State News

Brattleboro Citizens' Breakfast

GMO - Right to Know & What we can do

The next "Brattleboro Citizens' Breakfast" will take place on Friday,  June 21, 2013 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

The Vermont House passed H. 200, a marijuana decriminalization bill today, accepting changes made by the Vermont Senate and sending the bill to the governor's office to be signed into law. If signed, it will go into effect July 1, 2013.

Governor Peter Shumlin said “I applaud the Legislature’s action to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Vermonters support sensible drug policies. This legislation allows our courts and law enforcement to focus their limited resources more effectively to fight highly addictive opiates such as heroin and prescription drugs that are tearing apart families and communities.” 

The seventh annual Way to Go! Commuter Challenge kicks off on May 13th, and it’s generating a lot of excitement. So far, 130 businesses have signed up to participate, and more than 1,500 commuters are pledged to take part. In addition, Governor Shumlin has officially proclaimed May 13th-17th as “Way to Go! Week” in Vermont to voice his support for the effort, which saves money while reducing air pollution and congestion on the state’s roads.

The challenge is designed to raise awareness of transportation options among commuters by encouraging them to travel in ways other than driving alone. Participants pledge to take the bus, bike, walk, carpool, car share, or telecommute during the week of the challenge, and become eligible to win a variety of prizes, including gym memberships, ski passes, hotel stays, transit passes, and much more.

There was a tornado vortex in Southwestern Vermont today.

Our own Peter Galbraith and a few other Vermont State Senators supported by anti-wind groups in Vermont have crafted legislation, currently embodied in Senate bill S.30, to prohibit the siting of wind in our state. The current version of the bill creates a local veto of any project by host, neighboring and even “affected” towns and requires all criteria of Act 250 to be complied with. A vote is expected this week and it could be one requiring a tie to be broken by the anti-wind Lieutenant Governor. Our Windham County Senators are split on this bill with Senator White appearing to oppose it, and Galbraith (one of the authors) strongly in favor of it. Senator McCormack from Windsor County is reported to be deeply torn by this bill and might vote either way. Please help convince Sen. McCormack to oppose the bill and lend some support to Sen. White.  Below is a listing of Senators.
 
Please call and/or write your senators to urge them to vote HELL NO on Senate bill S.30.  The Senate vote on the bill could happen as soon as today.

Vermonters won't have that nasty Federal Budget Sequester to worry about much longer! We're going to legalize and tax the heck out of marijuana sold to adults age 21 and over!  That makes good budget sense!
.....
House Bill 499, An Act Relating to Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2014/bills/Intro/H-499.pdf

Introduced by Representatives Davis of Washington,  Deen of Westminster, Masland of Thetford,  Stevens of Shoreham, and Zagar of Barnard.

Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:

Here’s a handy guide to expected changes and cuts in Vermont due to sequestration going into effect today, courtesy of the White House.

VERMONT IMPACTS

"If sequestration were to take effect, some examples of the impacts on Vermont this year alone are:

Teachers and Schools: Vermont will lose approximately $1,128,000 in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 20 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 2,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 10 fewer schools would receive funding.

Need a job? Can you "review and assess impingement mortality plans and entrainment mortality studies?" Do you have expertise on "CWIS technology and engineering, nuclear engineering and CWIS technical feasibility?" If so, you should consider the following bid opportunity from the State of Vermont:

3 Vermont State Senators - Senators Hartwell, Benning and Galbraith - Will Participate

GRAFTON, VT—With growing concern about the negative and destructive environmental impacts of a possible large-scale industrial wind development, Friends of Grafton’s Heritage has invited legislators and residents of towns with wind turbines to discuss the issues and personal after effects.