Current News
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State Auditor Tom Salmon CPA announced the creation of the Accountable to You, Accountable to Me statewide wellness initiative. This program will encourage Vermonters to take a proactive role in their own personal health and wellness by focusing on accountability to one’s self and others who are part of their lives. By signing up to be held accountable to one’s individual health and/or savings goals, Vermonters will employ a new strategy to achieve better personal and community results in the year ahead.
Vermonters will have an opportunity to sign up for one of the following categories:
· No Use of Alcohol
· No Use of Tobacco or any illegal substances
· Lose 25 pounds
· Save 2,012 dollars to donate to a Vermont charity.
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Governor Peter Shumlin, Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller and other administration officials today released the final Comprehensive Energy Plan, which recommends that Vermont strive to obtain 90 percent of our total energy from renewable sources by 2050, largely eliminating Vermont’s reliance on fossil fuels by mid-century.
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A recent report finds that Vermont’s food industry is responsible for 15 percent of Vermont’s economy, over 21,000 jobs and over $837 million in wages. The report further shows that the food industry generates more than $202 million in state and local taxes and $166 million in federal taxes.
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Appointments for the upcoming Gift-of-Life Marathon Blood Drive were filled today, with nearly 2,000 people signed up to help Rutland County take a run at the national one-day blood collection record.
‘While we are no longer taking appointments, we encourage walk-ins to turn out next Tuesday,’ said CVPS spokesman and co-organizer Steve Costello. ‘We are thrilled with the appointments, which have come from across the county and region, but we still need people who couldn’t make an appointment to join us in the run for the national record. Given deferrals and last-minute cancellations, walk-ins will be critical to the effort.’
The national record is 1,968 pints, set this fall in Manchester, N.H. , which also broke Rutland’s New England record of 1,400 pints in a day, set at last year’s Gift-of-Life Marathon.
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As part of its ongoing efforts to help raise money for local businesses damaged in the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene, Mount Snow Resort has raised over $10,000 by raffling off the #50 Golden Chair from the Grand Summit Express lift with all proceeds going towards WilmingtonVTfloodrelief.com; a fund started by the Deerfield Valley Rotary Club and Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce that distributes the money to affected businesses that want to re-open. The Southern Vermont resort sold raffle tickets for $5 each giving people the opportunity to win the Golden Chair which was given a fresh paint job and hung on a custom timber frame.
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States are spending billions per year on corporate tax credits, grants and other economic development subsidies that often require little if any job creation and lack wage and benefit standards covering workers at subsidized companies. Vermont finished second best, while Washington, DC, was worst. These are the key findings of Money for Something: Job Creation and Job Quality Standards in State Economic Development Subsidy Programs, a study published today by Good Jobs First, a non-profit research center based in Washington, DC, It is available at www.goodjobsfirst.org. (See attachment for Vermont grades)
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In a far-reaching and historic advance for the National Guard’s role in the nation’s defense and security structure, bipartisan conferees on the annual Defense Authorization Bill have agreed to give the National Guard its first seat on the nation’s highest military council, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the Senate’s sponsors of the Guard reforms, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
The final version of the defense bill also includes other major provisions of The National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act (S.1025) authored by Leahy and Graham. The Leahy-Graham bill, with 71 Senate cosponsors, had been added to the Senate’s version of the defense bill. Counterpart provisions had also been included in the House’s version of the bill.
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The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has announced that, on December 7, 2011, the Chittenden Unit of the Superior Court Criminal Division ordered Williston-based home improvement contractor Donald Bevins to pay a combined total of $79,623.08 in restitution to two of his former employees.
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Campaign for Vermont Founding Officers Bruce Lisman and Mary Alice McKenzie met Wednesday with Governor Peter Shumlin, Commerce Secretary Lawrence Miller, Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding and Chief of Staff Bill Lofy at the Governor’s invitation.
‘We had a very productive meeting discussing the all-important theme of prosperity and a vibrant Vermont economy,’ said Bruce Lisman Founding Officer of Campaign for Vermont.
Mary Alice McKenzie concurred that, ‘Accountability is among the most essential pillars of a democracy and transparency informs whether our state programs are effective. It is important that Vermonters are provided with the best programs to help them reach the next rung of the economic ladder.’
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The Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced that Brent Raymond has joined the state agency as the new director of the Vermont Global Trade Partnership.
Raymond will be directing the work of the agency’s international trade office. The office assists Vermont businesses of all sizes with international trade-related educational seminars, trade show participation, technical assistance and one-on-one consulting services. The office provides funding to help Vermont businesses access international markets.
1.6 Million Children Homeless in America
Child Homelessness Increased By 38% During Recession Era
More than 1.6 million children or one in 45 are homeless annually in America’according to a
new report released today by The National Center on Family Homelessness. This represents an
increase of 38% during the years impacted by the economic recession (2007 to 2010). The 124-
page report, America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010 (see www.HomelessChildrenAmerica.org),
ranks the 50 states from best (1) to worst (50) and offers specific policy solutions.
The report, which updates a previous study by The National Center, looks at trends in child
homeless from 2006 to 2010 using data and research on the extent of child homelessness, child
well-being, risk for homelessness, and state policy and planning efforts. Data from the original
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Some 15 Post Offices across Vermont, plus two service centers, will be spared elimination, saving 245 jobs, at least foSenator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined senators from around the country today to announce that the US Postal Service voluntarily agreed to their request for a five-month moratorium until May 15 on closing postal facilities.
The moratorium would give Congress more time to consider postal reform legislation, including a bill introduced by Sanders.