One of the best things about Vermont is the openness of our citizen legislature and government. On any given day one can go to Montpelier and head to the state house to talk with your elected senator or state legislator. Sometimes best to call head and see what is on the docket for the day, but for the most part, Vermont has an open house and you are welcome to come.
Last Thursday, UVM Extension had scheduled an annual reception for the legislators, a basic meet and greet, with the Provost and the Governor making speeches about how important extension is to Vermont. The legislators are invited, after all they are the folks that vote on the bill to finance things, and we all have sugar on snow, apple pie and ice cream, fresh milk, cheese and fruit. Very pleasant way to play the game. The Extension annual report comes out just in time for this and if you work in an area that is highlighted by the report, say farm safety, then you get to go to the reception.
Thursday was also the day that the State budget was on the floor and the right to marry bill, or gay marriage bill was debated in the house. Extension, even with maple syrup and apple pie, was the last thing on the list.
On the front steps of the House were opponents of the right to marry bill and by the side entrance door support signs for the bill. The side door is the general one that folks go in and out. There are no metal detectors, no pat downs, and three very friendly guards.
I hope they check out the blog, I asked to take the picture and they gave their names as Larry, Mo and Curly and took the name of the blog and wrote it down. 
Sometimes we get some media reporting at the house. ( in the background is Jeb Spaudling, our state treasurer strolling into the house ) I think the media was New Channel 44 Fox. But really the most important bit about the state house is the accessibility of our Government. 
Douglas is very accessible and approachable. Our legislators and Senators are the same. The budget debate lasted most of the day and the gay marriage bill was slated for the floor at 4:00 pm so there was a quick break for legislators to come to the reception.
Folks on both sides of the debate about the right h to marry popped into the reception for a piece of pie. Everyone was civil. Everyone behaved.
As it stands today, the house passed the measure, but fell short of an veto over ride. The Governor has pledged to veto the passage and I am sure that the 5 folks that are needed to vote for the bill are being lobbied hard this weekend. I suspect that the measure will pass over the veto.
The thing that struck me is the freedom we have for that both sides to come forward and express their viewpoint. The house was calm and folks seemed to respect the right for all citizens to access their representatives. The house is open and anyone come come in. It is the house of the people, and the folks that work there are there because citizens sent them there. We have elections every two years, including for the Governor. If we don’t like the job they are doing, then we can vote them out.
Governor Douglas has asked that legislators vote, not by party but by their beliefs. I think that the legislators should vote according to the wishes of the people they represent. Our government is open to us, and we have the power to connect with our representatives directly. We also have the freedom to not interact and to let others make our decsions for us. We have the choice.
