 Hello and welcome to this season's final episode of Under the Dome, wrapping up with this year's legislative session. You can watch online at youtube.com slash townmeetingtv or on Comcast Channel 1087 or Burlington Telecom 17 and 217. And if you have a question for our guests, you can always call in at 802-862-3966 and we will get you on the air. Today we're joined by representatives from Williston. Let's go down between the two of you and you can introduce yourselves. Let's start with Jim. Well, good morning. I am representative Jim McCullough, serving the brave little hamlet of Williston, Chittenden II. And I've been most fortunate to be selected by my town for the past 20 years as trusted representative and working for them and the state of Vermont. I always enjoy Channel 17 visit and here I am again, my good fortune. Great. Thank you for joining us Jim and Erin. Hi, I'm representative Erin Brady, also from Williston, the junior member working with the wonderful representative McCullough. I'm just finishing my very first term in the legislature, which has been a quite a ride during the pandemic. I'm also a high school teacher, a school board member, a mom and active in our community. So look forward to this conversation. Thank you. Great. Yeah, thank you for joining us. And Will, I think we'll start with you representative Brady. So you are on the House Committee on Education, that's right. And so your committee heard testimony on a few bills last week related to miscellaneous changes in education law. Some of those like kind of wrap up bills at the end of the session. Can you describe those or if you have any other work in your committee that you wanted to highlight? Our committee has been very busy in the first year of the biennium. We were particularly busy and took on some large measures like a new community schools bill to spend $10 million to allow schools to do more wrap around services within schools and that work is now underway. In this past year, our committee worked really hard to be responsive to the reality in schools, which is that the pandemic is absolutely exhausted and stressed schools to the max. And so we were trying not really to do anything new and to support our K-12 schools as best we can. So some of the work that we ended up doing this year in that vein, one, the one I'm most proud of is the universal meals bill. We did finally get passage of a bill to continue universal meals in schools. This is something schools have been doing during the pandemic for two years. So the opportunity to continue something that was one of the few bright spots of the pandemic was really, it was a really important thing for us to take on, especially at this time, so that schools wouldn't have to go backwards to a kind of broken system next year. So I was thrilled to work on that. I'm really glad that that my committee took the lead on that. That was one major thing we worked on. And then there have been several other things that we needed to do. The biggest is probably dealing with our education funding system and updating how we allocate not really funds but tax capacity in this state. And so that was the work of the waiting study that then came forward in the waiting bill this year. So that was also work that we did in looking at, you know, how do we resource our schools and how do we account for the differences in students and the different needs they may have. So I would say those are the sort of biggest things that the Education Committee dealt with, but as you mentioned, of course, there are lots of other miscellaneous items from higher ed to school mascots to school governance issues. So there's been other things that we have worked on but have been trying in the house to be really careful that we aren't adding anything new to the plates of schools that are under just a tremendous amount of strain right now. Thank you. Jim, we'll go to you now. Same question. You're on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife. Anything you'd like to talk about from your time on the committee this year? Well, absolutely. Our committee, I've been the luckiest boy in the world to serve on natural resources, Fish and Wildlife for 18 of my 20 years, and that's where I live in the natural world. And so how could I be so lucky? Our committee has played an essential role in environmental justice bill in the Act 250 reform Act 250, the next generation that's sometimes called microplastics that are being ground up, or plastics that are being ground up and then ending up in soil amendments in our soils. And by the way, we eat one credit card of plastic a week through nanoplastics, which is the destination of all microplastics. And housing reform, several different housing reform issues, biodiversity legislation out of our committee sponsored by our very forward thanks to Chair Amy Sheldon. We did current use reform, very, very important for helping to establish old growth forests in Vermont, which are very, very important part of the part of our biodiversity and part of our carbon sequestration necessity. And the model bill, which I've only been working on probably for six or eight years, along with Act 250 for six or eight years. Not all of these, though, have made it across the finish line, but those are important things that we did, not in our committee, but if one were to ask what's the most important legislation of the year, and I would