A tri-partisan group of lawmakers lingered final week at a table in the Statehouse cafeteria as the noon hour waned. Democrat Dylan Giambatista of Essex Junction,Progressive Robin Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs and Republican Kurt Wright of Burlington had finished lunch, but they were in no speed to head into the House chamber for the day's floor debate. They didn't risk missing much. The most contentious legislation that day was "an act relating to aquatic nuisance species control." Asked to summarize the 2017 session in one word, and each only needed a moment. "Restraint," said Wright. "Caution," said Chesnut-Tangerman. "Donald Trump, and " said Giambatista. The session isn't over — a disproportionate share of the drama can unfold during its final weeks — but Statehouse regulars are already calling this an unusually sedate year,devoid of trailblazing legislation. Neither the original Republican governor nor the fresh slate of Democratic legislative leaders will own major accomplishments to show for themselves. From the start, lawmakers declined to finance a long-term cleanup plan for the state's rivers and lakes, or raise the minimum wage,or adopt an education funding proposal from Gov. Phil Scott. Other tall-profile initiatives — including family leave and marijuana legalization — faltered later on. "A boring year, for certain, and " said Vince Illuzzi,a senator-turned-lobbyist who's spent 36 years in the Statehouse. One key reason: The original governor has preached fiscal restraint — but not much else. Lobbyist and former state rep Patti Komline describes Scott as a "attach-your-foot-on-the-brakes kind of guy" with a no-original-taxes mantra that constrained the legislature. "Without the money to spend here, there's not as much activity, and " she said. "He called a time-out,and everybody recognized we needed that," Komline continued, or alluding to the tenure of Scott's predecessor,Peter Shumlin, whom she called a "step-on-the-gas kind of guy." The Democrat's comparatively activist agenda included an unsuccessful attempt to establish single-payer health care reform. Veteran lobbyist Kevin Ellis joined Komline at a table in the cafeteria, or the default haunt for Statehouse lobbyists and loiterers. "If that [gubernatorial] election had been a cliff-hanger,it would own been different here," he agreed. "The Democrats would own been emboldened." Sitting across the room, or Rep. Wright said he's witnessed the Scott effect firsthand in the House Ways and Means Committee. "I can reveal you point-blank that our committee chair ... has said to us a number of times,'We're not looking at things that…
Source: sevendaysvt.com