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Who Should Pay for Vermont’s Pension Crisis?

By Rob Roper Vermont now has a $4.5 billion unfunded public pension liability for teachers and municipal workers. The politicians who created this problem are slow (stationary, actually) to take up the task of fixing this because the numbers are huge and telling someone they’re going to have to suck it up and pay does Read More…
Business & Economics Energy Statehouse Tax Land

From the Climate Solutions Caucus

* The Global Warming Solutions Act (H.688) recently passed the House on a strong vote of 105-37 and turns Vermont’s goals for carbon emission reductions into requirements. It requires the state to create a plan for meeting these targets and gives individuals a cause-of-action tool for court intervention if Vermont fails to develop or effectively Read More…
Business & Economics Tax Land

After, It’s Too Late To Vote ‘NO’

Well intentioned legislation can have unexpected, costly results. The current session of the Vermont Legislature features several sweeping environmental and land-use bills and proposals. Most notably are H.926 – Act 250: The Next 50 Years (Act 250 2.0), H.688 – the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) and PR.9 – Read More…
Announcements Energy Tax Land

Fair Warning ~ FINAL Two TCI Public Hearings

You can learn more about the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) at two final public hearings hosted by Vermont agency officials and regional planning commissions. TCI is a regional program that would establish a cap on global warming pollution from transportation fuels and invest millions annually to achieve additional benefits through reduced emissions, cleaner transportation, healthier communities, and more resilient infrastructure.  Read More…
Announcements Tax Land

Hey You! State Budget Public Hearing Today!

Public Hearings on Fiscal Year 2021 State Budget Monday Evening (Tonight) The Vermont House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are seeking public input on the Governor’s Recommended State Budget and will hold community based public hearings on Monday, February10, 2020, at the following locations in our region. Rutland Public Schools, Longfellow School Building, Board Room, Read More…
Business & Economics Statehouse Tax Land

Rent Control On Agenda for House Committee

February 3, 2020 – H670, giving cities and towns the power to exercise rent control, will be discussed Friday morning in the House Government Operations Committee of the Vermont House of Representatives. Sponsored by Reps. Curt McCormack (D-Burlington) and Brian Cina (P-Burlington), H670 would add rent hike increases to the list of rental housing powers Read More…
Hot! Op-Ed Tax Land

The Worst Democracy-Shredding Bill in Fifty Years

Over the past fifty years I have seen a lot of bills introduced into the Vermont legislature. Of all the bills over all those years, the absolute worst was just introduced in the House, with 87 co-sponsors (all Democratic and Progressive). It’s titled the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA, H.688). The Climate Action Coalition believes Read More…
Tax Land Windsor County

Vermont Timber Works rebuilding, but state makes it more expensive

Vermont Timber Works is excited to announce that just 3½ months after a fire devastated the business, the walls and roof are going up on its new facility, located on the existing property at 16 Fairbanks Road in North Springfield. Vermont Timber Works is rebuilding after devastating fire. A team of building professionals including Artisan Read More…
Tax Land

TCI Interstate Carbon Tax Is Imploding

The ink wasn’t dry on the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) memorandum of understanding before Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) declared it a “boondoggle” that his state would never support. That first domino fell hard, now several others are teetering. In Connecticut, Governor Ted Lamont (D-CT), who has an approval rating of 24 percent and is already Read More…
Tax Land

Democratic Lawmakers Seek 20%-37% Pay Raise

As if the tax-and-spend desires of Democrats under the Golden Dome weren’t apparent enough, now these same lawmakers have introduced two bills to raise their own pay. Yes, you heard that right. Even though we’re one of the highest taxed states in the nation. Even though many Vermonters are struggling to make ends meet. And even Read More…
Tax Land

How Will Vermonters Afford This Agenda?

The Vermont legislature returns in January with a long list of daunting challenges, all with potentially astronomical price tags for Vermonters, who are already some of the most highly taxed people in the United States. Among this list includes a projected 6% increase in property taxes to fund an education system already topping $2 billion Read More…
Energy Tax Land

JT Dodge: The cost of living in Vermont and the “TCI”

Vermonters must speak out forcefully against bills that include Carbon Dioxide taxes, fees, and economic schemes, as they are inhumane. “The “Transportation Climate Initiative” known as “T.C.I”, will raise the “cost of living” even more than it’s current elevated status. “WalletHub”, an online personal finance website, presents Vermont as having the fourth-highest overall tax burden Read More…