say proposal five. We completed proposal five, the constitutional amendment process, which is a two biennium process, I shouldn't say biennium process. And now it goes on for ratification to the people of the state of Vermont. Proposal five, of course, is women especially help of choice decision to make. And with the role versus weight, likely headed for a train wreck. And he would think some would say, woohoo, but there's a train wreck the way it's going on right now. And 20 years ago, I certainly thought it's good, you know, we're done with that topic. Oh, no, and haven't been. It's been a discussion every biennium in our, in our state house up until this last two biennium, which of course it became a discussion with the constitutional amendment. Right. Lots of things, lots of things you name there. I think I might as well jump to one of these questions about you know the sessions just wrapped up. And the governor had a few vetoes, one of which was as part of that climate bill that you mentioned. And I'm wondering if if you had any thoughts about those vetoes and you know the attempts at override. And just, you know, any thoughts on that as the session wrapped up and I think we'll start with Jim. Well, you know, as an athlete, we'll keep track of our personal records and Governor Scott is as a personal record as of a couple weeks ago 30 vetoes he governs by veto. Governor Dean is a close second now with 25. And since that statistic of 30, I'm expecting at least another two, three more, some of which emanated from my committee. So we shouldn't be looking for good, good reasons to feel bad. But the Act 250 the next generation, this governor says he wants to reform Act 250 but he's consistently voted against our Act 250 reform efforts and urban legend has it that's going to be happening after his death in a week or so. That's a huge disappointment. Aaron, do you have any thoughts. You know, it's just been an interesting process to be a part of. Obviously, we have a very strong Democratic caucus and I can see leadership working really hard at all levels to reach consensus I know in my committee on almost every measure not everyone but almost every bill we pass out of my committee is unanimous and we work really hard to find consensus with the administration to work out concerns among our committee again not always possible but almost always. So it's disappointing. I'm not in the room at that high leadership level I think we're a lot of these negotiations happen, or at least not yet, but it's certainly disappointing because I think a ton of work does go into the process. I was surprised to anybody at the last minute, and the administration is is an important partner in a lot of our policy work so. So it's disappointing the clean heat standard was particularly disappointing in terms of an opportunity to do something more aggressive on climate, but, but we will keep working and and I think that you know our caucus is strong and we have and great leadership that will continue working with the administration to make important policies for our monitors. I think we'll we'll continue through our questions here, and I think we'll start with Aaron going some of these more general general questions in your view what issues are particularly important to communities in Williston. And the feedback that I get largely by email during the pandemic, you know that the issues I did a quick count kind of this morning of what I you know heard from constituents the most about. And I think over the past two years, the ones that rise to the top where the pension bill and certainly concerns from our teachers and our state employees about how to be sure that our system is solvent for the future. Representative McCulloch mentioned proposition five. I also received a lot of outreach on on both sides, although the majority in support of proposition five and wanting to ensure that we protect women's free productive freedom here in Vermont. And I also heard a lot in this last couple months on universal meals as we got close to the finish line on that. So those are some of the sort of top line issues that I got the most amount of male and correspondence on but certainly there are a lot of other issues that you know are more individual to folks. I appreciated a couple families that reached out to me this year and really helped me understand our system and the challenges in our system for caring for adults with disabilities and and how our care systems fall short for those needs and and what how we can do better and some of our social services so some of those more niche issues though where I get a chance to really understand from somebody in Williston's perspective really helped me to really have much better insight in into the decisions we're making in the process. So those are some that rise to the top. I also know we have a very active climate group here in Williston that's doing great work that's done some great work at the town level. And that's rightfully frustrated, you know, at the state and national international level of the amount of work we have yet to do and I really appreciate their engagement as well. Jim, same question for you. Issues particularly important to communities in Williston. Well, I really feel that our Williston community is a very caring community and as such they're very concerned about housing shortages housing shortages in Williston. Housing prices