{"id":36379,"date":"2023-01-19T01:02:30","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T01:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/19\/final-reading-return-of-a-ritual\/"},"modified":"2023-01-19T01:02:30","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T01:02:30","slug":"final-reading-return-of-a-ritual","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/19\/final-reading-return-of-a-ritual\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Reading: Return of a ritual"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<\/p>\n<div wp_automatic_readability=\"264.06556769772\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"411413\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/statehouse-art-011823-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS RP&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1674074909&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Statehouse-Art-011823-3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;State Curator David Schutz describes some of the art he plans to relocate in the Statehouse Jan. 18, 2023. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-610x407.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-411413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"411413\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/statehouse-art-011823-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS RP&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1674074909&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Statehouse-Art-011823-3\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;State Curator David Schutz describes some of the art he plans to relocate in the Statehouse Jan. 18, 2023. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-610x407.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-411413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">State Curator David Schutz describes some of the art he plans to relocate in the Statehouse on Jan. 18. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"409290\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/final-reading-graphic-23\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445.png\" data-orig-size=\"1200,600\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Final Reading Graphic 23\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-300x150.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-610x305.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-409290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-610x305.png 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-125x63.png 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"409290\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/final-reading-graphic-23\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445.png\" data-orig-size=\"1200,600\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Final Reading Graphic 23\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-300x150.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-610x305.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-300x150.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-409290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-610x305.png 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-125x63.png 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Final-Reading-Graphic-23-e1671643709445.png 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">In another sign of return-to-normalcy, State Curator David Schutz is again rearranging and refreshing the art hung on the walls of the Statehouse. It\u2019s a ritual at the start of each new biennium, but something Schutz hasn\u2019t done, on this scale at least, since before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Committee chairs have jurisdiction over the works hung on their committee room walls, so this year\u2019s historic turnover means Schutz has a roster of new clients. It means a bit more work, Schutz joked Wednesday, but he\u2019s glad for fresh attention to the Statehouse art collection.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNewly empowered people are always the people that I actually enjoy in this building,\u201d Schutz said. \u201cBecause over time, the empowered can get a little jaded.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sens. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor; Ruth Hardy, D-Addison; and Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D\/P-Chittenden Southeast, have all reached out to him about exhibiting contemporary works by artists in their districts, Schutz said. Hardy is a longtime advocate for diversifying the building\u2019s art collection.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-South Burlington, the new chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is a watercolor artist and president of the Vermont Watercolor Society. He\u2019s chosen to cover the walls of Judiciary with works on loan from other members of the society. (One of LaLonde\u2019s own paintings, depicting the Statehouse at night, is on display in the Card Room, after LaLonde turned down several hopeful buyers and donated it to the Statehouse collection last year.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"411412\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/statehouse-art-011823\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS RP&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1674075361&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;5000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Statehouse-Art-011823\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-South Burlington, shown here Jan. 18, 2023, stands underneath his watercolor &quot;Point of Order&quot; which hangs in the hallway leading to the House dais. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-610x407.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-610x407.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-411412\" width=\"557\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"411412\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/statehouse-art-011823\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS RP&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1674075361&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;5000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Statehouse-Art-011823\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-South Burlington, shown here Jan. 18, 2023, stands underneath his watercolor &quot;Point of Order&quot; which hangs in the hallway leading to the House dais. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-610x407.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-610x407.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-411412\" width=\"557\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-South Burlington stands underneath his watercolor &#8220;Point of Order,&#8221; which hangs in the hallway leading to the House dais. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The pandemic also decreased the amount of blank wall space Schutz has to work with, since each committee room was outfitted with a large flat-screen TV for remote proceedings.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNotice I\u2019m not frowning,\u201d Schutz said with a laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Senate president pro tempore and lieutenant governor also get to choose new art when those offices change hands. First-term Pro Tem Phil Baruth, D\/P-Chittenden Central, asked for portraits.