Nease is Ass't. Majority Leader
by AJ de Saint Phalle

JOHNSON - Johnson's good fortune just keeps on going as state
Representative Floyd Nease, (D) Eden/Johnson has been elected House
assistant leader by his peers at the State House in Montpelier. Nease's
new status will become official when the Legislature convenes on January
5. The majority party Democrats are also expected to elect Gaye
Symington as speaker, and Carolyn Partridge as leader.
Reflecting on his newfound status, Nease said, "Once there's a majority
party, it is that majority party's responsibility to use their power on
behalf of all Vermonters." Asked if he intended to mimic the Republican
majority in the U.S. Congress with increasingly autocratic methods,
Nease reflected, "This is Vermont. The wonderful thing about the State
House is that everyone respects each other in their efforts to represent
their constituents as best they can. You have to share the power. Unlike
the previous majority, we will clearly show that we are sharing power."
He went on to say that he and the other 82 Democrats have formed 12
groups to discuss priorities and set the agenda for the coming
legislative session. He said that rapidly increasing deficits in
healthcare, mounting costs for prescription drugs and fiscal
responsibility are at the top of the list.