Current News

by Senator Bernie Sanders The good news is that Vermont has one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country; fully 88 percent of our kids leave high school with a diploma. All of us – parents, educators, community members and most of all, our hardworking students – should feel great pride in that accomplishment.

The bad news is that Vermont is close to the bottom in terms of college enrollment rates. While nearly 75 percent of high school seniors say they want to pursue postsecondary education, just 53-59 percent (depending on the survey) actually enroll. Not surprisingly, the gap is widest for students whose parents didn’t attend college, students from low-income families, and students with disabilities.

by Representative Don Turner The time to act is now. The Legislature faces a rare opportunity to make Vermont more affordable for all. The Affordable Care Act requires re-negotiations of all teacher health insurance plans beforeJanuary 1, 2018. This provision allows the state to save money by dropping the high premium or “Cadillac” insurance plans. Working alongside the Vermont School Boards Association and the Vermont Superintendents Association, Gov. Phil Scott has created a proposal to negotiate all healthcare contracts for teachers and school employees under a single statewide plan. It would bring about an estimated $75 million in savings.

by Mike SmithThe attack usually comes from someone you don’t know. Their goal is to supplant the truth with doubt, to undermine credibility and diminish achievements, and to destroy character for reasons that often remain unknown. They are like thieves, bent on robbing those human qualities that are most valuable to their victims—qualities such as integrity and honor. And no one is immune from these personal attacks. I know, because what I just described happened to me.

Vermont Business MagazineSenatorBernieSanders(I-Vermont), along with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), introduced two pieces of legislation to help workers around the country form employee-owned businesses.

Vermont Business MagazineMobius convened the 2017 Vermont Mentoring Symposium at the State Offices Complex in Waterbury on Tuesday, May 9. This statewide event brought together more than 60 youth mentoring program staff, board members, and supporters from across Vermont for a day of networking and professional development.

Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power announced Friday a first-of-its-kind program that includes the Tesla Powerwall 2 and utilizes Tesla’s cutting-edge GridLogic software platform.According to Kristin Carlson, GMP's VP of Strategic & External Affairs, this partnership will help customers make a dramatic step forward in energy independence by using stored energy to help drive down the costs of the grid and improve the comfort, energy use, and resilience of their own homes. The program will also help directly lower costs for all customers by reducing transmission and capacity costs, especially during peak energy times like hot summer days, while also increasing reliability, she said.

Leonine Public AffairsWhile the Vermont General Assembly initially planned to adjourn Friday, May 6th, a disagreement between the Democratic-controlled legislature and Republican Governor, Phil Scott regarding education spending and teacher health insurance contracts prevented that from happening. As a result, the plan was to come backon Wednesdayof this week for a two day session to wrap things up. However, even after going an extra day through today (Friday), the legislature and administration still had not reached an agreement. As a result, the full Senate plans to returnon WednesdayorThursday next week(5/17 or 5/18). The full House could return as early asTuesday(5/16) and will be notified by email as to the exact return date.

Vermont Business Magazine"One love, one heart..." So begins one of the most recognized songs in reggae history.Bob Marley'smemorable refrain is a call for global compassion, and is a perfect anthem for Ben & Jerry's latest flavor, One Love. The flavor concoction that came to fruition in partnership with the Marley family pays homage to the legendary performer and his vision for a better world.

Vermont Business Magazine ThisMother's Day, Mamava, maker of the world's first free standing lactation suite, is standing in solidarity with breastfeeding mothers and their babes with the release of avideoannouncing their new mobile locator app. The Mamava app provides a digital solution for the struggle endured by every breastfeeding mom: the lack of dignified space to express breastmilk. The new Mamava app supports moms on the go by locating Mamava lactation suites and over 1200 other Mamava-vetted public lactation rooms.

Vermont Business Magazine Hiking Vermont’s hillsides is a great way to enjoy a spring day, but the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Audubon Vermont recommend you check to see if the area you’re planning to hike or climb is open. Several cliff areas are currently closed to protect nesting peregrine falcons.The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department partners with Audubon Vermont to monitor the sites throughout the nesting season.

“Peregrine nesting is well underway this spring,” said John Buck, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department biologist. “The falcons are very sensitive to human presence so we ask climbers and hikers to please maintain a respectful distance from all nests. These closures help people to choose an alternative route in advance.”

Vermont Business MagazineNational Life’s Board of Directors has elected Chief Executive Officer Mehran Assadi chairman of the board, effective immediately. Assadi has served as president and CEO of the company since 2009. He will retain those titles as he also assumes the chairmanship. He succeeds Thomas H. MacLeay, a former president and CEO who has served as chairman since 2002. MacLeay will remain on the nine-member Board as the lead director.

The unanimous election of Assadi by the Board of Directors followed the annual meeting onMay 12, 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) today received proposed rates for 2018 Qualified Health Insurance Plans (QHPs) offered on Vermont Health Connect (VHC), Vermont’s online health insurance marketplace. For its VHC plans with coverage beginning January 1, 2018, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT), which insures more than 70,000 Vermonters through VHC, requests a 12.7 percent average annual rate increase. MVP, which covers approximately 10,000 Vermonters in VHC plans, requests an average annual rate increase of 6.7 percent. The GMCB typically will issue a decision that lowers actual rates. One large caveat in all this is that Congress is working on a new health care plan that could replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The House already has passed a plan, which could be revised if not wholly undone by the US Senate.