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was a surprise,\u201d Schutz said. \u201cWhen I meet with people, they almost never say, \u2018Can I have some portraits?\u2019\u201d Portraits make up the bulk of the Statehouse art collection \u2014 largely depictions of former governors \u2014 though Baruth\u2019s office ended up with more unusual pieces, including a self-portrait by William Beard that shows the artist holding a bear cub.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, like the last time he held the office, requested pieces created under the Works Progress Administration, the Depression-era federal program that not only funded art, but also paid workers to build infrastructure projects across the county, such as airfields, hospitals and bridges. The paintings in Zuckerman\u2019s office are on loan from the T. W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier, which has a sizable collection of WPA art from across the United States, Schutz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Zuckerman\u2019s choice of art for his office is \u201cabsolutely\u201d a political statement, the lieutenant governor said, because he sees WPA art as emblematic of government investing in the economy \u201cfrom the bottom up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"411411\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/statehouse-art-011823-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS RP&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1674076221&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;5000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Statehouse-Art-011823-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lt. Gov. Dave Zuckerman selected WPA-era artwork for his Statehouse office, seen here Jan. 18, 2023. &quot;We made it so that every day working, struggling people, actually were moved into a stable economic situation,&quot; Zuckerman said. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-610x407.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-610x407.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-411411\" width=\"569\" height=\"380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" data-attachment-id=\"411411\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/statehouse-art-011823-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS RP&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1674076221&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;5000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Statehouse-Art-011823-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lt. Gov. Dave Zuckerman selected WPA-era artwork for his Statehouse office, seen here Jan. 18, 2023. &quot;We made it so that every day working, struggling people, actually were moved into a stable economic situation,&quot; Zuckerman said. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-610x407.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-610x407.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-411411\" width=\"569\" height=\"380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-610x407.jpg 610w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Statehouse-Art-011823-1.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman selected WPA-era artwork for his Statehouse office. &#8220;We made it so that every day working, struggling people, actually were moved into a stable economic situation,&#8221; Zuckerman said. Photo by Riley Robinson\/VTDigger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>A lot of the pieces coming down from committee walls this year will find a home somewhere else in the building, Schutz said. For the time being, he\u2019s commandeered a former House committee room to store art during the shuffle. In one corner, there\u2019s a contemporary linocut print likely headed for the House Ways and Means committee room. In another, a heavy wood carving of a sheep by St. Johnsbury artist Stephen Huneck, the founder of Dog Mountain, awaits a new home in the governor\u2019s working office in the Statehouse. The administration \u201cwanted something a little jazzier,\u201d Schutz notes. \u201cThis is jazzy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014 Riley Robinson<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f0f0f0\"><em>Final Reading is VTDigger&#8217;s inside guide to the Statehouse, delivered to your inbox Tuesday through Friday evenings.\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/vtdigger\/final-reading\" rel=\"noopener\">Sign up here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2>IN THE KNOW<\/h2>\n<p>Lawmakers in the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday discussed two different reports on <strong>switching to an income-based education tax<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In the first, the state tax department urged caution at overhauling the state\u2019s already complex education financing system.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny time a state tries to do something with respect to taxation that\u2019s very different, there\u2019s a lot of risk involved. This would be quite a bit different,\u201d Jake Feldman, a senior fiscal analyst in the tax department, told legislators. No state has a state income tax and a separate income tax for education, he said.<\/p>\n<p>The wariness didn\u2019t stop there. No other state helps low-income homeowners with their property taxes as much as Vermont, Feldman said, \u201cand it\u2019s not even close.\u201d Plus, other taxes, such as those on gasoline and estates \u2014 are more regressive than the current property tax system, according to Feldman.<\/p>\n<p>The second report, compiled by the legislative Income-based Education Tax Study Committee \u2014 with the help of state officials \u2014 deliberately ignored whether or not a change in tax policy was a good idea, instead addressing how such a switch could be implemented.<\/p>\n<p>Both reports addressed how switching to an income-based education tax might affect renters, who indirectly pay education property tax in the form of rent, officials said. In each instance, the reports suggested a credit system to reimburse renters, though those systems differed between the two proposals.<\/p>\n<p>But unlike the tax department\u2019s report, the study committee\u2019s findings highlighted some current wonkiness in the state\u2019s income-based property tax credit. The discrepancies cause Vermonters at different income levels to pay different percentages of their income in taxes, according to the report. A new income-based education tax could fix the current system\u2019s unequal burden.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014 Ethan Weinstein<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Vermont Agency of Education and the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.holocaustmemorial-vt.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Vermont Holocaust Memorial<\/a> are launching the state\u2019s<strong> first Holocaust Education Week, <\/strong>the groups announced at a Statehouse press conference Wednesday. The online program, which runs Jan. 23 through Jan. 27, is meant to teach seventh through 12th grade students about the history of the Holocaust, and includes presentations by Holocaust survivors, as well as children and grandchildren of survivors.