The great floor debate had been tripping up the legislature since 1993, when the Friends of the Vermont State House launched a restoration effort of the 140-year-old building. When the Friends installed a vivid red-and-gold-patterned carpet in the House of Representatives, senators balked at the prospect of their chamber's suffering the same fate and immediately claimed veto power over any rug recommendation. "The House carpet that was chosen was too loud and too bright for the senators," says Arthur Williams, one of the carpet committee's three members. "They wanted to make sure their carpet was good."
The problem, however, was that the 30 senators couldn't agree on what constitutes a regal rug. The Friends and its consultants tried to help, producing a 9-by-9-foot sample design inspired by a photo of the original 1874 Renaissance revival-style carpeting. But the blaring green, pink and yellow floral print wasn't popular with some senators. They called for a more subdued style--and soon, stalemate reigned.
This year, however, senators were determined to settle their differences rather than face yet another year with the current carpet, which is plain green. The carpet committee's choice--a muted, simpler version of the Friends' suggestion--was quickly endorsed by the Legislative Advisory Committee on the State House. Plans are under way to install the carpet before the next legislative session.
