Current News
by tim
Middlebury College and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, one of the state’s leading backers of emerging high-tech businesses, have agreed to a deal that will provide the organization with a beachhead in Middlebury.
The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), which currently maintains a facility on the campus of the University of Vermont in Burlington, has agreed to purchase the Old Courthouse at 5 Court Street in downtown Middlebury from the college for $2 million. Middlebury will then lease back most of the Courthouse space from VCET. The building will continue to house staff members from the Office of College Advancement, Middlebury’s fundraising operation, which also occupies Painter House, directly across Court Street from the Courthouse.
The purchase and sale agreement was signed by Middlebury College and VCET officials on February 18, and a closing is expected in early March.
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by Anne Galloway, vtdigger.org
A single-payer health care system would likely save money in the first few years of implementation, but over time costs would likely outstrip revenues, according to Steve Klein, director of the Vermont Joint Fiscal Office.
The House Health Care Committee asked Klein to evaluate the financial implications of the Hsaio single-payer report on Thursday.
‘The good news is, if we take on this whole system â ¦ in the first two years we’ll see cost savings,’ Klein said.
The bad news? Klein said in countries that use single-payer systems, the long-term, economic trends show an underlying financial dynamic in which health care costs ‘rise faster than revenues.’
Klein also warned that building a system will entail making difficult choices regarding benefit levels and revenue sources for the system. On the federal level, he anticipates there will be fewer resources available.
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by Anne Galloway www.vtdigger.org
What does $190 million in tax breaks for Vermont’s wealthiest residents have to do with the state’s yawning budget deficit of $176 million? Not much at the moment, but if two Progressives in the Legislature have their way, income-earners who are in the top tax brackets will have an opportunity make a personal contribution to the budget-gap reduction effort.
CORRECTION: The top income-earners in Vermont will save $190 million in 2011 alone, not over a two-year period as previously reported.
In January, the Public Assets Institute issued a report showing that 5 percent of Vermonters ‘ those who earn more than $200,000 a year ‘ stand to save $190 million under the extension of President George W. Bush’s tax cuts. The top 1 percent of Vermont income-earners will see a $100 million reduction in their taxes in 2011, according to the Montpelier-based Institute.
by tim
The Vermont Agency of Transportation announced today that it will begin testing a TowPlow as part of its ongoing effort to explore new technologies to improve winter maintenance operations during heavy snow events. The new equipment test will take place during the next few storm events along I-89, northbound and southbound, between Brookfield (mile marker 35) and Berlin (mile marker 50).
‘The Agency is looking forward to seeing the results of testing this equipment during a storm’ noted Scott Rogers, Director of Operations for VTrans. ‘We are always looking to improve our service for Vermonters and are focused on becoming more effective and efficient. We hope new technology such as this can help us better achieve our goals.’
If the results of an initial test are positive, the Agency may look to test the equipment in other parts of the state for the remainder of the winter season.
by tim
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced today that he will bring the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to Vermont for a hearing on Monday, March 7, to look at ways to protect and promote Vermont’s unique brand.
Leahy is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he has set the hearing, titled ‘Strategies to Protect and Promote Vermont Brands,’ for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 7, in the Ross Gymnasium at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt.
‘Vermont’s name has come to define the high quality of the products made in our state,’ said Leahy. ‘Efforts to strengthen and protect our state’s brand have always been the product of a partnership between the private and public sectors. This hearing will give us an opportunity to find ways to build on that partnership and discover ways to protect and improve the quality brands that have come to define Vermont’s foods and products.’
by tim
With turmoil spreading across the Middle East, light sweet crude oil spiking above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2008, and summer driving season fast approaching, Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and two House colleagues have asked President Obama to reprise a tactic used by the last three presidents and consider using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve [SPR] to reduce prices in the short-term for American consumers and businesses.
‘As we approach the summer driving season, we must carefully consider all immediate options in order to prevent the runaway increase in prices that we saw in the summer of 2008,’ write Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). ‘We therefore urge you to consider leveraging the SPR to respond to these supply disruptions and combat the rapid price escalations resulting from rampant speculation in the oil markets.’
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Stephen P Marsh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Community Bancorp and Community National Bank is pleased to announce the recent appointment of James (Jake) G Wheeler, Jr as a Director to Community Bancorp’s Board.
Jake has practiced law with Downs Rachlin Martin, PLLC since 1974 and has been a member of the firm since 1978. His practice focuses principally in the areas of corporate governance, transactions, and financing; complex real estate acquisitions and financing; and trusts and estates. Jake graduated from Harvard University (B.A., cum laude, 1970) and Boston University School of Law (J.D., 1974). He is a member of the Caledonia County, Vermont, and American Bar Associations and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
by tim
Hundreds of young cross-country skiers from Vermont and all over New England will arrive in Ripton this weekend for two days of games, races and fun on snow.
Rikert Ski Touring Center on Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf campus and the Frost Mountain Nordic Ski Club are hosting the annual TD Bank Bill Koch Festival. Cross-country skiers age 5-13 will participate in two days of competitive and non-competitive events.
Events include opening ceremony and parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, relay races on Saturday and individual races and a lollipop race on Sunday.
Bill Koch League is a youth cross-country ski program of the New England Nordic Ski Association. Organized in local clubs across New England, Bill Koch League provides coaching, races and events for skiers age 5-13. Bill Koch from Brattleboro, Vt. was the first American to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, when he won a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics.
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by Anne Galloway, vtdigger.org. Legislative committees in the House of Representatives are in wind up mode before the big mid-session break ‘ town meeting week ‘ and the action in the infield will be intense as lawmakers gear up to make a final pitch for bills. The last day to introduce legislation is Feb. 28, and the deadline is coming up hard and fast for big bills. By the time lawmakers return from a week of bonding with constituents, all the major legislation will be in play ‘ bills will be voted out of House committees and a flurry of floor votes will ensue. Then it’ll be the Senate’s turn at the bat.
The House Appropriations Committee will be marking up the Big Bill ‘ that is making changes to the appropriations draft bill proposed by Gov. Peter Shumlin ‘ every day this week. Members of the committee will lift their heads from the arduous task of balancing the budget in the face of a $176 million shortfall to take testimony from the public.
by tim
There were 886 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 184 from the week before, as claims increased following a steady decline to a level close to last year at this time. Altogether 12,365 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 120 from a week ago and 2,270 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,109 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 21 fewer than a week ago. In addition, there were 953 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is an increase of 2,692 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc
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States will see significant new federal support in their efforts to help move Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions and into their own homes or other community settings now and in the near future, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today.
The Affordable Care Act provides additional funding for two programs supporting that goal, the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program and the Community First Choice Option program. Today, Secretary Sebelius announced thirteen States would together receive more than $45 million in MFP grants to start that program in their States, with a total of $621 million committed through 2016. In addition, HHS has proposed rules to allow all States to access a potential of $3.7 billion in increased federal funding to provide long-term services and supports through the Community First Choice Option program.
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The Rutland County Community Advisory Board (RCCAB) of
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) announced today the release
of its Worksite Wellness Grants for 2011. The grants, available to
businesses in Rutland County, will range from $250 - $750 per site,
according to program scope and need. The grant applications are due on
March 22, 2011.
To request an application or to get more information, please contact Megan
Peek at (802) 764-4858 or by email at [email protected]
The organizations will be selected based on the strength of their grant
applications ‘ with a focus on the potential improvement of employee
health, as well as the level of innovation, creativity, intended impact and
evaluation plan. All of the organizations will report their program
outcomes to the RCCAB.
The Rutland County Community Advisory Board, which is supported by BCBSVT,