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s timelier than ever, considering increasing displays of antisemitism in Vermont and across the country,\u201d said Debora Steinerman, president and founder of the Vermont Holocaust Memorial, before nodding to Kanye West\u2019s recent antisemitic comments. \u201cThe signal is sent that attacking Jews is fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So far, at least 250 Vermont students are signed up for the week\u2019s programming, Steinerman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden, also plans to introduce a resolution dedicating January 23 through January 27, 2023, as the first Vermont Holocaust Education Week. Every lawmaker across the House and Senate has signed on, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a Jew in Vermont, as a leader in the community, I see a lot of not-knowing,\u201d said Rabbi David Fainsilber of Stowe, who attended Wednesday\u2019s event in support. \u201cJust lack of education around the Jewish experience.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2022\/02\/06\/vermont-senators-want-to-ensure-lessons-of-the-holocaust-are-being-taught\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Senate bill<\/a> introduced last session sought to create state-level requirements for teaching the Holocaust, but it didn\u2019t garner enough support to make it out of committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014 Riley Robinson<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A group of key state senators introduced legislation Tuesday that they say would bring <strong>needed changes to Vermont sheriffs\u2019 departments<\/strong>. S.17 includes several notable proposals, the most significant being its goal of ending the decades-old policy that allows sheriffs to take administration fees for their department\u2019s contract work with private and public entities.<\/p>\n<p>The bill also proposes adding entries to a list of unprofessional conduct definitions for law enforcement officers. The list guides the Vermont Criminal Justice Council in evaluating police certifications.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2023\/01\/18\/lawmakers-propose-reforms-at-vermont-sheriffs-departments\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Read more here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014 Tiffany Tan<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2>ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL<\/h2>\n<p>Nearly three months after failed congressional candidate <strong>Liam Madden<\/strong> described live on the radio a self-funded scheme to inflate his campaign fundraising numbers, a nonprofit campaign finance watchdog group has filed a complaint against the Republican nominee with the Federal Election Commission.<\/p>\n<p>Madden in late October told WVMT\u2019s \u201cMorning Drive\u201d that he \u201cdrained\u201d his wife\u2019s business\u2019s bank account, distributed roughly $25,000 among family members, then directed his family members to donate the money to his campaign \u2014 a move campaign finance experts called a clear example of a straw donor scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In the 30-page complaint filed on Tuesday, attorneys from the Campaign Legal Center ask that the FEC investigate Madden and \u201cseek appropriate sanctions for any and all violations,\u201d including civil penalties and injunctive relief \u201cto remedy these violations and prohibit any and all future violations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2023\/01\/18\/campaign-finance-watchdog-files-fec-complaint-against-liam-madden-for-funneling-donations-through-family\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Read more here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014 Sarah Mearhoff<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2>ON THE HILL<\/h2>\n<p><strong>U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt.,<\/strong> visited Zephyr Place, a new affordable housing complex in Williston on Wednesday, in her first public appearance in Vermont since being sworn into office.<\/p>\n<p>Back from Washington, D.C., Balint reiterated a pledge to make housing a priority. \u201cI will be completely focused on doing everything I can around this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>With U.S. House committee assignments still about a week out, Balint said she is hoping to be on either the Financial Services Committee \u2014 which she said would provide opportunities to address the housing issue \u2014 or the Committee on Agriculture, which would be important for rural Vermont.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2023\/01\/18\/in-1st-vermont-appearance-as-u-s-rep-becca-balint-pledges-to-prioritize-housing\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Read more here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014 Auditi Guha<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>WHAT WE\u2019RE READING<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2023\/01\/18\/an-extraordinary-vermont-custody-battle-highlights-an-untenable-system-of-care\/\" rel=\"noopener\">An extraordinary Vermont custody battle highlights an \u2018untenable\u2019 system of care<\/a> (VTDigger)<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sevendaysvt.com\/vermont\/to-expand-its-schools-south-burlington-wants-to-charge-developers-a-fee\/Content?oid=37393325\" rel=\"noopener\">To expand its schools, South Burlington wants to charge developers a fee<\/a> (Seven Days)<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2023\/01\/17\/inflation-supply-chain-issues-are-driving-up-egg-prices-around-vermont\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Inflation, supply-chain issues are driving up egg prices around Vermont<\/a> (VTDigger)<\/p>\n<section id=\"series-list-related-3\" class=\"widget series-list-related\"\/>\n<p><!--\n\t\n\n<div class=\"special-callout\">\n\n<h3 style=\"margin-left: 10px;\" >2022 Election Briefs<\/p>\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n   \n\n<ul>\n\n\n<li>\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/election_brief\/balint-wins-high-profile-endorsement-of-emilys-list-one-of-the-nations-most-influential-pacs\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Balint wins high-profile endorsement of Emily&rsquo;s List, one of the nation&rsquo;s most influential PACs (September 1, 8:01 am)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\t\t\n\n<li>\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/election_brief\/update-voter-registration-by-aug-31-to-guarantee-mailed-ballot-secretary-of-state-says\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Update voter registration by Aug. 31 to guarantee mailed ballot, secretary of state says (August 25, 4:15 pm)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\t\t\n\n<li>\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/election_brief\/bernie-sanders-endorses-david-zuckermans-bid-for-lieutenant-governor\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bernie Sanders endorses David Zuckerman&rsquo;s bid for lieutenant governor (August 1, 6:14 pm)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\t\t<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-left: 10px;\"><a target=\"_blank\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/election\" rel=\"noopener\">Read the latest<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n--><\/p>\n<div class=\"hideinamp\" wp_automatic_readability=\"7\">\n<p style=\"font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; margin:0; font-weight:700; padding: 10px 0;\">Get Final Reading delivered to your inbox before it&#8217;s posted online. 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