Anne | March 3, 2011
Human Trafficking H. 153 encompasses the recommendations of the Human Trafficking Task Force to create a comprehensive approach to this complex crime, which may involve forced labor or sexual servitude. Traffickers prey on vulnerability: undocumented farm workers, runaway and homeless youth, abuse victims, women in debt, persons displaced by war or natural disasters, and temporary [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Government Operations: Is it your right to know? Legislative studies were done in 2005 and 2007 on the openness of the state’s (and municipality) public records laws. 2011 is the year that long sought changes are being attempted. There are an estimated 260 exemptions –reasons why the public can be denied access to records -throughout [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Health Care Vermonters who face big increases in their insurance premiums and their medical bills know that our health care system is broken. It can and must be fixed; if not, health care for Vermont residents will cost $5.9 billion dollars in 2012. That is a $2 billion dollar (or 50%) increase since 2006 – [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Natural Resources: Renewable Energy The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee is working on a renewable energy bill, H.56, which will continue to move Vermont to a clean energy future, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and protect ratepayers from volatile price swings in future energy costs. This is an ongoing effort, and there are [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Telecom Coverage Vermont has set an ambitious goal: to extend Internet broadband and cell phone coverage throughout Vermont by the end of 2013. This is a big, complex project with many interconnected parts. The legislature and administration are working with the state’s utilities, telephone companies, and cable operators to knit together a network of fiber [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Protecting Our Most Vulnerable The House Judiciary Committee is continuing its work to protect our most vulnerable Vermonters in a series of bills. First, it voted out a bill extending the time a prosecution for sexual abuse or exploitation of a vulnerable adult can be brought. This is called the statute of limitations (SOS). All [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Wildlife The Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources committee is considering legislation dealing with Vermont’s deer herd and the Public Trust. This bill (H.91) proposes to codify Article 67 of the Vermont Constitution by declaring that “the fish and wildlife of Vermont are held in trust by the state for the benefit of the citizens of [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Vermont Yankee: Tritium Leaks The Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee have continued to monitor the tritium leaks at Entergy Vermont Yankee. In January of 2010 Vermont Yankee experienced two separate tritium leaks which eventually impacted the groundwater quality at the site. This impact is being remediated through groundwater extraction by VY and natural dilution [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Strategic Investments The Capital Bill is where the State lays out how to spend its yearly bond money. The money is used for productive investments in our state buildings, infra-structure, and certain municipal projects. The Capital Bill allows us to invest in Vermont. Vermont has been very conservative with its borrowing, and the state has [...]
Anne | March 3, 2011
Tribal Recognition The House passed legislation acknowledging the Nulhegan and El Nu Abenaki bands as state-recognized tribes. This historic moment comes a year after enacting a law that set up a process and criteria for recognizing tribes in Vermont. This is after decades of political gridlock on the recognition of the Abenaki people. On top [...]
