Current News

Governor Peter Shumlin today outlined his proposal to increase available funding for renewable energy projects through the Vermont’s Clean Energy Development Fund without adding a fee to electric bills at a time when Vermonters are pressed for cash.
‘Instead of adding a 55 cent monthly fee to Vermonters’ electric bills for one year, I propose an option to those who have already been offered solar tax credits funded by the CEDF to take a 50 percent discount on the value of their credits in return for receiving an upfront, one-time grant in lieu of the credit, once their projects are up and running,’ the Governor explained at a news conference in Montpelier on Monday.
The Governor’s plan is modeled on the current federal law, which allows for 100 percent cash payment from the Department of Treasury.

The 28th Annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference (VTIC) will be held in Burlington at the Hilton Hotel Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12th ‘ 13th, 2011. A newly created ‘Marketing Speed Dating’ will be held the evening before, Monday, April 11th at the Hilton open to conference attendees and the general public interested in meeting one-on-one with some of the area’s most recognized marketers.
Registration is open for the 28th Annual VTIC Conference at www.vtic.org.

The Vermont Convention Bureau has announced the selection of Burlington as the host location for the 2011 and 2012 USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships. This signature event, first being held in August 2011, will welcome 2,000 athletes along with 4,500 spectators from across the United States for a multisport festival.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org April 9, 2011 Doctors who testified at a hearing on Thursday were divided on the merits and potential pitfalls of the health care reform bill, H.202, which is now under consideration in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. The legislation creates a framework for a universal, unified health care system in Vermont.
Physicians said the bill, which is designed to contain health care costs, would have a negative impact on the state’s ability to retain and attract physicians in urology, neurology, obstetrics, orthopedic surgery, oncology, emergency care, and other specialized medical fields. Most of the doctors who testified were from Fletcher Allen Medical Center. A number of hospital administrators also spoke in opposition to the bill.
Most primary care doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses, at the hearing, supported the legislation.
The split between specialists and general physicians reflect an economic divide in medicine.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org April 11, 2011 A director of health care reform would orchestrate the state’s fledgling effort to adopt a single-payer system, if a draft proposal from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee is adopted.
Read the 80-page draft legislation.
The director would answer to the secretary of the Agency of Administration and would be responsible for development of a financing plan as part of the coordination of the governor’s signature health care reform initiative. In addition, a deputy commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access would be hired to provide support for the Green Mountain Care board.

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org April 11, 2011 The two big money bills are now in the Vermont State Senate’s court: the miscellaneous tax bill and the budget. It looks like the Senate will consider significant changes to the former, when it considers two new taxes ‘ an assessment on water extraction and an alternative minimum tax that would hit the wallets of wealthy Vermonters who have sidestepped the state income tax.

Central Vermont Public Service has been named a Tree Line USA Utility and winner of the 2011 Tree Line USA Award by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The award is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, and recognizes utilities that provide high-quality tree care, annual worker training in tree care and tree planting and public education programs. This is the ninth straight year CVPS has been recognized as a Treeline USA Utility.
‘Utility providers like Central Vermont Public Service are setting a good example about the importance of recognizing the taking of care of a valuable community resource like trees,’ said John Rosenow, the founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Bob Cotton has been appointed chief financial officer and senior vice president of National Life Group, it was announced today by Mehran Assadi, president and chief executive officer.

In his new post Cotton, who joined National Life in 1993, will be responsible for all financial operations of National Life Group, a Fortune 1000 company with $29 billion in assets under management. He will also work with Assadi on strategy and business development.

Commenting on the appointment, Assadi said, ‘Bob’s deep knowledge of National Life Group and his broad familiarity with the entire financial services industry will be of tremendous value as we execute our plans for the future. As the leader of our companywide initiative to craft a new three-year strategic plan Bob brought energy and focus that helped us develop a clear direction for our future.’

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced today that he has accepted an appointment as Co‐Chair of the Elections Committee for the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). Condos, a Democrat, will jointly lead the committee with Utah Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell, a Republican. The committee is dedicated to informing members about state election administration practices and laws, tracking proposed federal legislation and election reform proposals and developing policy positions for consideration by the organization.

The Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE), an outdoor retailer that has been a part of the Burlington community for over 15 years, announced today that this May it will move into the Church Street space currently occupied by Old Navy. By more than doubling the amount of retail space, this move will allow for expanded inventory and product selection, improved displays, more jobs and a better overall shopping experience. The move will also allow for increased back-office, warehousing, and gearx.com distribution space.
‘After many years, we’ve simply outgrown our current space on Cherry Street,’ said Marc Sherman, OGE co-owner and visionary. ‘Finding a big enough space in the heart of downtown Burlington was difficult but we were committed to staying in this community. When we heard Old Navy was moving out, we jumped on the opportunity to acquire the space. It feels good to move our locally owned store into a spot previously filled by a national retail chain.’

The Vermont House of Representatives has passed H.73, a bill increases transparency and accountability in state government. The legislation will provide for greater access to public records and allow for better enforcement of the Vermont Public Records Act (PRA).
The public records law as it currently stands is very complex and full of exemptions, making enforcement inconsistent across agencies. H. 73 seeks to make access to public records more readily available and the process understandable. The bill also sets up a process to review the necessity of current exemptions.
‘The current public records act is confusing for both individuals requesting access to records and those agencies providing the records,’ said Speaker Shap Smith. ‘By clarifying current law, state government will be more responsive to its citizens’with transparency, efficiency and accountability.’

Virginia L Hood, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., F.R.A.C.P., F.A.C.P., professor of medicine at the University of Vermont, has been elected 2011-2012 president of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the nation’s largest medical specialty organization. UVM medical alumnus David Bronson, M.D.'73, F.A.C.P., president of Cleveland Clinic Regional Hospitals, has been named president-elect. Their terms began during Internal Medicine 2011, ACP’s annual scientific meeting, held April 7 to 9, 2011 in San Diego, Calif.