As 2019 draws to a close, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is celebrating eight years of trout stream improvement efforts in northeastern Vermont. Trout thrive in streams that are complex – what some would call messy.  That complexity often comes from trees that fall into a stream, creating a mix of pools and shallow…

Vermont continues its safety streak to remain one of the safest states in the nation, according to research firm SafeWise. The Green Mountain State beats national rates for both violent and property crime. Vermont comes in with 2.07 violent crimes per 1,000 – half the national rate of 4.49. And the safest cities did even…

By Rep. Jim Harrison Last spring there were no fee increases and no tax hikes being proposed (other than for a scaled back family leave plan, which was met with a veto). Last year the governor was proposing to keep education rates down with surplus revenues. This year, the Legislature is likely to utilize new…

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos recently announced that Vermont has been ranked 11th in total voter turnout for the 2018 midterm election across all 50 states in the seventh biennial edition of the “America Goes to the Polls” report, released by the nonpartisan groups Nonprofit VOTE and the U.S. Elections Project this week. “Voting…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson One of the biggest challenges for a state senator is attending Town meetings.  The Windsor County District encompasses 26 towns and is the largest county in Vermont.  I treasure Vermont’s Town Meeting tradition and its form of direct democracy.  As a relatively new Windsor County Senator – visiting town meetings gives…

By Rep. Jim Harrison As we enter the ninth week of the 2019 legislative session and the official crossover date of March 15, committee schedules take on extra meaning this week. Crossover is set by legislative leadership and marks the date by which various committees  must pass out bills in order to crossover and be…

So far, a total of 15 Vermont towns passed a climate solutions resolution on Town Meeting Day this year, with more results to come in. Last year, 39 Vermont towns passed the resolution, which brings the total to 54. The results of 350Vermont’s two-year campaign indicate that residents from 54 Vermont towns are calling for…

The Department of Vermont Health Access announced recently that enrollment in Vermont’s individual health plans increased to 34,396 in January, up nearly 1 percent from the prior year. The number of subsidized members and unsubsidized members both increased relative to the prior year. Due to increased federal subsidies for those who qualify, the average subsidized…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson Poverty has a corrosive effect on our families, our communities and schools, and on our Vermont State Budget. I believe that along with Climate Change, poverty is the biggest challenge we face as a state. Our state budget increases in mental health, substance abuse prevention, food and housing assistance programs, education,…

By Rep. Jim Harrison The House spent two days this past week debating a wide variety of amendments to H.57, the abortion rights legislation. None of the proposals passed and H.57 went on to approval easily. In my vote explanation Wednesday evening, I said, “Madam Speaker, I came here today hoping H.57 would get amended…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger The president of the Vermont-NEA asked lawmakers to consider pushing back the deadline for implementing proficiency-based graduation requirements in the state’s high schools to 2022. Proficiency-based learning asks that student progress be assessed on the skills they can show they have, not seat-time in a classroom. The state’s Education Quality Standards, which were adopted by…

By Rep. Jim Harrison This Wednesday, when this column first appears in print, the Vermont House is likely to have an extended debate, potentially into the evening, before voting on H.57, the controversial abortion rights legislation. With no Vermont laws on the books restricting access to abortions, one might ask why we are having the…

By Sen. Dick McCormack    Legislators representing the Springfield region are carefully monitoring developments at Springfield Hospital. The Scott Administration is working with the hospital board and administrators to deal with these highly complex financial issues. They’ve asked for time and patience to work things out, and for politicians to exercise restraint. I’m sorry to…

By Rep. Jim Harrison As the Legislature completes its fifth week, I’m reminded how much of the work is quietly done in various committees and often out of the headlines. Only a portion of the bills introduced each session are actually voted on by the full House or Senate. Fewer still get signed into law.…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson No matter the temperature outside, or the travel challenges, during this time of year the State House is humming with activity.  Whether it’s a public hearing, committee meetings, advocacy training, the governor’s open door coffees on Wednesday mornings, the lieutenant governor’s film series, or Farmer’s Night every Wednesday evening – the…