In The News
Hazard pay program thanks essential workers
“A handful of us were quite determined to create what we call the Hazard Pay Grant Program” Senate Pro Tem Tim Ashe told several staff members of Thompson House gathered in front of the Brattelboro rehabilitation and nursing center Wednesday afternoon. “By putting $30 million on the table for this very specific purpose, it was our too-modest but important way of saying thank you, we recognize the value of what you’ve done and know this has not been easy.” - July 17, Bennington Banner
Woodstock mandates face masks, Rutland considers it
Vermont Sen. Pro Tem Tim Ashe, D/P-Chittenden, who has urged Scott to mandate face masks, said the Legislature will likely discuss the topic in August, if the governor hasn’t required masks before then.
“The science is not in dispute that when both parties to an interaction area wear a mask it reduces the spread of infection,” Ashe said.
Ashe also called it “unfair” that employees are required to wear face masks, but customers aren’t. - July 15, 2020 Mountain Times
Vermont Senate Leaders Discuss Federal COVID Relief Funding
Senate Pro Tem Tim Ashe, a Democrat/Progressive from Burlington, anticipates that when the legislature returns they will make budget adjustments and allocate the remaining Coronavirus Relief Funds. “When we get the revenue forecast in mid-August that will tell us the extent of the hole that we’re facing. Then we’ll look at which reserves are available and appropriate for potential use to help get us through the next year. And that will play a role in helping us fill our budget hole moving forward. I’m particularly concerned about the additional cost for schools to be ready to safely return people. So that’s one. I think that we’ll have also a better sense of what aspects of our economy have been starting to return to some semblance of normal before others. That will give us a chance to put additional dollars on the table for more business relief.” - July 10, 2020 Vermont Senate Leaders Discuss Federal COVID Relief Funding
Legislature facing tight calendar in racism fight
“Sears said he and Ashe consulted last weekend, after which Ashe informed state Senate members that his pre-adjournment priorities include a statewide deadly force policy, model policies regarding the use of force, de-escalation, and cross-cultural awareness, immediate prohibition of choke holds as police restraints, and requiring that all state police be equipped with body cameras.
In particular, Ashe, in the memo, was insistent that a state-wide police policy on use of force could not wait.
"I am not satisfied with the call for a task force to look at the issue. We should adopt a policy now," he said.”
— June 10, 2020 - Brattleboro Reformer, “Legislature facing tight calendar in racism fight”
After Protests, Lawmakers Give Police Bills a Second Look
Last Friday, the Senate Appropriations Committee backed a bill, S.219, that would require law enforcement agencies to comply with race data reporting requirements in order to receive state grants. The measure is now before the Judiciary Committee.
“There have been very few consequences for patchy follow-up,” Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) said in committee last week, explaining his support. “Some departments take it more seriously than others.”
— June 9, 2020 - VT Digger, “After Protests, Lawmakers Give Police Bills a Second Look”
Legislative Leaders Call on Scott to Mandate Masks in Vermont Stores
An executive order reopening retail stores on Monday mandated that employees wear face coverings, but the governor has resisted forcing customers to do the same. Speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) said the edict had the "very strange consequence" of protecting the customer from the coronavirus, but not the employee.
"I feel like we would be doing everyone a favor by having one uniform policy," he said.
Ashe suggested that if Scott refused to change course, he would ask fellow senators whether they have "the appetite to push for a mandatory policy." The pro tem added, "It's not ideal for the legislature to be making public health orders, effectively, but if the governor isn't going to go there, then I think we've gotta at least debate the question."
May 19, 2020 - Seven Days, “Legislative Leaders Call on Scott to Mandate Masks in Vermont Stores.”
FQW: Tim Ashe
And what do you feel the lessons will be that come out of all of this?I think we’ll all be a little more selfless. This pandemic has really put in sharp focus how our actions affect others. We’ll never know it, but individual actions we’ve taken imperceptibly prevented someone else, someone we might not know, from getting sick or dying. I expect we’ll ask ourselves more frequently: “How will what I am about to do impact my family, my friends, strangers, the community?” At least I hope we will. - Tim Ashe, Vermont Senate President
— May 17, 2020 - Times Argus, “FQW: Tim Ashe.”
Political proteges and pushing progressive policies part of Sanders legacy
“It’s pretty safe to say I would have never run for office had I not worked for Bernie and been influenced by him. It’s not that the millions of people who have been inspired have to be 100% just like Bernie or there is no occasion for the kinds of disagreements — which are natural. It’s to take the broader themes and inspiration and then set out on our own, to be our own people.” - Tim Ashe, Vermont Senate President
— April 27, 2020 - VT Digger, “Political proteges and pushing progressive policies part of Sanders legacy.”
Vermont State College board announces delay campus closure vote
"While we recognize change must come, an abrupt vote to close three campuses, with three days notice, without a public plan for what comes next for the students, faculty and staff, and the host communities is not appropriate, especially in this era of unprecedented unknowns," Ashe and Johnson wrote.
- April 19, 2020 - Burlington Free Press, “Vermont State College board announces delay campus closure vote”
Vermont lawmakers Frustrated by Issues with Unemployment System
"We can keep saying they aren't quite staffing up or providing the resources necessary, but there's a moment where [we may] have to publicly be critical [about] the failure to do what we're asking," he said. "Just saying the words to the administration at this point, I'm not sure it's producing the results."
"That's the dynamic we're in," Ashe added. "I can't sugarcoat it."
- April 15, 2020 - Seven Days, “Vermont lawmakers Frustrated by Issues with Unemployment System”