Current News

by Anne Galloway vtdigger.org April 11, 2011 At the 11th hour last week, as the House of Representatives prepared to engage in what promised to be a third reading food fight over a new tax on consumers to fund the Clean Energy Development Fund, which largely benefits solar developers, Gov. Peter Shumlin let it be known at a press conference that he had a plan that would render the 55-cent monthly fee on electric meters unnecessary.

Southern Vermont College has unveiled a new initiative which helps make a career in nursing more affordable for interested students. The President’s Leadership Award for Nursing (PLAN) program offers students who are currently enrolled in community college and have met the prerequisites the opportunity to continue their education and career path at SVC, with cost-saving incentives.
The PLAN offers eligible students a $7,500 scholarship, a free Nursing I textbook, and involvement in Monthly Leadership Seminars and a weekly Nursing Boot Camp. Southern Vermont College’s small classroom size, low student-teacher ratio, ‘Hands on Learning’ environment and new Simulation Lab offers many advantages over other programs. ‘At SVC a student receives a private college education at a state college price,’ said Director of Admissions Jeremy Gibbons. ‘The PLAN helps make a nursing degree even more affordable.’

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said today he will vote against a bill that cuts more than $38 billion from programs that help working families without calling for shared sacrifice by the wealthiest Americans.
Sanders' Statement:
Bush-era tax breaks for the very rich were extended last December ‘ driving up the deficit. ‘Today, in order to reduce deficits that Republicans helped create, they now are slashing programs of enormous importance to working families, the elderly, the sick and children,’ Sanders said. ‘At a time when the gap between the very rich and everybody else is growing wider, this budget is Robin Hood in reverse. It takes from struggling working families and gives to multi-millionaires. This is obscene.’

Green Mountain Council's 32nd Distinguished Citizen of the Year Dinner
Honoring Senator Bernie Sanders
Green Mountain Council to recognize U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders with the 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award. April 29, 2011 6:00 PM- Sheraton Hotel in South Burlington.
The Distinguished Citizen Award from the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, is presented to individuals who have exemplified strong leadership and support for families and children throughout the state. It has been presented to Vermont's outstanding citizens for more than a quarter century. This year it is being awarded to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.
Last year, the Green Mountain Council awarded at over $15,000 to more than 300 Vermont children who otherwise could not have afforded to attend the Green Mountain Council summer camp programs and Scouting activities throughout the year. The Council serves the entire State of Vermont.

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.’