the Board of Liquor and Lottery. This bill merges the two departments and was developed through a study committee that met over the summer. I voted yes.
H.892 2/21/2018 An act relating to regulation of short-term, limited-duration health insurance coverage and association health plans. President Trump issued an Executive Order that would enhance the attractiveness and encourage the use of association health plans and limited duration health insurance coverage. These plans have existed in the past throughout the country where quality and financial stability of the plans varied widely. The plans often did not have to cover pre-existing conditions or essential health benefits; therefore, premiums were often much cheaper. However, fraud was high and many times people found themselves without the coverage they believed they had or needed. This bill will protect consumers and preserve the stability of the health insurance market by defining and regulating association health plans and short term limited duration plans. I voted yes.
H.582 2/20/2018 An act relating to increased funding for the Connectivity Initiative. This bill increases the Universal Service Charge (a phone bill charge) by 1/2 of 1 percent from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022. The money raised will go into the connectivity fund which provides infrastructure grants for connectivity into rural areas. Bill passed 109-27, I voted yes.
H.764 2/16/2018 An act relating to data brokers and consumer protection. I did not vote as my employer, LexisNexis, is considered a data broker under this legislation. The bill passed.
H.673 2/16/2018 An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the Reach Up program. I voted yes
H.624 2/16/2018 An act relating to the protection of information in the statewide voter checklist. Bill passed 94-37, I voted yes.
Prohibits a public agency from knowingly disclosing any information pertaining to a registered voter that is maintained in the statewide voter checklist. It's important we have protections in place for Vermonters’ sensitive and personal data contained in the statewide voter checklist and this bill provides that protection.
H.294 2/16/2018 An act relating to inquiries about an applicant's salary history. Bill passed 137-0, I voted yes.
Prevents employers from asking about an applicant’s salary history while still allowing an employer to inquire about a prospective
employee’s salary expectations and providing information about the wages, benefits, compensation or salary offered in relation to the position. This is an important way to help close the pay gap in Vermont. Women in Vermont are paid 84 cents for every dollar paid to men, amounting to an annual wage gap of $7,787. The practice of having to disclose ones current salary only reinforces the pay gap by gender or race in our state. By eliminating this step, we can help level the playing field.
H.690 2/9/2018 An act relating to explanation of advance directives and treating clinicians who may sign a DNR/COLST. Bill passed 135-0, I voted yes.
H.603 2/7/2018 An act relating to human trafficking. I voted yes.
H.562 2/6/2018 An act relating to parentage proceedings. Bill passed 141-1, I voted yes.
H.691 1/26/2018 An act relating to highway safety. Bill passed 133 - 7, I voted yes.
Fatalities and serious injuries from not wearing a seat belt are tragic losses for families, friends and our community. Millions of dollars in medical costs, life insurance premiums, disability payments and lost wages could be avoided, not to mention the physical and mental stress placed on those injured and the family and friends around them. At the same time racial profiling in traffic stops is a real thing that we must eliminate. I voted yes for the highway safety bill knowing that in Vermont we are working hard to eliminate racial profiling. We have Fair and Impartial Policing policies - police must track the race of everyone stopped. That information is made public and reviewed by several committees of jurisdiction, as well as, police forces, community organizations and the public. As one legislator stated, if we have a biased police officer, that person will find a way to make a traffic stop. We must eliminate racial profiling while protecting the lives of all Vermonters.
H.511 An act relating to eliminating penalties for possession of limited amounts of marijuana by adults 21 years of age or older. Bill passed 81-63. Marijuana legalization continues to be a difficult decision for me, but I did vote in favor of this bill.
legislature.vermont.gov/bill/passed/2020
legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2020/27166
2018 VOTES
To see all bills introduced you can click legislature.vermont.gov/bill/released/2018
To see all bills passed you can click legislature.vermont.gov/bill/passed/2018
S.237 4/11/2018 An act relating to providing representation to needy persons concerning immigration matters. Bill passed 97-40, I voted yes. This was putting in law what is already occurring in practice.
S.221 3/30/2018 An act relating to establishing extreme risk protection orders. Roll call vote 136-0. I was absent for the roll call, but voted yes on 3rd reading. This law provides State's Attorney's the tool to restrict a person's ownership or possession of firearms if they pose a danger to oneself or others.
H.923 3/28/2018 An act relating to capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment. Roll call vote 136-0, I voted yes. This bill provides the funding for capital budgets and this year also allocates $5m for school safety initiatives.
S.55 3/27/2018 An act relating to the disposition of unlawful and abandoned firearms. Roll call vote 89-54, I voted yes. Below is the explanation of my vote as recorded in the Hose Journal:
Rep. Houghton of Essex explained her vote as follows: “Madam Speaker: I know that this legislation alone will not keep Vermont safe, but it is a step toward that goal. This legislation may make purchasing a firearm a bit harder for some but it won’t prevent a law abiding citizen from purchasing or owning a firearm. This legislation may give school children a few precious seconds to live. This legislation may prevent a troubled youth from making a life altering decision. This legislation may allow our youth to focus on learning and not jump at every sound they hear. I vote yes for them. I vote yes for life.”
H.897 3/22/2018 An act relating to enhancing the effectiveness, availability, and equity of services provided to students who require additional support. Bill passed 144-0, I voted yes. This legislation changes the funding model from a reimbursement model to a census-based model which provides more flexibility in how funding can be used, is aligned with the State's policy priorities of service students who require additional support across the general and special education service-delivery system, and simplifies administration. I believe this bill will allow our district to more effectively help students in need.
