By Angelo Lynn Open meeting laws are part of state statute to insure citizens are kept abreast of what government is doing. That’s as much true in state government as it is for school boards, town selectboards, zoning and planning commissions, or numerous other committees and subcommittees formed to carry out the important work of…

By Governor Peter Shumlin Earlier this month, Vermonters gathered at town meetings around the state to make decisions large and small about their communities. This year, two towns in particular made one very large decision about the future of education in their communities. As we continue the debate in Montpelier about how to address rising…

By Rob Roper There are plenty of reasons for parents and kids to love school choice in the 90-plus Vermont towns that already have it, and there are plenty of solid educational and social arguments for expanding the program to all Vermont towns. But why should folks without kids care? Property values. A recent study…

Dear Editor, We want to thank everyone involved in the Bruce Oldenburg benefit held on March 8. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, support, generous donations and their time, the benefit was a huge success. Special thanks to Chris Karr for hosting the benefit at the Pickle Barrell Nightclub and providing food and advertising. We also…

By U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate one of our nation’s most basic values, the public’s “right to know.” Our very democracy is built on the idea that our government should not operate in secret. James Madison, a staunch defender of open government, whose birthday we celebrate each year during…

Dear Members, Thank you to those that came out and voted on Town Meeting Day. I would like to congratulate Chris Bianchi on his re-election and thank voters for passing the budget. Your votes helped ensure that we have a Selectboard and a plan that supports that mission of the KPAA and the best interests…

By Andy Robinson, VTDigger.org contributor Despite what you’ve heard, Vermont is a great place to do business. In 2002, I moved my business and my family to Vermont. Since we arrived, the business has grown every year, so our adopted state has been a great place to own and run a business. Let me tell…

Dear Editor, As the Vermont Legislature considers its budget deficit, a viable alternative is to increase the sales tax on liquor and tobacco. Vermont presently has the lowest sales tax on liquor in the nation. With these increased taxes Vermont can close its budget gap, save money in social services, and improve the health and…

Dear Editor, By now you should already know the outcome of the vote: 176-153 in favor of Chris Bianchi. I’m glad I ran for office and happy I spent the time and effort putting together the data from the town report about the Town of Killington having a deficit. The independent auditor did come out…

By Lee H. Hamilton The question usually comes toward the end of a public meeting. Some knotty problem is being discussed, and someone in the audience will raise his or her hand and ask, “Okay, so what can I do about it?” I love that question. Not because I’ve ever answered it to my satisfaction,…

By Governor Peter Shumlin As we head into the second half of this year’s legislative session, it’s a good time to evaluate the progress that has been made in the two months since the session began. In January, I laid out a number of priorities to keep Vermont moving forward that included cleaning up Lake…

Dear Editor, ARC Rutland Area, an organization that works with citizens with developmental disabilities and their families (short for Advocacy, Resources and Community) wants to say “Thank you” to Rutland Lodge of Elks #345 for again having sponsored a Valentine barbecue and dance for approximately 70 members, family and friends of ARC Rutland Area on…

By David E. Raven Most of us have heard the phrase “pay yourself first” at one time or another when referring to personal savings plans. The idea is simple, designate a portion of your weekly paycheck to automatically go into your personal savings account, just as you would pay your mortgage, car loan, or child’s…

We have a long way to go until we are all able to make an informed decision about legalizing marijuana. The recent report released by the RAND Corporation is a good first step in learning more about the issue, but it is imperative that we do more information gathering, research and data collection before Vermont…

By Governor Peter Shumlin Putting together a budget is never an easy task–everyone knows that from personal experience–and it is harder when finances are lean. But we all do what we need to do to make ends meet. Perhaps we cut back on dinners out, cancel a family vacation or keep the family car another…