A key House committee took testimony on Thursday about whether possessing small amounts of marijuana should be a civil offense, not a crime. In Montpelier, decriminalization was once considered one of the key issues of the legislative session, but it has recently taken a back seat.

We look at the 2012 priorities of the Vermont Progressive Party and hear how the contested Republican Presidential primary could bring new interest.

Progressive Party leaders Rep. Chris Pearson and Sen. Anthony Pollina say tax increases on the wealthiest Vermonters would help close the state's budget deficit, as opposed to cutting the budget for Human Services programs.

There are 180 members of the Vermont Legislature, and only 7 of them represent the Progressive Party. But despite their small caucus, the Progressives want to make an impact on how the state closes the $176 million budget deficit.