H.911 3/21/2018 An act relating to changes in Vermont's personal income tax and education financing system. Bill passed vote 85-54, I voted no. There was a lot of good in this bill - changing our income tax structure to move away from the federal system and the exemption of social security benefits. However, I didn't agree with the creation of a School Income Tax Surcharge. Specifically I feel that this bill is simply shifting pots of money while creating another tax and not including cost containment. In the future a legislative body would now have two sources of revenue to raise - property tax and the school income tax surcharge. I'm hopeful we will find a path forward to ensure at least the passage of the income tax and social security benefit changes.
H.560 3/21/2018 An act relating to household products containing hazardous substances. Bill passed 89-54, I voted yes.
H.639 3/15/2018 An act relating to banning cost-sharing for all breast imaging services. Bill passed 138-2, I voted yes. Currently a person receiving a preventative mammogram does not pay for that procedure. However, should the person notate a potential issue during that appointment or be called back due to inconclusive results, they are now charged. This was not the intent of previous legislation and we heard testimony that many people are not getting the procedures they need to find breast cancer in early stages.
H.730 3/15/2018 An act relating to State response to waters in crisis. Bill passed 118-16, I voted yes.
H.707 3/14/2018 An act relating to the prevention of sexual harassment. Bill passed 131-2, I voted yes.
H.636 2/22/2018 An act relating to miscellaneous fish and wildlife subjects. This bill makes some minor technical changes but also bans Coyote Contests. I heard from many people in Essex who agreed with banning these contests. The bill does not prohibit the hunting of coyotes. Bill passed 95-44, I voted yes.
H.571 2/21/2018 An act relating to creating the Department of Liquor and Lottery and the Board of Liquor and Lottery. This bill merges the two departments and was developed through a study committee that met over the summer. I voted yes.
H.892 2/21/2018 An act relating to regulation of short-term, limited-duration health insurance coverage and association health plans. President Trump issued an Executive Order that would enhance the attractiveness and encourage the use of association health plans and limited duration health insurance coverage. These plans have existed in the past throughout the country where quality and financial stability of the plans varied widely. The plans often did not have to cover pre-existing conditions or essential health benefits; therefore, premiums were often much cheaper. However, fraud was high and many times people found themselves without the coverage they believed they had or needed. This bill will protect consumers and preserve the stability of the health insurance market by defining and regulating association health plans and short term limited duration plans. I voted yes.
H.582 2/20/2018 An act relating to increased funding for the Connectivity Initiative. This bill increases the Universal Service Charge (a phone bill charge) by 1/2 of 1 percent from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022. The money raised will go into the connectivity fund which provides infrastructure grants for connectivity into rural areas. Bill passed 109-27, I voted yes.
H.764 2/16/2018 An act relating to data brokers and consumer protection. I did not vote as my employer, LexisNexis, is considered a data broker under this legislation. The bill passed.
H.673 2/16/2018 An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the Reach Up program. I voted yes
H.624 2/16/2018 An act relating to the protection of information in the statewide voter checklist. Bill passed 94-37, I voted yes.
Prohibits a public agency from knowingly disclosing any information pertaining to a registered voter that is maintained in the statewide voter checklist. It's important we have protections in place for Vermonters’ sensitive and personal data contained in the statewide voter checklist and this bill provides that protection.
H.294 2/16/2018 An act relating to inquiries about an applicant's salary history. Bill passed 137-0, I voted yes.
Prevents employers from asking about an applicant’s salary history while still allowing an employer to inquire about a prospective
employee’s salary expectations and providing information about the wages, benefits, compensation or salary offered in relation to the position. This is an important way to help close the pay gap in Vermont. Women in Vermont are paid 84 cents for every dollar paid to men, amounting to an annual wage gap of $7,787. The practice of having to disclose ones current salary only reinforces the pay gap by gender or race in our state. By eliminating this step, we can help level the playing field.
H.690 2/9/2018 An act relating to explanation of advance directives and treating clinicians who may sign a DNR/COLST. Bill passed 135-0, I voted yes.
H.603 2/7/2018 An act relating to human trafficking. I voted yes.
H.562 2/6/2018 An act relating to parentage proceedings. Bill passed 141-1, I voted yes.
H.691 1/26/2018 An act relating to highway safety. Bill passed 133 - 7, I voted yes.
Fatalities and serious injuries from not wearing a seat belt are tragic losses for families, friends and our community. Millions of dollars in medical costs, life insurance premiums, disability payments and lost wages could be avoided, not to mention the physical and mental stress placed on those injured and the family and friends around them. At the same time racial profiling in traffic stops is a real thing that we must eliminate. I voted yes for the highway safety bill knowing that in Vermont we are working hard to eliminate racial profiling. We have Fair and Impartial Policing policies - police must track the race of everyone stopped. That information is made public and reviewed by several committees of jurisdiction, as well as, police forces, community organizations and the public. As one legislator stated, if we have a biased police officer, that person will find a way to make a traffic stop. We must eliminate racial profiling while protecting the lives of all Vermonters.
H.511 An act relating to eliminating penalties for possession of limited amounts of marijuana by adults 21 years of age or older. Bill passed 81-63. Marijuana legalization continues to be a difficult decision for me, but I did vote in favor of this bill.
