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Vermont: Legislature

June 1, 2009 - 08:31 am
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

Drama under the Dome

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)

Do supporters of the Legislature's budget have the votes to override? Will they need them? You can read about it in today's Free Press.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 121 comments posted in response to this story.

May 15, 2009 - 11:19 am
NEWS FEED: Vermont Tiger

Emerson Lynn On Politics

By Geoffrey Norman

Governor should jump at chance to address budget Gov. Jim Douglas is being urged to sign the budget passed by the Legislature, or, failing that, to present his own budget, showing what he would cut, how he would generate the...

Read More at Vermont Tiger >
There have been 67 comments posted in response to this story.

March 2, 2009 - 10:26 am
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

Town meeting survey says ...

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)

Many of you are headed to town meetings tonight and tomorrow. When you get there, you'll see the familiar Doyle town meeting survey.

Sen. Bill Doyle, who was first elected in the Buchanon administration (slight exaggeration acknowledged), asks Vermonters every year to weigh in with their opinions on the issues facing the state.

Some of the questions will look familiar.

- Should use of cell phones while driving be prohibited?
- Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
- Should Vermont have a mandatory seat belt law for adults? (It's not a primary, pull-over-able offense now)
- Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Should the gas tax be increased to pay for road/bridge repairs?
- Should we reduce the Vermont prison population with alternatives for non-violent offenders?
- Are you satisfied with the public schools?
- Are you satisfied with your health insurance?
- Are statewide cell service and broadband important to the state's future?
- Is Vermont an affordable place to live?
- Should Vermont Yankee's license be renewed in 2012?
- Is the Legislature doing a good job?
- Is Gov.

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 33 comments posted in response to this story.

February 27, 2009 - 06:42 pm
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

Douglas staff takes Shumlin to task

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)

Gov. Jim Douglas’ senior staff unleashed a torrent of complaints Friday against Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, taking him to task for inaccurate statements he has made in recent days.

A couple of things are at play here:

1) This comes in the same week a couple of people publicly said Shumlin is interested in running for governor in 2010.

2) Shumlin is prone to exaggeration.

Six agency and department heads sent Shumlin letters objecting to things he had said to the media.

Shumlin’s aide said he concedes misstating one fact, but stands by the others.

Finance Commissioner Jim Reardon said Shumlin erroneously told The Bennington Banner that the Legislature would save 14 percent of its budget by cutting two weeks off the session.

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 36 comments posted in response to this story.

February 25, 2009 - 12:27 pm
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

Out of the Wilderness

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)

Rep. Peter Welch joined the battle, so to speak, about the Wal-Mart store that is proposed near to a Virginia Civil War battlefield where Vermonters played a key role.

In a letter to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, Welch and Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) expressed their “profound disappointment” in the company’s plan.

The Legislature weighed in earlier this month with a resolution calling on Virginia officials not to allow the project to go ahead.

"These lands and lands near them should always be spared from commercial development," the letter says. "There are countless other locations your company could consider for a more responsibly sited development in this region. "

- Terri Hallenbeck

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 26 comments posted in response to this story.

February 16, 2009 - 01:22 pm
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

From Vermont to Virginia

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)


Here in Vermont, the Legislature passed a resolution calling on officials in Virginia to protect a key Civil War battlefield near a monument to Vermont soldiers rom encroaching development.

The actions did not go unnoticed down in Virginia. Here's the story in the Fredericksburg paper:

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/022009/02142009/446099

- Terri Hallenbeck
f

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 25 comments posted in response to this story.

February 5, 2009 - 11:56 am
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

Betting on the lottery

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)

Here's what they're talking about in Iowa - leasing the lottery to raise money.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090205/NEWS10/902050362

In this case the Legislature can't get the governor interested. Are they onto something?

- Terri Hallenbeck

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 26 comments posted in response to this story.

January 29, 2009 - 02:00 pm
NEWS FEED: Burlington Free Press

True blue

By noreply@blogger.com (vt.Buzz)

Here's a little statistic that may keep Vermont Republican Party Chairman Rob Roper awake at night.

According to a just-released poll by the Gallup Co., Democratic leaning Vermonters outnumber Republican leaning Vermonters by 33 percentage points. Gallup says that makes the state the fourth bluest state in the country, behind only Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Hawaii. The District of Columbia is even more pro-Democratic, but of course it's not a state.

For a peak at the Gallup findings, click HERE.

The 33 percentage point gap, at first glance, is a jaw-dropper. Most polls I've seen over the years have the Ds five or 10 percentage points up on the Rs.

Read More at Burlington Free Press >
There have been 28 comments posted in response to this story.