Current News

The Chairs of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Senator Susan Bartlett and Representative Martha Heath made the following statement today in response to the Governor s budget proposal:
We are pleased that the Administration finally put its proposal on the table but it is disappointing to see primarily recycled ideas.
After a cursory review of the proposal we have several significant concerns. First, the proposal would result in a monumental property tax increase. We are seriously concerned that their proposal to shift the teacher s retirement to the Education Fund would result in shifting the entire teacher s retirement liability, roughly $100 million, onto the property taxpayers. We do not believe that Vermonters can afford a property tax increase of this proportion.

Secretary of Administration Neale Lunderville today outlined the Governor Douglas s alternative budget approach for FY 2010. Lunderville called it a balanced, responsible and sustainable plan that addresses immediate fiscal pressures with long-term fiscal prudence. The Douglas plan reduces state spending by $32.8 million and raises $13 million in new taxes instead of $26 million. It also adds back $9 million in economic development and higher education-related spending. The administration maintains that its plan advances reforms necessary to tackle the Legislature's FY 2011 projected deficit of $67 million. The Douglas plan pays for an income tax cut by transferring the increase in the capital gains tax; and restores the sales tax holiday, which found favor with consumers but which was less popular with economists.

Governor Jim Douglas issued a statement yesterday regarding the Obama Administration s decision to adopt California standards nationally for automobile tailpipe emissions. Vermont was the first state to follow California's lead in requiring a higher standard than the federal requirement. The Bush Administration had blocked the implementation of the tougher standards resulting in California, Vermont and other states suing the federal government. The auto industry then filed suit in an attempt to block the implementation of the California standards.
I applaud the Obama Administration s clear-eyed decision to establish greenhouse gas standards for cars and light trucks based on California s strict tailpipe emissions standards.
As the first state to adopt California s greenhouse gas emissions standards and to successfully defend them against legal challenges by the automobile industry in federal court, Vermont helped to pave the way for this decision.

In Vermont yesterday, US Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell announced the award of $50 million in grants, including $1.8 million for the Eden Forest in Vermont, to permanently protect twenty-four working forests across twenty-one states, through the Forest Legacy Program. This program permanently protects important private forestland threatened by conversion.
The Forest Legacy Program conserves open space which allows us to respond to climate change, improves water quality and flows and connects children to nature, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The strength of the Forest Legacy Program is the cooperation between States, partners and private landowners all working together to protect environmentally and economically important forests that are threatened by conversion.

Central Vermont Medical Center s Outpatient Anticoagulation Coumadin Clinic provides patients with a complete and organized approach to anticoagulation therapy, using established protocols. Protocols to manage therapy are followed by anticoagulation clinic nurses under the medical supervision of Dr. David Ospina. A comprehensive assessment by a registered nurse along with intervention and education provide patients the tools they need to have successful outcomes.
Physicians prescribe the anticoagulation medication coumadin to reduce the blood s tendency to form clots. It is important to regularly check the medication s effect to ensure that the patient s blood is not too thin or too thick. Therefore physicians will provide a referral to the clinic and set up a patient s first appointment.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a three-for-two stock split to be effected in the form of a stock dividend. The Company will distribute one additional share of its common stock to all shareholders of record at the close of business on May 29, 2009 for every two shares of common stock held on that date. The shares will be distributed on June 8, 2009 by the Company's transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer so that the new shares issued will equal 1.5 times the pre-split number (rounded down as necessary) with fractional shares paid in cash. The Company’s common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on June 9, 2009 at the June 8th closing price divided by 1.5.

Practice Greenhealth, the nations only membership association devoted to environmentally responsible healthcare, has announced its 2009 Environmental Excellence Award winners. These competitive awards are given to institutions within the healthcare sector for outstanding programs to reduce the facilitys environmental footprint.
Fletcher Allen Health Care of Burlington and Metro Health Hospital of Wyoming, MI, were acknowledged with Practice Greenhealths highest award by being admitted to the Environmental Leadership Circle, which honors facilities that exemplify environmental excellence and are setting the highest standards for environmental practices in health care.

The Salaam Boutique has been recognized as a 2009 Editors Choice in Yankee Magazine s Travel Guide to New England, as Vermont s Favorite Women s Clothing Store. The Editors Choice recommendation designates Yankee editors and writers favorite restaurants, lodgings, attractions, and bargains across New England.
Yankee s editors and our trusted legion of travel writers select our Editors Choice winners, says Yankee editor Mel Allen. From their own experiences and tips from our readers, they research and find the most deserving establishments in New England. Recipients range from the rustic to the refined, but all are noteworthy and memorable destinations.

Representative Peter Welch today announced the hiring of two Vermonters for positions in his Washington and Vermont offices. Brent Raymond, a Swanton native and Williston resident, will join Welch s Vermont office as Business Liaison. Julia Drost, a Brownsville native and University of Vermont graduate, will join Welch s Washington office as Staff Assistant.
I m pleased to welcome these outstanding Vermonters to our team. Brent and Julia both bring valuable experience and an understanding of the state that will be an asset to our office and to the Vermonters we serve, Welch said.

David Blow of Granite State Development Corp, Vermont s #1 SBA 504 Loan Specialist, has announced that the US Small Business Administration has approved its statewide expansion allowing it to serve all Vermont communities. For more information, contact Granite State Development Corp. at (802) 865-8094 or www.granitestatedev.com.

Driven by declines in both satisfaction and brand image, customer commitment to retail banks has decreased in 2009, according to the JD Power and Associates 2009 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study(SM) released today. This marks a steady decline in customer commitment since 2007. Now in its fourth year, the study finds that only 35 percent of customers say they are highly committed to their retail bank in 2009, compared with 37 percent in 2008 and 41 percent in 2007. On average, highly committed customers use more products, give more referrals and are much less likely to switch to another bank, compared with customers who have lower commitment levels.
"Customers reporting the lowest levels of commitment in 2009 happen to be those with deposit balances that are 15 percent higher than average," said
Michael Beird, d

GAW High Speed Internet Inc., (GAW) Vermont's largest Wireless Internet provider announced today
the acquisition of Southern New England Wireless Internet Service Provider LLC, (SNEWISP).
Headquartered in Springfield, MA, SNEWISP provides an important broadband connection for
businesses and residences in and around Southern New England's thriving five college community and
the beautiful Berkshire mountain range, home to some the world's great artists and innovators. The
SNEWISP network has visibility to over one million people, extending west to Worcester, MA and south
to Hartford, CT.

SNEWISP was formed to provide affordable and reliable broadband Internet service to the many New
England communities having trouble getting a quality, high-speed Internet connection; a vision shared
by GAW. Noted Justin Leland, SNEWISPS's General Manger, "We are thrilled to become part of GAW