Women take the reins as Legislature opens 'coronavirus recovery session'

With dozens of legislators logging on to Zoom, and others masked and socially distanced in the Statehouse, Vermont’s Legislature convened on Wednesday, kicking off a historic biennium amid a global pandemic.

The session began with legislators in the House and Senate choosing new leaders, and for the first time in state history, both are women. As expected, the Senate elected Becca Balint, D-Windham, as Senate president pro tempore, and the House elected Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, as House speaker.

The Legislature faces unprecedented challenges as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage. Legislative leaders have said they will focus this year on confronting the Covid-19 crisis. They will also work with Republican Gov. Phil Scott to address a massive budget gap caused by the impact of the pandemic on state revenues.

While the legislative work will focus on the coronavirus, the effects of how the pandemic has changed human interaction were on full display Wednesday in the Statehouse.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2021/01/06/women-take-the-reins-as-legislature-opens-coronavirus-recovery-session/