Current News

by John Herrick vtdigger.org In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, Vermont learned several lessons about how to prepare for the wrath of climate change, state officials often say. Now Vermont is sharing what it learned with the Obama administration, as the nation responds to drought, heavy rain and other extreme weather patterns linked to a changing climate. President Barack Obama’s principal environmental policy adviser toured the state Thursday to witness first-hand Vermont’s recovery from the damage left by Irene in 2011.

“We got a chance to see some of the impacts that are still quite visible from Irene,” said Michael Boots, acting chair of the White House Council of Environmental Quality. “But also some of the really innovative, and creative, and really pragmatic work that people here in Vermont have been doing to respond.”

by Morgan True vtdigger.org The House of Representatives passed a health care reform bill Thursday by an 89-44 margin after a heated debate over when the governor should produce a financing proposal for the state’s planned universal health care program. It’s a debate that has played out several times on the House floor, with Republicans seeking to introduce amendments that would compel the administration to show its work. Those efforts failed again Thursday.

“I find it disturbing that this Legislature refuses to hold the administration accountable,” said Rep Kurt Wright, R-Burlington, who like many Republicans is incredulous that there has been no repercussion to Governor Peter Shumlin’s repeated delays in presenting a financing plan.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org New exemptions to Vermont’s open meeting laws are on notice for a Senate vote, likely Friday morning. The changes will make it easier for public bodies to hold closed-door meetings with legal counsel. An earlier version of H.497, passed by the House, carved out an allowance for executive sessions to discuss “pending” lawsuits to which the public body may be a party.

The Senate version, recommended by the Senate Committee on Government Operations, loosens that exemption. Public bodies would be able to enter a closed executive session for “pending or probable” litigation, or for any confidential attorney-client communications.

by Morgan True vtdigger.org The House of Representatives gave preliminary approval Thursday to a bill that changes current practices for treating people with severe mental illness and streamlines aspects of the judicial review process to medicate a small number of patients against their will. The House voted 132-6 in favor of the legislation, which must be reconciled with the Senate-passed version before landing on the governor’s desk.

Supporters say the bill strikes a difficult but necessary balance between protecting people’s rights and providing appropriate treatment to them when they lack the capacity to be involved in treatment decisions because they’re experiencing acute psychosis.

Vermont Tech announced Thursday that David Blittersdorf, well-known renewable energy entrepreneur and president and Chief Executive Officer of Williston-based AllEarth Renewables, has committed $120,000 to support the launch of the college’s new Renewable Energy bachelor’s degree program.

The new Bachelor of Science program will prepare graduates to play a hands-on role in implementing the State of Vermont’s goal of achieving ninety-percent renewable energy by 2050. The program will launch in the fall of 2014 and is currently accepting students.

Vermont Business Magazine The opening Friday of the newest US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC) building, near the IBM campus in Essex, is a continuation of the agency’s effort to provide efficient services to those seeking immigration benefits. The $3.9 million facility houses approximately 275 employees. The VSC handles family-based petitions; requests for humanitarian visas, such as immigration relief for victims of crime or trafficking; and a range of benefits related to work petitions for entertainers, athletes, and specialty occupations.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org A single piece of legislation this spring encapsulates grand visions of the state’s economic future and specific strategies for shifting Vermont’s businesses and workforce into high gear. The omnibus economic development bill passed the House on Wednesday with overwhelming support. But representatives voted on a substantially different bill than the one senators approved in late March.

Vermont is the only East coast state to have three resorts open for May skiing and riding. Jay Peak Resort, Killington Resort, and Sugarbush Resort will be spinning lifts and shredding soft bumps and groomer track on over 50 trails this first weekend in May.

PHOTO: Pond skimming at Killington in April.

“Having this many resorts and this much terrain open is a huge testament to the quality of snow and rich ski culture that you can only find in Vermont,” said Sarah Wojcik, Ski Vermont’s Director of Public Affairs. “We can thank Mother Nature for a cold, snowy winter and our 80% snowmaking capacity for the long-lasting base we’re still skiing on in May.”

Saturday, May 3, 2014 marks the 192nd day in operation for Killington Resort. That adds up to over six months of skiing and riding, and made it possible for skiers and riders to ski 8 out of 12 months of the year; and there is no end in near sight.

Vermont Business Magazine The Tax Foundation has released its latest tax map showing the top state corporate income tax rates in 2014. Vermont and New Hampshire levy the same 8.5 percent rate, which is 12th highest, not including those states that levy a gross receipts tax. This map shows top corporate marginal tax rates in each state. Corporate income taxes vary widely, with Iowa taxing corporate income at a top rate of 12 percent (though the state allows deductibility of federal taxes paid), followed by Pennsylvania (9.99 percent), Minnesota (9.8 percent), Illinois (9.5 percent), and Alaska (9.4 percent). On the other end of the spectrum, North Dakota taxes corporate income at a top rate of 4.53 percent, followed by Colorado (4.63 percent), Georgia, Mississippi, and Utah (5 percent).

by Laura Krantz vtdigger.org Lawmakers agreed to a medical marijuana dispensary bill that includes a study of legalizing and taxing pot. The Senate on Wednesday voted to concur with House changes to S247. It now heads to Governor Peter Shumlin’s desk for his signature. The bill eliminates the cap on the number of patients allowed to use medical marijuana dispensaries, among other measures.

The House nixed the Senate’s approval of two additional dispensaries but agreed not to include post-traumatic stress disorder on the list of qualifying conditions for buying medical marijuana.

Vermont Gas kicked off a community engagement and planning process Wednesday for Phase Three of the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project.At the first of three open houses, Vermont Gas employees met one-on-one with local residents at “topic tables” to learn about converting to natural gas, energy efficiency and how natural gas can help families and employers cut their heating bills by about 50 percent.

“It was a pleasure to meet with folks from the Rutland area and start the discussion about how natural gas can help them save money, strengthen the economy and improve the environment,” said Jim Sinclair, vice president of sales, marketing and service for Vermont Gas. “People who attended Wednesday’s open house were eager to talk about our project and how Vermont Gas can help enhance the economic vitality of the Rutland County region.”

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org As the Vermont House put the finishing touches on a plan to mandate school district mergers over a six-year period on Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee passed a separate piece of legislation that would create supervisory union efficiencies. Lawmakers passed H.883 in the House, 76-60, on the third reading with several new requirements, including a Joint Fiscal Office review of unfunded school mandates, a provision that will allow districts to work with private preschools, and an analysis of three groups of school districts that are going through the voluntary merger process.