Journal of the Senate

Friday, January 25, 2002

The Senate was called to order by the President.

Devotional exercises were conducted by the Reverend Benedict Kiely of Montpelier.

Message from the House No. 11

A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr. Palmisano, its First Assistant Clerk, as follows:

Mr. President:

I am directed to inform the Senate the House has adopted a Joint Resolution of the following title:

J.R.H. 188. Joint resolution in memory of former Representative Mary M. Evelti of Burlington.

In the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested.

The House has considered a Joint Resolution originating in the Senate of the following title:

J.R.S. 97. Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment.

And has adopted the same in concurrence.

Joint resolution originating in the House of the following title was read the first time and is as follows:

Joint resolution in memory of former Representative Mary M. Evelti of Burlington.

Whereas, a commitment to social justice is a worthy goal, and

Whereas, Mary Evelti, in both her political life and other community roles, ceaselessly strove to meet that objective, and

Whereas, while she was born in Massachusetts, her family’s Vermont roots were long and deep, and

Whereas, in 1976, after dedicating many years to raising a family of eight children, including nearly a decade as a single parent, Mary M. Evelti embarked on a political career by winning a seat in the House, representing her Burlington district, and

Whereas, she quickly proved her worth in the legislative arena, defending the rights of those who had nowhere else to turn, and was proud of successfully sponsoring legislation protecting the elderly from abuse, and

Whereas, former Speaker Ralph Wright called her the conscience of the House, and

Whereas, Mary Evelti’s political activism also included service on both the Burlington and Chittenden County Democratic Committees, and

Whereas, aside from her political life, she was on the board of the Burlington Emergency Shelter and active in the Friends of Health Care, and

Whereas, in 1990, Mary Evelti, then age 70, concluded her legislative service, not to retire, but to embark on a scholastic journey at the University of Vermont, and

Whereas, while this most unusual and nontraditional student initially took individual courses on a nonmatriculating basis, she ultimately was granted degree track status, culminating in the receipt in 1997 of a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies, and

Whereas, Mary Evelti had the distinction of being the oldest person to earn an undergraduate degree at the university, and

Whereas, this persistently determined and spunky lady was the proud mother of Jane, Paul, Jo Anne, Christine, Elizabeth, Maria, Michael, and David and grandmother of 13 grandchildren, and

Whereas, Mary Evelti left an indelible and admirable mark on the Vermont political and education scene, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly extends its condolences to the family of former Representative Mary M. Evelti, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send copies of this resolution to her children.

Thereupon, in the discretion of the President, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action the next legislative day.

Senate bills entitled:

An act relating to the unified health care budget, continuation of group health insurance coverage, and coverage of persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

An act relating to mental health insurance coverage.

Were taken up.

Thereupon, without objection consideration of the bills was postponed until the next legislative day.

Joint Senate resolutions entitled:

Joint resolution congratulating Brent C. Lederer of Arlington Boy Scout Troop #334 upon attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout.

Joint resolution congratulating Benjamin M. Boyd of Wilmington Boy Scout Troop #461 upon attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout..

Joint resolution congratulating Dustin L. Mack of Wilmington Boy Scout Troop #461 upon attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout.

Joint resolution urging the United States Congress to actively facilitate sufficient famine relief to the people of Afghanistan.

Having been placed on the Calendar for action, were taken up and adopted collectively on the part of the Senate.

Joint House resolutions entitled:

Joint resolution in memory of former Representative William F. "Bill" Suchmann.

Joint resolution honoring career and volunteer public safety, fire protection and emergency personnel.

Joint resolution honoring the Vermont Veterans’ Home.

Having been placed on the Calendar for action, were taken up.

Thereupon, the resolutions were adopted collectively in concurrence.

On motion of Senator Mazza, the Senate adjourned, to reconvene on Tuesday, January 29, 2002, at ten o’clock in the forenoon pursuant to J.R.S. 97.