Mount Holly Newsflash- Saturday, August 20, 2022

Mount Holly Newsflash - Saturday, August 20, 2022 
The weather today in Mount Holly -Sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 1 to 6 mph.
Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 20, 2022
23rd Annual Ralph D. Hogancamp Memorial Duck Race
 
Buy your duck tickets on line at www.ludlowrotary.com
 
Come join the fun!  12:00 noon at Walker Bridge in Ludlow, VT
 
 
Apologies for missing the last couple months, I intended to provide more context for at least some of the bills I worked on last session, but as I mentioned in my June article, we've had a lot on our calendar this summer and weathered some unplanned events as well. My wife and I did welcome our second baby in June! Another girl! Born June 12, Frankie Louise Nicoll. Then we all got sick with COVID in July, including the baby. Luckily it didn't hit any of us too hard, but even still none of us left the couch much for almost 2 weeks.
To recap the remaining things the Governor acted on since my June article, I would say there were not too many surprises. He did sign the budget, which I was happy with. As I mentioned before, he made some waves in April by seemingly hinting that he may veto the budget, so I was glad we were able to avoid that outcome. To get the budget through the committee process and reach agreement between the various policy committees in each chamber and then between the House and Senate chambers themselves is a process to behold and feels like a miracle every year. The thought of all that work being thrown out by the stroke of a pen is frightening, and he has done it before without much notice.
As happy as I was that he did not veto the budget, the Governor really disappointed me by vetoing two other bills that I really cared about, H505 and H534.
H534 would have expanded the non-violent crimes eligible for expungement under the current process. H505 would have finally eliminated the pointless and arguably racist powder cocaine/crack cocaine sentencing disparity in VT law, as well as set up a committee to study and advise the legislature on transitioning away from criminalizing people with substance use disorder. This is something I talk about a lot, personally I don't think we should be putting addicts in prison solely for low-level possession, I think we need to improve access to treatment as an alternative. That's how you end the cycle in my mind. That being said, I accept that not everyone is where I am on this issue, which is why this bill became a study, by a committee that would have included a representative from law enforcement as one of its members, that would have simply issued a report back to the legislature on potential policy options. It passed both chambers on voice vote, with very little opposition. This was a loss for the state and suffice to say I'm still pretty upset about it three months later, and hope I am able to fight for a similar policy next January if I am re-elected in November.
As always feel free to reach out about any of this or anything else. In next month's article I plan to offer my thoughts on the constitutional amendments you will see on the ballot in November. Calling/texting my phone is always better than sending me an email. Thanks for all the support on primary day! Hope to see or talk to you soon!
 
Logan Nicoll
State Representative
Ludlow, Mount Holly, Shrewsbury
802-345-8430
 
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