On April 13, Green Mountain Power filed a traditional rate case with the Public Utility Commission for rates set to take effect January 2019. The filing calls for a base rate increase of  5.45 percent and a bill credit that equals about 6 percent, more than offsetting the increase. The result for customers is a net…

By Senator Alison Clarkson It was a real treat to see “1776” at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction and to be invited to participate in the “talk back” with the audience after the show. In response to our current political climate, the show’s producers had hoped to encourage debate about our aspirational…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon As Vermonters well know, especially those of us on dirt roads, we are approaching mud season. It may not be our favorite time of year, but we take solace in knowing that green grass, warmer temperatures and spring flowers are just ahead. In some respects, this…

Vermont Marble, Granite, Slate & Soapstone Co., a Vermont- and New York-based custom stone manufacturer, has proposed to donate medallions of the world famous Vermont Verde Antique stone, quarried in Rochester, Vt., to “The Border Wall Project.” Owner, Paul Thompson said, “It would be an honor to donate something so very beautiful and God-given to…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon It’s that time of the session, where the Senate committees are busy reviewing and amending House passed bills and the House is doing the same with Senate bills. While sometimes both bodies pass the same version of a bill, often there are differences, which will need…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation notifies the traveling public that Route 103 from Rockingham to Clarendon will be resurfaced this spring and summer. This project will proceed through Rockingham, portions of Chester, Cavendish, portions of Ludlow, Mount Holly, Wallingford, Shrewsbury and Clarendon. The contractor, Pike Industries, will begin preliminary construction activities the week of April…

About 89 Stafford Technical Center participated in the SkillsUSA Leadership Conference at various locations in and around South Burlington April 4-5. Students competed to demonstrate personal, workplace and technical skills. Stafford Technical Center garnered 33 medals total in individual and group competitions, including eight gold medals, 18 silver medals, and seven bronze medals, according to…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon With six weeks left on the schedule for the 2018 legislative session, we got a glimpse this past week of the potential stumbling blocks prior to conclusion. With new gun legislation largely behind us (S.55 was sent to the governor and two other measures relating to…

By Alison Clarkson, Senator, Windsor County Both bodies of the Vermont Legislature have now passed three major measures to improve firearm safety in our state. These bills: S.221, H.422 and S.55, are designed to keep guns out of the hands of those who intend harm to themselves or others, domestic violence abusers, and those with…

By Katy Savage RUTLAND—Congressman Peter Welch said his constituents are frustrated by the lack of progress in Congress and the apparent lack of agreement between legislators. Welch said he’s also frustrated. Welch, D-Vt., of Norwich, spent Monday, April 2, in Rutland. He took questions from about 25 people at the Phoenix Books for a Congress in…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger A landmark bill that would make a series of significant changes to the state’s gun laws has received final approval from Vermont’s General Assembly. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, says he intends to sign that bill as well as two others that introduce new gun control measures. The passage Friday, March…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger Hundreds of gun activists swarmed the State House lawn Saturday afternoon, March 31, to protest the passage of S.55, legislation that puts sweeping new restrictions on gun use in Vermont. Republican Gov. Phil Scott has promised to sign the bill into law. During the rally, participants formed two lines on the sidewalk…

By Xander Landen, VTDigger The House passed a $5.84 billion budget proposal Friday, March 23, that lawmakers say addresses the needs of the most vulnerable Vermonters and makes long-term investments without raising taxes or fees. Facing little debate, the budget bill, H.924, passed overwhelmingly in a vote of 122-10. While representatives put four amendments on the table,…

On March 21, the House passed the tri-partisan Education Finance Reform Bill, H.911 on a vote of 85-54. The bill provides a restructuring of the Education Fund, updating the Vermont personal income tax code to streamline it with the federal changes and eliminating taxable Social Security benefits for low and middle-income Vermonters, while preserving funding for Vermont’s…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon This past week, the Vermont House voted on a proposal to lower residential property taxes for education. Who could be against that? After careful consideration, I voted against H.911 when it came up for preliminary approval. The legislation does lower the residential property tax rate on…