in Williston, the inability for for affordable housing to somehow get an attraction to be affordable for developers bill, which those which those issues have really been brought forward and the various housing bills and in our act to 50 bill as well. Yes, many, many of our people who are retired and and non retired teachers and state workers, very concerned about pension proposal five, I've heard a lot about that. And I've heard a lot about the clean heat standards and which you sort of alluded to earlier this afternoon and and the the I guess I'd say that the ponderance people that contacted me about clean heat standard might be people that would have generally said yes, do it. But it's a good bill with a lot not to like and and one that that my supported because it moves the ball down the field and and it's very important that we get underway. But as Aaron said, we start over again next year and perhaps the process will be more inclusive the clean heat standard and and we'll better understand why the opponents to various sections of it. Really don't like it and can speak to that those issues in a better way. Yeah, though, I think that's what's pretty much been well it's always education taxes. And, and while not an errands committee was came out of ways and means but the new, the new assessment for for state aid education is going to save 350 million dollars for the aggregate of a monitor so that will fit well and well as well I'm sure. Right. So what we'll keep going down the line here, any issues that you are personally passionate about I'm sure we've touched on a few already that you wanted to highlight I think we'll start with Aaron again. Thank you. My passion is is kids and families that's why I ran. I'm thrilled to have been put on the education committee where I come with some experience and background, and I was doing some kind of reflecting on the session last night looking back through things and you know my biggest concerns I think when it comes to kids and families are sort of the bookends of our system. We have a very strong K to 12 system. It's not perfect. It's under a lot of strain with the pandemic, but I'm especially concerned in Vermont here with our supports for sort of birth to five, the pre birth to pre K group the childcare shortages that we have how we support young families and how much important development happens in those years so I'm really passionate about eventually doing more with our universal pre K program. It's great that we have 10 hours but would really like to see that expanded to be a more truly universal system. And at the other book end of our system. I'm really concerned and passionate about our post secondary access and options for our high school students I'm a high school teacher mostly seniors. And then I've just seen far too many high school students who have, you know, just a lot of challenges against them from from their home, and that ends up dictating a lot of other future path. And so I really want to see us do more to make higher education not just a four year degree but some sort of credential some sort of training, more accessible to more students, and ensure that more of our young Vermonters can really realize their full potential hopefully here in Vermont, which would be good for you know our economy and our workforce, but also good for them so I'm really interested in kind of again the bookends of our system what we're doing for our youngest Vermonters. And what we're doing for our young adults as they graduate high school and launch into the world so that's work I hope to continue to do in in future years we've started to scratch the surface of it a little bit in my committee, but those are those are big projects. Jim same question. What are you passionate about. You want to talk about here. Well, quickly first, we're not all so very lucky as as Aaron and Jim to get in committees that were passionate about their their needs all throughout the building and we get put where the speaker tells us that we serve at the speaker's discretion but clearly Aaron is a bright star in the Education Committee. And so for myself with all the. So, I'm going to say, I'm passionate about equality. What, where does this fit in here. Well, I became a representative in 2002, because I was not happy with the way the Wilson representation voted on on civil unions and I said, What, you're out of here. That turned out to be true. And we got civil unions we got marriage equality and override Governor Douglas Zito on that one. And, and we're successful. But what does that have to do with the discussion. And it is the Opposition five or proposal five I beg your pardon, and it is environmental justice and environmental justice is all about equality to we've got Vermonters in all but four towns, I think for in the state of Vermont, that are in communities that have compromised communities for environmental justice. And where's the equality in that. And I think of the person's the four people that the four families in Williston and South Burlington that are practically in the jet blast of the F 35. And that a poster child for environmental justice. And there are no fall to their own that that airplane arrived here. So, environmental justice act 250 reform which I've been working and so environmental justice, I played a part that, you know, as a committee member. But a big shout out for representative Terry Dolan from Waitfield, who, who carried the big load for our committee on that bill and she's an awesome job and I think we ended up with a good bill on between the two bodies. Act 250 I knew Governor Dean see Davis personally yep. I'm lucky to be that old. And act 250. He did it. And he did it in a very different environment, legislative environment that we've got now, if you will. He did it a lot more. So at any rate, he did it and and it has been reformed. And we, we, we really, really, really need to bring that bill into compliance, if you will, with climate change. And we need to bring it in with, with, I'll say, climate migration. As people are moving out of NY, Boston, Cape Cod, you name it to come to Vermont. 