Current News

In testimony to the Legislature, New England Biotech Association (NEBA) has warned that a bill under consideration by the Vermont Legislature will create the most restrictive and onerous regulatory environment for biotechnology growth and development in both New England and the nation. The bill, 48/H. 270, would established stricter controls on interactions between the biopharmeceutical industry and health care professionals.
The legislation would eliminate existing protections of trade secrets, create an unneeded new state bureaucracy, and drive away research funding by mandating additional disclosure of expenditures, said NEBA spokeswoman Paula Newton, adding that four other states have rejected similar legislation.
"Plain and simple, this legislation will harm Vermont's biotechnology and life sciences sector and drive jobs away," Newton said.

The Senate unanimously passed a capital construction bill, H. 445. The bill is expected to provide jobs to thousands of Vermonters through renovation and construction of state buildings, water infrastructure projects, and improvements in forests and parks. Roughly $110 million will be invested into projects throughout the state, and the bill provides for $70 million in proposed borrowing, Additional funding comes from approximately $39 million in federal stimulus funds and about $400,000 from reallocations of previous capital projects. The bill will now be considered by a Senate and House Committee of Conference.
The bill spends $19.5 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars for water pollution control through sewer projects and $19.4 million of ARRA funds for drinking water projects. These investments in our water resources will provide jobs and result in cleaner water for Vermonters for generations to come.

WPTZ NewsChannel 5 and Seven Days, Vermont s alternative news weekly, have announced a partnership. The two news organizations are involved in a content-sharing agreement servicing residents of Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire. As part of this agreement, Seven Days contributors will appear twice a week during NewsChannel 5 s 11 p.m. newscast.
Elements of Shay Totten's political column, "Fair Game," will appear on Tuesday nights, in advance of the paper's Wednesday distribution. On Thursday evenings, Music Editor Dan Bolles will recommend upcoming events from "Notes on the Weekend," Seven Day's email newsletter.
The reporters made their first appearances on Newschannel 5 the week of April 20th.
It s an exciting move that will benefit the news consumer across the region, both online and over-the-air. The partnership will widen the exposure of both NewsChannel 5 & Seven Days, said Sinan Sadar, news director of WPTZ.

For the twelfth time since 1991, U.S.News & World Report has ranked Vermont Law School's environmental law program as the best in the nation. The program, run through the school's Environmental Law Center (ELC), offers the largest selection of environmental law courses in the nation. The ELC has also been active in international projects, assisting partner schools in China and Russia in the development of environmental law curricula. The 2010 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools will appear on newsstands on April 28.
Vermont Law School (VLS) President and Dean Geoffrey Shields says, "We are committed to protecting the planet's most valuable resource--our environment. I commend Environmental Law Center (ELC) Director Marc Mihaly and our outstanding faculty."

As a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), Vermont has been recognized for leadership in reducing emissions responsible for global warming. The EPA recognized the RGGI states for building a cap-and-trade program, which limits emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
The RGGI, created in September 2007, is composed of 10 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic state. Member states have capped power sector carbon dioxide emissions at current levels through 2014. The cap will then be reduced by 2.5 percent in each of the four years 2015 through 2018, for a total reduction of 10 percent.
The Climate Protection Awards were presented at an annual awards ceremony held in Washington, DC.

Vermont State Auditor, Tom Salmon, is attempting to find more ways for Vermont schools to save money on supplies. In a report released on April 20, Salmon said that schools are missing an opportunity to take advantage of the State s competitive bidding, estimating that they spend at least $60 million a year on supplies such as paper and computers. The state has an extensive centralized contracting system covering 400 commodities, but Salmon noted that only 21 percent of the school supervisory unions surveyed were checking state contracts.
The State s Department of Buildings & General Services (BGS) has developed an extensive centralized contracting system with competitively bid contracts covering 400 commodities in 45 categories, Salmon noted, but we are not adequately deploying this system to help schools stretch their dollars and save money.

Farmers may apply immediately for the new agricultural stimulus financing available through VEDA s farm lending program, the Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation (VACC). VACC has up to $6 million in low-interest financing available, made possible by $1 million in federal economic stimulus funds from Vermont s share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The new loan funding is available to help farmers with this season s operational costs feed, seed, fertilizer or other needs or, to refinance prior years operating costs. The stimulus financing has a variable rate, now at 2%. The term for the financing is generally two years (although terms may be longer under certain circumstances), and the maximum loan amount is $100,000.

Is it time to look at Vermont s transportation system or the lack of one? That is a question being explored by AARP and a number of other groups around Vermont. An AARP report released today shows that significant groups of Vermonters are unable to get where they need to go particularly older and lower income residents. As a strong consumer advocate, AARP is committed to supporting efforts that foster independence and livable communities or communities that have affordable and accessible housing, community engagement opportunities, and offer a range of mobility options.

The House has passed the Renewable Energy and Green Jobs Bill, H.446, to promote in-state renewable energy development and create well-paying green jobs for Vermonters around the state. The bill will encourage community-scale renewable energy developments and expedite the delivery of $21 million in stimulus funds for green energy projects. It is estimated that 15-20 jobs will be created per megawatt of installation every year. The bill passed third reading by a 2-to-1 margin, 88-44.
This bill is a great step in the right direction to building a clean, renewable, Vermont-based energy future and to bring well-paying jobs in the emerging green economy to our communities, said House Speaker Shap Smith. On the first day of the session, I said our focus would be on creating new and lasting economic opportunities for Vermonters now and laying the groundwork for a stronger, more vibrant state in the future. This bill accomplishes both of those goals.

A wildly fluid package of tax increases that crossed party allegiances was passed by the Senate Wednesday by a thin 18-12 vote. The slew of tax changes would result in a increase of $26.1 million in new revenues. A $4.55 billion budget then breezed through the Senate on a 27-3 vote. Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin pushed the tax package through the upper house despite objections from deep within his own party. Among the tax changes are across-the-board decreases in the income tax; limiting the capital gains exemption to $5,000 from 40 percent of value (to offset the income tax cuts); new taxes on satellite television services and digital downloads; re-imposing of a sales tax on clothing over $110; and increases in liquor and tobacco taxes.

Week Ending April 18, 2009. There were 1,598 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 160 from the week before. Altogether 18,991 new and continuing claims were filed, 499 more than a week ago and 8,233 more than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,070 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 12 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,260 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program which is an increase of 58 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

Governor Jim Douglas has welcomed a Quebec-based transformer manufacturer opening a factory in Vermont. The firm estimates it will create 16 jobs this year and up to 43 workers by the end of 2011. In a ceremony at the company s new facility in the St Albans Industrial Park, the governor introduced BEMAG Transformers, Inc and celebrated the company s selection of Vermont for their expansion project. The state used $267,569 in incentives to lure the Canadian firm to Vermont, as well as $106,000 for training, and VEDA financing of $718,000.
It is gratifying to see a world-class manufacturer appreciate the value of locating in Vermont, particularly one from our largest trading partner, Douglas said. This is another example of our state competing successfully for the jobs of the 21st century, and we look forward to helping Vermont Transformers grow and prosper here.