Help for Vermont’s Small Businesses

Vermont’s health care costs are rising by almost $1 million per day – over $350 million a year.  Picking up this tab is already too big a burden for our families, state programs and local economy to bear.  Times are especially tough for small business owners and their employees, who often go without health coverage because monthly premiums are simply out of reach. But thanks to new federal healthcare reform provisions, help is on the way.

Health Care Reform Commission Moves Forward

Vermont’s Health Care Reform Commission (HCRC) moved our state one step closer to comprehensive system reform yesterday.  Members voted unanimously in support of a consulting team, lead by Harvard Professor, Dr.

Understanding the new BPA law and recommendations for consumers

On May 19, Governor Douglas signed into law a bill to enact tough restrictions on the synthetic sex hormone, bisphenol A (BPA).  The VPIRG-backed law, Act 112, phases out the use of BPA in the following products:
 
•    Reusable food and beverage containers – This includes baby bottles, sports bottles, thermoses, Tupperware, and other reusable food and beverage containers.  Unfortunately, this does not include large water cooler jugs like those found in offices.  This provision of the law goes into effect on July 1, 2012.

What federal health care reform means for Vermonters

The recent passage of the landmark federal health care legislation (formally known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act) marked a pivotal moment in our nation’s history.

Consumer Victory on Credit Cards

 
On May 5th Vermont state legislators gave final passage to a bill that will help to curb predatory practices by credit card companies and protect both Vermont businesses and consumers.

VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns testified earlier in the House Commerce Committee in favor of the bill, S.138, An Act Relating to Credit Card Fees.  “With this legislation, Vermont becomes the first state to really stand up to the credit giants,” said Burns.

White House Follows Vermont’s Lead on Clean Cars

In a huge win for Vermont’s environment, public health and energy security, the Obama administration  announced new standards for automobile fuel economy and global warming emissions.  An analysis done by VPIRG and its national affiliate Environment America found that these new federal standards – based on the “clean cars program” developed by California and adopted by 13 other states, including Vermont – will save Vermonters 29 million gallons of gasoline by 2016 as compared to the previous

Outraged at Offshore Drilling Announcement

 The Obama Administration unveiled a proposal to open vast expanses of the Atlantic coastline, Gulf of Mexico, and the Northern coast of Alaska to new offshore drilling. 

Health Reform's Trump Card

After health reform passed the House of Representatives and was signed into law by President Obama, something extraordinary happened.

People stopped listening to opponents' characterizations of the health reform bill and started looking to see what was actually in the reform for themselves, their families and their businesses. Media outlets started to run stories answering those questions. And within days, polls like USA Today's showed more and more people coming around to support reform.

Health care high noon: Fox running on fumes

Take a look at this list of supposed "special deals" listed by Fox to supposedly illustrate the corrupt nature of health care reform:

Standing Up for Taxpayers

As Congress considers legislation to reform the U. S. patent system, it should take the opportunity to end the ridiculous practice of allowing people and corporations to patent tax strategies that complicate the tax filing process for everyday taxpayers.