Mandatory mask critics rally for Newport store
About 50 people braved a Northeast Kingdom snowstorm yesterday to rally in support of embattled Newport print shop owner Mark Desautels’ stand against the state’s masking directive.
State will withdraw Title X family planning money when fed funding restored
Gov. Phil Scott said last week the state of Vermont will withdraw state family planning funding for Planned Parenthood when the federal government restores its Title X family planning funding to abortion providers.
‘Truth and Reconciliation’ Commission gets look this week
Bills up for House committee review this week would encourage home visitation by school workers, allow candidates to spend campaign money on personal expenses, let a judge order police to take away firearms, study a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” for Vermont, and promote BIPOC home ownership.
Lawmakers claim $218K at-home expenses
Through Feb. 19, Vermont lawmakers have claimed $218,144 in the $75 per diem permitted for at-home expenses. Legislators are entitled to travel and meals expenses, in addition to their $742/week in-session pay. However, the need for travel and eating outside of the home has greatly diminished since last spring.
Vax refusal bill introduced in Vermont
H.283, providing the right to refuse any unwanted test, treatment or vaccine, was introduced Thursday into the Vermont House. It would specifically prevent employers and state government from requiring vaccination in exchange for jobs, travel, childcare and other benefits.
Legalized prostitution ‘study’ bill returns
A bill to create a study group “for the purpose of modernizing Vermont’s prostitution laws” was introduced Wednesday into the Vermont House. It alleges state law prohibiting prostitution is steeped in racism.
As goes Texas blackout, so almost went New England
Three winters ago, New England narrowly avoided a regional power blackout such as struck Texas this week. What happened here three years ago and what is happening in Texas is strikingly similar.
The Ericka Redic Show: Can small business catch a break in Vermont?
In episode No. 5 of the Ericka Redic Show, the host interviews Shawn Shouldice to learn how the pandemic and government regulation have combined to hurt small business in Vermont — and what can be done to make survival more likely.
Fetal personhood bill introduced in Vermont
A bill declaring a fetus a legal person during the third trimester has been introduced into the Vermont House of Representatives. Vermont is only one of 12 states to reject fetal personhood for the purpose of homicide, feticide, or as a victim of other crimes.
House committees tackle three R’s: Race, Relinquishing guns, Reduction of carbon
Committees in the Vermont House this week will review bills regarding three of the Legislature’s favorite R’s: race, relinquishing firearms, and reduction of carbon. They also will review three-acre runoff, redemption of beverage containers, reorganizing police under one state agency, and more.
As the screw turns: ‘Break their will’ climate czar resigns
A high-ranking Massachusetts climate change official has resigned after he was caught on a Jan. 25 video advising the Vermont Climate Council to “turn the screws” on elderly fixed-income citizens and “break their will” in order to meet climate change mandates.
BIPOC home ownership, ranked-choice voting, Act 46 review bills intro’d into House
Legislation that would tweak state law about elections (non-citizen and ranked choice voting), climate change, home ownership, school mergers and child welfare are among the bills introduced into the Vermont House this week.