Vermont’s
Legislature knows supermajorities. The Republicans held one in the House and
Senate for over 100 years from the mid-1800s through the mid-20th
Century. At times during that span, the House had over 200 Republicans and the
Senate didn’t have a single Democrat. More recently, the Democrats have enjoyed
the uber-advantage. So how big a deal is having a supermajority?
Burlington Free-Press Reporter Candace Page and retired Middlebury
College political science professor
Eric Davis discuss the power and pitfalls that come with holding a
supermajority. Retired State Archivist Gregory Stanford provides some
historical context of supermajorities in the state. And former House Speaker
Ralph Wright reflects on the Democrats going from minority to supermajority.
Also on the program, Jack McCullough explains how the Mental Health Law Project provides
specialized assistance to people in involuntary mental health proceedings at Vermont’s
six psychiatric hospitals, and for people living in the community who have
become subject to the involuntary mental health system.