MONTPELIER — As the days are getting longer and snow is melting it is fitting that this is Sunshine Week, an annual celebration of government records and information as the cornerstone of government accountability and transparency. A government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as President[Read More…]
Editorial
Much is Happening in the Legislature
MONTPELIER — February and March are flying by and legislative activity is picking up speed as bills begin to come out of committee to the House floor for action. It was great to connect with so many folks in the Lamoille 2 district over town meeting week. Rep. Noyes and[Read More…]
Welch Reacts to Noem Saying, “We Are Going to Eliminate FEMA”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During President Trump’s March 24 Cabinet meeting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, “We are going to eliminate FEMA.” Senator Peter Welch released the following reaction: “The Trump Administration’s grand plan for victims of natural disasters is to abandon them, and it’s a complete non-starter.[Read More…]
For The Record
HARDWICK — Last week’s editorial, “Scams Abound, We’ve Just Been Lucky,” in referring to CAPTCHA rules should have referred to Turing, rather than touring. Alan Mathison Turing (June 23, 1912 to June 7, 1954) was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher and theoretical biologist. He was highly influential[Read More…]
Home Fries
Federal Funding Cuts have Local Impact on Agriculture and Food Access
HARDWICK — The impact of federal funding cuts can already be seen across the country, including Vermont, in many different sectors. With the most recent round of cuts, we are beginning to see firsthand the impacts on the agricultural sector. In addition to gutting specific programs, federal cuts also affect[Read More…]
Woodsmoke
Scams Abound, We’ve Just Been Lucky
Lately, it seems wherever I turn, there’s a warning about online scams. And not just normal news and information sites, where that’s to be expected, but when I log into bank accounts, utility accounts, shopping sites and elsewhere. That should be no surprise in a connected world where internet bandits[Read More…]
Phil Scott’s Two Big Money-Saving Ideas: Unshelter the Homeless, Take Food from the Mouths of Schoolkids
EAST MONTPELIER – The contest for “Stupidest Veto in the History of Phil Scott Vetoes” is a richly competitive one, with numerous contenders for the honors among the [checks notes] 52 vetoes he has unleashed upon Vermont’s normally placid and communitarian political life.* But the next one he threatens to[Read More…]
What Do I Need to Think About?
CAMBRIDGE — Town meeting week is always a good time to reflect as we take a break before we head into the second half of the legislative session. What did I learn from the first couple months of the session and what now do I need to think about for[Read More…]
Thoughts On Education Reform
MONTPELIER — A considerable amount of attention and work this legislative session has been devoted to Vermont’s PreK-12 public education system and how it is funded. This is important work. Thirty percent of Vermont state spending is devoted to our most precious resource, 83,000 children. Vermonters understand how meaningful these[Read More…]
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
To the Editor: I would like to address my dearest friends, neighbors and allies in Canada. I am writing in the hopes you will consider taking on Vermont as your 11th Province. If not as a Province, perhaps a territory. We have enjoyed so much freedom, support and genuine caring[Read More…]
