Many Vermont lawmakers say gun control legislation would be best handled at the federal level. But House Speaker Shap Smith says if a bill is debated in Montpelier, it needs to emerge first from the Senate.

House Speaker Shap Smith discusses the top issues facing the Legislature, VPR's John Dillon provides analysis on this week's court cases involving the continued operation of Vermont Yankee and we hear from the Norwich University Regimental Band. 

The 2013 legislative session is expected to be a busy one, and one that is again dominated by money issues.

Treasurer Beth Pearce and her opponent Wendy Wilton, Auditor-elect Doug Hoffer and Vince Illuzzi, House Speaker Shap Smith and Attorney General Bill Sorrell reflect on their races and look at what's ahead. And VPR's Ross Sneyd and Valley News Editor John Gregg provide analysis of the Vermont and New Hampshire races.

House Speaker Shap Smith and Minority Leader Don Turner look back at the successes and failures of the recent session of the Legislature.

House Speaker Shap Smith says he's proud of the accomplishments of the 2012 legislative session. But he says he is disappointed that lawmakers didn't have a chance to make major reforms to the Vermont tax system.

Speaker of the House Shap Smith says he won't run for attorney general. Smith says after careful consideration he's decided instead to seek reelection as state representative.

House Speaker Shap Smith discusses the top legislative issues, we hear an analysis of the latest developments of the proposed CVPS-Green Mountain Power merger and we listen back to the voices in the news this week.

House Speaker Shap Smith discusses cleanup costs from Irene, VPR's John Dillon provides analysis on the Lowell Wind Project and we listen back to the voices in the news this week.

House Speaker Shap Smith provides an outlook on the budget, the tax bill and the governor's health care bill. Also, Congressman Peter Welch discusses the causes of and solutions for rising gas prices.

VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with House Speaker Shap Smith about committee work on a number of key pieces of legislation.

A number of high-profile bills will be emerging from committee in the Vermont House in the coming weeks, and House Speaker Shap Smith discusses them and takes your questions on Vermont Edition.

House Speaker Shap Smith began working on committee assignments a month before the start of the new legislative session.

House Speaker Shap Smith outlines his priorities for this session of the Legislature and his ideas for closing the state's budget gap. Plus, we hear about the state's new Organ Donor Registry and the need for organ transplants in Vermont.

Shap Smith was re-elected as Speaker of the House Wednesday morning. After making committee assignments, Speaker Smith outlined his priorities for the new legislature.

New leadership has been elected and several long-serving senators aren't returning to Montpelier this week, creating a lot of change in the Vermont Senate. Vermont Edition broadcasts live from Statehouse to look at the year ahead.

These were some of the voices in the news this week:.

House Speaker Shap Smith speaks with VPR's Jane Lindholm about the key agreement Democratic legislators made with the governor on the state budget, and other issues like taxes, current use, and future energy sources.

We talk with the leader of the Vermont House of Representatives about the biennium that concluded last week. Also, the growth of the craft brewing industry in Vermont, and a long-distance skateboarding enthusiast explains his sport.

House Speaker Shap Smith discusses the big issues moving through the Legislature with VPR's Bob Kinzel.

House Speaker Shap Smith discusses balancing the state budget and other key legislation being debated. Plus, VPR's Ross Sneyd provides analysis of the week's news.

VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with House Speaker Shap Smith about the state's budget problems, the future of Vermont Yankee and other issues.

House Speaker Shap Smith discusses the state's budget problems, the future of Vermont Yankee, education funding and spending and health care reform legislation.

Budget talks have dominated the first few days of the legislative session in Montpelier. The state faces a projected $150 million deficit in 2011. And now members of the Vermont Legislature say they'll take a five percent pay cut to help deal with the budget.

Top legislators say the focus of the 2010 session will be on jobs, the economy and on producing a balanced budget. The Democratic leaders of the House and the Senate say now is not the time to raise taxes or expand social programs. And they vowed to keep an open mind as the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant seeks approval to operate for another 20 years.