By Angelo S. Lynn By now, the biggest sin of the GOP health care bill is well known: it’s a tax cut bill masquerading as a health care plan. Simply put, it takes health care away from lower-income and middle-income Americans who need it most, and it cuts taxes on the rich and super-rich by…

By Lee H. Hamilton As you watch the healthcare proceedings on Capitol Hill, imagine what things might be like if we lived in more functional political times. In particular, what if Congress were run by pragmatists? It would not change the issues at hand. On the one side, you’d have the Republican majority in Congress,…

By Sen. Patrick Leahy This is the first Sunshine Week, since it began in 2005, when the public’s right to know has been under direct assault, and on several fronts. “Fake news,” “alternative facts,” retaliatory restrictions on press access by the White House, and demonizing attacks on the working press are eroding the public’s access to…

Dear VPIRG, You asked for comments on the wind sound rules you would like to see in place. Since this is such an important issue to all Vermonters and your website wouldn’t receive comments, I had to seek other avenues to comment. These are statements you made to which I couldn’t help but respond. “Wind…

Dear Editor, As evidence of the dangers of secondhand smoke continues to rise, many communities have passed tobacco-free laws that cover outdoor areas such as parks, recreational facilities, beaches, outdoor workplaces, and public events such as county fairs and farmers’ markets. Locally, Rutland City passed a ban on all tobacco products in Rutland City parks…

Dear Editor, In his recent commentary in The Mountain Times, “Something to Write Home About,” Windsor County state senator Dick McCormack opines about “respecting the education fund.” He claims that he would never  raid the education fund for other purposes, due to his strong support for Act 60. Contrary to his present-day promise, McCormack fully supported…

Dear Editor, As a state legislator, my first responsibility is to stand up for a Vermont that works for all of us. I’m continually looking at what we can do to strengthen Vermont’s economy for future generations. I’m proud to be a lead sponsor of legislation that would create a family and medical leave insurance…

By Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos An open government makes for a better government. This is Sunshine Week and it is being celebrated all across the nation.4.1x7  In reality, it should be celebrated every week – not just this week – in Vermont and every other state. Here at the secretary of state’s office, our operations…

By Adam Grinold, Lyle Jepson, William Colvin There is a scene from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” set in days of the Black Plague. Eric Idle moves through a village, calling “Bring out your dead!” John Cleese appears, a body slung over his shoulder. As he negotiates offloading the corpse to Idle, the body interrupts;…

By Sen. Dick McCormack Refugees Before I take issue with Governor Scott I want to thank him for his reason and courage in condemning the bigoted banning of refugees based on their religion. We Americans have many conflicting opinions, but the things that unite us are greater than the things that divide us. Mutual respect…

Dear Editor, In 2011, Killington made a historic decision. Citizens agreed that all who are registered to vote in Killington should be allowed to cast a ballot to decide town issues. The ballot is technically called an “Australian ballot.” Most people just call this voting. Killington Town Meeting Article 7 would restrict voting on town…

Dear editor, I noted in the recent Killington town report that Article 7 involved a move to return to the town meeting floor vote for public questions. I guess I’m a little confused about why we would want to take a step back to a system that disenfranchised so many of our neighbors. Over the…

Top three reasons to consider Dear Editor, I am​ writing in support of the 1 percent local option sales tax, a tax I did not initially support years ago when first proposed, but one that I now find necessary and worthwhile. I am generally in favor of reduced taxes sent to Washington or Montpelier due…

Dear Editor, Title IX is an educational amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Enacted by Congress and signed into law by Nixon in 1972, the amendment states that there can be no discrimination on the basis of sex in any school receiving federal aid. In 2016, Obama enacted the guidance clause to reflect…

Dear Editor, With a national political conversation that seems to become more divisive and fragmented with each passing day, engaging locally to create meaningful and inclusive democratic change is as important as it ever has been. At moments like this, Vermonters have historically responded by gathering in granges and town halls to find common ground…