Current News

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org When I wrote my first stories about money in politics, I ran up against the roadblock every political reporter in Vermont has faced: The difficulty of finding out just how much money individuals and their companies and family members give to candidates for office.
The Vermont Secretary of State’s office uses an arcane system for tracking donations, and without investing many hours in the review of hundreds of spreadsheets, it’s nearly impossible to figure out which contributors donate the most to politicians.
Candidates are asked to download an excel form, which they fill out and return to the Secretary of State as paper spreadsheets. The office then scans the reports and puts them on the office website in an unsearchable PDF format.
VTDigger’s Campaign Finance Database

by Morgan True vtdigger.org A bill that would delay the implementation of Green Mountain Care, the state’s planned universal public health care program, won’t make it out of committee. The bill was sent to the House Health Care Committee, which voted Wednesday on bills it plans to work through before crossover. H.858, which would push the governor’s single payer plan to 2019, didn’t make the cut.
‘It’s disappointing but not surprising,’ said Rep. Patti Komline, R-Dorset, the bill’s primary sponsor.
Though H.858 had picked up a bipartisan group of sponsors, it was essentially dead on arrival.
One of those sponsors was Rep. George Till, D-Jericho, an obstetrician, said the proposal makes good sense, but he recognizes it is largely a symbolic gesture.
‘Moving to GMC is a massive change in our medical system,’ he said.

by Lori Fisher, LCC Executive Director Drugs are making their way from our medicine cabinets into our waters, and traces of pharmaceuticals have been found in the environment. Drugs may pass through our bodies unchanged or unused pills may be dumped down the toilet. Wastewater treatments systems were not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, and their ultimate environmental fate is unclear.
The first broad look at the pharmaceuticals in the United States occurred in 2002. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey sampled for traces of 95 widespread chemicals from 139 rivers in 30 states, and found evidence of the substances in 80% of the waterways. The average river contained seven different chemicals. Since then the number of potential contaminants has increased, but little else has changed.
Americans’ pills are ending up in our waterways. Photo via morguefile.com.

Rural Vermont has released the 2013-2014 Report on raw milk production and sales. For the fifth year since the passage of Act 62, which enables the direct sale of raw milk by farmers to consumers, Rural Vermont has presented to the legislature an overview of how the current law is working for farmers and the economic impact of raw milk sales. Although, there is growing consumer demand for raw milk, Vermont famers consistently report that current regulations need to be amended to make raw milk production more economically viable for farmers and practical for consumers.

A coalition of 34 advocacy organizations and the Vermont legislative Climate Caucus is pushing the Legislature to continue to fund the Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program at its current level of $12 million. The governor's proposed budget would decrease the program's capacity by failing to maintain the funding level that has been bolstered by 5 years of "one-time" funding - first ARRA stimulus funding, and then funds from the GMP-CVPS merger.
The ARRA funding allowed the program to build infrastructure and purchase equipment that allows for best practices in weatherization. The five years of increased capacity also coincided with the State of Vermont setting a goal of weathering 20,000 low income homes by 2020. Although progress has been made, 14,000 homes still need to be weatherized to meet this goal.

After about a week of speculation by IBM employees and managers in Vermont, the union representing some IBM workers announced Wednesday that the technology giant will announce another round of layoffs on February 26. The Alliance@IBM website, which is run by the Communications Workers of America union, has accurately predicted layoffs in the past, including the large one in June 2013 in which 419 Vermont workers lost their jobs.
According to a report in the Burlington Free Press, the cuts will affect Vermont and New York plants. IBM employs about 4,000 at its sprawling facility in Essex Junction.
A Alliance@IBM post states: "Comment 02/05/14: From the Alliance: Sources have told us to expect job cuts Feb. 26th. Organize and fight back now! -Alliance-"
http://www.endicottalliance.org/jobcutsreports.php

by Tim McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc shares rose rapidly in after hours trading Wednesday to over $110 per share on the news that Coke would buy 10 percent of the company. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR), based in Waterbury, Vermont, announced today that the companies have signed a 10-year agreement to collaborate on the development and introduction of The Coca-Cola Company's global brand portfolio for use in GMCR's forthcoming Keurig Cold at-home beverage system.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc, based in Waterbury, Vermont (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and single-cup coffee makers, today announced its results for the 13 weeks ended December 28, 2013. Results included net sales of $1.4 billion, up 4 percent over the same period a year ago, and earnings per share up 30 percent.
GMCR released the results after markets closed Wednesday. Shares traded heavily during the day and closed up slightly at $80.88.
GMCR also announced a long-term deal with Coca-Cola that will see Coke also buy 10 percent of GMCR for $1.25 billion. SEE STORY. GMCR's EO Brian Kelley is a former Coke executive.
After the news was released, shares shot up over 30 points by 5 pm to over $110 in after hours trading. The 52-week range is $42.25 - $89.66.
Performance Highlights

Governor Peter Shumlin and Transportation Secretary Brian Searles today announced the recipients of $2.2 million in federal funds for municipal grant projects under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The majority of the funding will be used for construction projects in Putney, St Albans, Williston, Hyde Park, Cabot, Rutland City, Springfield, Montpelier, Readsboro and North Bennington.
More than 14,000 feet of sidewalks with crosswalks, flashing beacons and curb ramps are among the many safety improvements slated for construction. In addition, grant funds will be used to repair the roof of the North Bennington train depot. The program will also provide close to $100,000 in scoping funds for proposed projects in Wilmington, Burke, Springfield, Hartford, Fair Haven and Killington.

Builder Chet Pasho of Hartland, Vermont, has been named Residential New Construction Partner of the Year by Efficiency Vermont. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in constructing energy efficient homes that provide lower energy and maintenance costs, superior comfort and air quality, strong resale value, and durability.
‘Chet has been a leader in the residential building industry for decades,’ said Peter Schneider, Senior Energy Consultant with Efficiency Vermont. ‘Chet started incorporating advanced framing and air sealing techniques into his projects well before other builders and he is still at the forefront of homebuilding innovation.’

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Negotiations for a second massive information technology project with the tech giant CGI officially fell through last week, state officials said. Vermont canceled its request for bids on the Integrated Eligibility ‘IE’ Solution Project on January 24. The project is meant to provide tracking and eligibility systems across programs administered by the Agency of Human Services.
CGI was the only company to bid on the contract, said Doug Racine, secretary of the Agency of Human Services, and the state felt it needed more options.
‘This is a big project and we need to explore our options to make sure we get the best vendor possible,’ he said.
Racine said CGI’s poor work performance on the state’s health care exchange website was a factor in the decision to cancel and reissue the request for bids.

by Hilary Niles vtdigger.org Business leaders peppered the state’s top politicians with questions about mandatory paid sick leave and raising the minimum wage Tuesday.

Governor Peter Shumlin, House Speaker Shap Smith, Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell and Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott took turns addressing the concerns of the business community at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon.
New labor proposals were added to a list of perennial issues topping the private sector’s agenda for the 2014 legislative session. Vermont’s tax climate and business regulations, as well as health care, tourism funding and workforce training were also discussed.