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Vermont State Senate

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Vermont State Senate

Seal of Vermont.png
General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2013 session start:   January 9, 2013
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Phillip Scott, (D)
Majority Leader:   Bill Carris (D)
Minority leader:   William Doyle, (R)
Structure
Members:  30
   Democratic Party (21)
Republican Party (7)
Vermont Progressive Party (2)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Legislative Department, Sec. 6, Vermont Constitution
Salary:   $604.79/week + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 6, 2012 (30 seats)
Next election:  November 4, 2014 (30 seats)
Redistricting:  Vermont legislature has control
Meeting place:
Virginia Senate Chamber.jpg

Contents

The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, which is Vermont's state legislature.

The Vermont senate includes 30 members. However, there are only 13 state senate districts in the state. Each member represents an average of 20,294 residents, as of the 2000 Census.[1]

Senators in Vermont serve two-year terms, rather than the more standard four-year terms.

Vermont senators have no term limits.

As of May 2013, Vermont is one of 12 Democratic state government trifectas.

Sessions

The Vermont State Legislature, which the Senate is a part of, meets for biennial sessions starting on odd numbered years on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January, pursuant to Section 7 of the Legislative Department of the Vermont Constitution. The opening date for even numbered years is established by the sitting legislature during the year prior.

2013

See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions

In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 9 through May 10 (estimated).

Major issues

Lawmakers will have to address a projected budget shortfall of $50-$70 million.They are also expected to take up physician assisted death, and marijuana decriminalization.[2]

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Senate was in session from January 3 through May 5.

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Senate was in session from January 5 through mid May. [3]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Senate was in session from January 5 to May 12.[4]

Elections

2012

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Vermont State Senate were held in Vermont on November 6, 2012. A total of 30 seats were up for election.

The signature filing deadline for the elections was June 14, 2012.

2010

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Vermont State Senate were held in Vermont on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was July 19, 2010 and the primary election day was on September 14, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $670,068 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [5]

Qualifications

The Vermont Constitution states, "No person shall be elected a Representative or a Senator until the person has resided in this State two years, the last year of which shall be in the legislative district for which the person is elected."[6]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
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If there is a vacancy in the Senate, the Governor must select a replacement to fill the vacant seat.

The Governor must select a replacement that will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no deadlines set by statute on when a vacancy has to be filled[7] [8]

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Vermont

The Vermont Legislative Apportionment Board is tasked with drawing redistricting maps, but the Legislature must approve -- and can revise -- any plans. The Board is made up of a chairperson selected by the Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, and six members, two from each of the major parties (Democratic, Republican, Progressive).

2010 census

Vermont received its census data on February 10, 2011. The state grew by 2.8 percent. The most populous cities had mixed results: Burlington grew by 9.1 percent, Essex grew by 5.2 percent, South Burlington grew by 13.2 percent, Colchester grew by 0.5 percent, and Rutland decreased by 4.6 percent.[9]

The 2011 redistricting process was notable for a push to eliminate nearly all of the state's multi-member districts. Though a preliminary plan that achieved this end was passed by the Board, its final plan from August 11, 2011 only reduced the number of two-member districts from 42 to 29.

The Legislature took up redistricting in January 2012. Despite disagreements over deviation from ideal district size (18.2 percent for the Senate and 24 percent for the House), the Senate passed and the House concurred with a final plan, H. 789. The plan added a new seat in Burlington, and paired incumbents Dennis Devereux (R) and Eldred French (D). Governor Peter Shumlin (D) signed the maps into law on May 1, 2012.

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2013, members of the Vermont Legislature are paid $604.79/week during session and $112/day for special sessions or interim committee meetings. Legislators who are non-commuters receive $101/day for lodging and $61/day for meals. Commuters receive $61/day for meals/mileage.[10]

Pension

Vermont does not provide pensions for legislators.[11]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Vermont legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2013
     Democratic Party 21
     Republican Party 7
     Vermont Progressive Party 2
Total 30


Leadership

The Senate is headed by the State's Lieutenant Governor as the Senate President. The Senate President only votes in the case of a tie. More often, the Senate is presided over by the President Pro Tempore who also serves as head of the Majority Party.[12][13]

Current leadership

Current Leadership, Vermont State Senate
Office Representative Party
President Pro Tempore of the Senate John Campbell Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Majority Leader Philip Baruth Electiondot.png Democratic
State Senate Minority Leader Joe Benning Ends.png Republican