50% more for the house. Because they got to get out of dodge. Because the climate, you know what climate migration for all of our for our wildlife and our plan. We just need to move forward with some real change that they're working on that bill for years. And it won't just happen in the dark room at the 11 hour people. It takes a long time. So those are the things that most, you know, most passionate about act 250 passionate peace also shout out to housing need. Develop, build, and move into housing. People of all, of all, so it's good economic right to the real issue of passionate for that. Well, right. So we have about five minutes left here. And I have a bit of a closing statement here for the end of under the dome. So we're limited on time. So I want to give each of you a chance to just give some closing thoughts, thoughts about this session, the session and hopes for next next session. And I think we'll start with Aaron. Thank you very much. It's been an incredible honor. It's been an incredible experience. You know, it was all like this for the first year on camera and on zoom and being in the building and building relationships with people really understanding the process has made me a much more effective legislator. So, you know, I'm honored that I had that opportunity this past year. I've been honored that the chair of my committee has given me some great leadership opportunities. And, you know, there's always much more work to be done under many of the issues we've talked about but I think we've made some really important progress for Vermonters this year. And as Representative McCullough mentioned, perhaps the most important vote I cast was for Proposition five, not knowing how important it was but not knowing just what situation we would be in right now today. I think we see the likelihood of rovers is waiting overturn. And in terms of, you know, pragmatic policy and tax policy. I think that the work that our chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Janet Ansel did to put together a child tax credit is the thing I am most proud of supporting in my caucus and the work of my colleagues, you know, modeled after tax credit. They worked on a fabulous compromise that will allow families with children five and under to receive $1,000 tax credit based on income. And, you know, research is so clear that one of the importance of what happens in the early years and the importance of money and the terribly detrimental effect of poverty. So that progressive policy that came with several other really fantastic tax changes that I won't go into. I think is one of the things I'm most proud of the overall work we did as a body this year. And I look forward to doing more of that kind of work, hopefully in the future. Great. Thank you Representative Brady. Jim. So what a lucky boy for 20 years to have the voters will insist to say, we trust you Jim, and, and I call it the real University of Vermont, where we have incredible opportunities to learn. And our, our electorate, our people of Williston, the people of the state of Vermont have had an incredible boost as of COVID. Now 630,000 people can visit the legislature every single day we're in session and pick their pick make their choice which committee they want to sit in and watch and listen to and mix and match those up. And because of this new protocol we're using right today. And I expect the test going to continue on the end of the future. As the new rules get developed for next biennium. I'm going to just leave with with saying my many of my well as the audience recognize. The new government is a participation board and quote and then so then don't just sit there talk to your representative and and and this this boy listen even if he doesn't agree to reply. It's important even if when people do agree with you that they tell you because we need that kind of support as well. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you Representative McCullough. Thank you both for joining us. This has been fantastic to have you on. And thank you to the audience for tuning in under the dome. This is our final show this season. Thank you to all of our legislators who took their time out of their busy schedules to join us under the dome maybe taking a break but our general election coverage is coming up fast. This is our first debate of the season this Thursday at 7 p.m. with Democratic candidates for U.S. Congress and event co-sponsored with Burlington Young Professionals. You can watch this and other local political coverage on our website at cctv.org our YouTube channel or our channels Comcast 1087 Burlington Telecom 17 and 217. Thank you. We'll see you again soon. Thank you so much.