Vermont man making a last stand for local control of schools
“If I fail with this lawsuit there will be no local control of schools in Vermont. This is a last stand. This is it.”
Statehouse Headliners: Fewer Vermonters need welfare benefits
In this week’s Statehouse Headliners, many Vermonters once on welfare have found work, Gov. Phil Scott is listening on the carbon tax, and two agriculture commissions look at marijuana and dairy.
Vermont’s electric car push faces numerous hurdles
While there’s promise for electric vehicles touted last week by Gov. Phil Scott and representatives from the automobile and electric utilities industries, experts say numerous hurdles must be overcome if the cars are to challenge the combustion engine’s dominance.
Concerns exist in Vermont over feds’ land grab
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants another 60,000 acres of northeast Vermont, and so far the state’s leaders are expressing reservations about the giant land grab.
Vermont Republicans generally supportive of Trump tax proposal
President Donald Trump has released his tax reform plan, and in a rare display of party unity, Vermont Republicans seem to be strongly behind their leader.
Prominent Vermont Democrats support ‘take-a-knee’ protests
With much of the nation abuzz about NFL players kneeling to protest America’s national anthem and flag, some Vermont politicians say they endorse “taking a knee.”
In aftermath of Las Vegas, Vermont gun owners say ‘bump stock’ issue is a nonstarter
Lawmakers from Vermont want to close the so-called bump stock loophole, but gun owners in the state say the effort would have little impact, other than to give government more control over guns.
Secretary of state kicks off fourth biennial statewide Transparency Tour
Secretary of State Jim Condos on Wednesday gave his first presentation in the fourth biennial statewide Transparency Tour, a 12-stop trip around the state to provide information about public meeting law and public records requests.
Former Attorney General William Sorrell bucks deposition hearing on public records
Former state Attorney General William Sorrell bucked a day in court Wednesday, failing to appear for a scheduled deposition regarding a private email account he is suspected of using for his work with AGs United for Clean Power.
Statehouse Headliners: Pot legalization not inevitable, VT has more poverty, and 42 lobbyists working for carbon tax groups
In this week’s Statehouse Headliners, the Marijuana Advisory Commission report is due in December, Vermont is the only state with more poverty last year, and 42 lobbyists are working for carbon tax groups. Also, a proposed IRS standard deduction hike could cut VT tax revenue by $80 million.
Faith-based opioid treatment center compares favorably to state program, though data hard to come by
Rutland Mayor Dave Allaire isn’t a my-way-or-the-highway community leader when it comes to tackling the drug abuse epidemic. He believes public and private treatment programs in Rutland County — from faith-based Teen Challenge Rutland to state-funded methadone clinics — must be part of the mix.
Vermont marijuana commission holds first meeting on path to legalization
At the first marijuana commission meeting held to find a path to recreational pot smoking in Vermont, lawmakers and police appeared divided on whether legalization is inevitable.