List of current members

Current members, Vermont State Senate
District Senator Party Assumed office
Addison Claire Ayer Electiondot.png Democratic 2003
Addison Christopher Bray Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Bennington Robert Hartwell Electiondot.png Democratic 2007
Bennington Richard Sears Electiondot.png Democratic 1993
Caledonia Joe Benning Ends.png Republican 2011
Caledonia Jane Kitchel Electiondot.png Democratic 2005
Chittenden Timothy Ashe Electiondot.png Democratic / Lime2.png Vermont Progressive Party 2009
Chittenden Philip Baruth Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Chittenden Sally Fox Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Chittenden Virginia Lyons Electiondot.png Democratic 2001
Chittenden Diane Snelling Ends.png Republican 2002
Chittenden David Zuckerman Lime2.png Vermont Progressive Party 2013
Chittenden-Grand Isle Richard Mazza Electiondot.png Democratic 1985
Essex-Orleans John Rodgers Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Essex-Orleans Robert Starr Electiondot.png Democratic 2005
Franklin Donald Collins Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Franklin Norman McAllister Ends.png Republican 2013
Lamoille Richard Westman Ends.png Republican 2011
Orange Mark MacDonald Electiondot.png Democratic 2003
Rutland Eldred French Electiondot.png Democratic 2013
Rutland Peg Flory Ends.png Republican 2010
Rutland Kevin Mullin Ends.png Republican 2003
Washington Ann Cummings Electiondot.png Democratic 1997
Washington William Doyle Ends.png Republican 1969
Washington Anthony Pollina Lime2.png Progressive / Electiondot.png Democratic / Working Families Party Working Families 2011
Windham Peter Galbarith Electiondot.png Democratic 2011
Windham Jeanette White Electiondot.png Democratic 2003
Windsor John Campbell Electiondot.png Democratic 2001
Windsor Richard McCormack Electiondot.png Democratic 2007
Windsor Alice Nitka Electiondot.png Democratic 2007

Senate Committees

The Vermont Senate has 11 standing committees:

External links

Wikipedia-logo-en.png

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  2. ↑ Boston.com, "2013 Vt. legislative session to get under way," January 6, 2013
  3. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  4. ↑ 2010 session dates for Vermont Legislature
  5. ↑ Follow the Money: "Vermont Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  6. ↑ Vermont Constitution
  7. ↑ Michie "Vermont Statutes"(Referenced Statute, 2-1-4, Vermont Statutes)
  8. ↑ Michie "Vermont Statutes"(Referenced Statute, 2-1-9, Vermont Statutes)
  9. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Delivers Vermont's 2010 Census Population Totals, Including First Look at Race and Hispanic Origin Data for Legislative Redistricting," February 10, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  10. ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
  11. ↑ USA Today, "State-by-state: Benefits available to state legislators," September 23, 2011
  12. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State - Gov't History: Legislative Leadership
  13. ↑ Officers of the Vermont General Assembly 2009-2010
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the Vermont State Senate
Senate President: Phillip Scott (D) • Senate Majority Leader: Philip Baruth (D) • Senate Minority Leader: Joe Benning (R)
   
    Addison District
  1. Claire Ayer (D)
  2. Christopher Bray (D)

    3. Bennington District

  3. Robert Hartwell (D)
  4. Richard Sears (D)

    5. Caledonia District

  5. Jane Kitchel (D)
  6. Joe Benning (R)
    Chittenden District
  1. Timothy Ashe (D/P)
  2. Philip Baruth (D)
  3. Sally Fox (D)
  4. Virginia Lyons (D)
  5. Diane Snelling (R)
  6. David Zuckerman (P)

    7. Chittenden-Grand Isle District

  7. Richard Mazza (D)

    8. Essex-Orleans District

  8. John Rodgers (D)
  9. Robert Starr (D)
    Franklin District
  1. Donald Collins (D)
  2. Norman McAllister (R)

    3. Lamoille District

  3. Richard Westman (R)
    Orange District
  1. Mark MacDonald (D)

    2. Rutland District

  2. Eldred French (D)
  3. Margaret Flory (R)
  4. Kevin Mullin (R)

    5. Washington District

  5. Ann Cummings (D)
  6. William Doyle (R)
  7. Anthony Pollina (P/D/W)
    Windham District
  1. Peter Galbraith (D)
  2. Jeanette White (D)

    3. Windsor District

  3. John Campbell (D)
  4. Richard McCormack (D)
  5. Alice Nitka (D)
Democratic (21) • Republican (7) • Progressive (2) • Vermont State Senate • Vermont House of Representatives
v • d • e
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