VPIRG launched our Solar Communities program last Fall, and our organizing efforts more than doubled the number of solar homes in Waterbury and Williston in just three months. Having proved the concept, we’re now rolling it out to Montpelier, East Montpelier, Berlin and Middlesex with a new discounted solar hot water program.
Green Mountain Care is a universal health care program that will provide every Vermont resident with coverage for and access to high-quality, essential health services through a single payment system. It will take us a few years to get there, but H.202 is a bold and necessary step towards this goal. It includes clear goals, a strategic plan, and specific roadmap to get us from our current broken system to one that is universal, reliable, and patient-centered.
Congratulations to Charity Carbine for her stellar interview on VPR’s Vermont Edition! And thanks to all who called and wrote in supporting the Bottle Bill. It’s clear where Vermonters stand on this issue. And the awful performance by the beverage industry’s lobbyist makes clear they’re just out to repeal our recycling law.
Tomorrow (Thursday) at 12pm VPIRG’s Charity Carbine will be on VPR’s “Vermont Edition” to talk about Vermont’s Bottle Bill and the need to update this successful recycling program to include water bottles and other non-carbonated beverage containers.
Our friends at USPIRG have teamed up with two actors from the hit TV show “Mad Men” to create a hilarious video about high speed trains. We hope you enjoy!
The public hearing on state health care reform scheduled for this past Monday has been postponed until next Monday, the 14th, on account of the weather. It’s still being hosted by the House and Senate Health Care Committees from 6-8 pm, just a week later (hopefully we’ll all be dug out by then!). Join fellow activists, friends, and neighbors in showing your support for building a universal and affordable health care system at one of 15 Vermont Interactive Television sites across the state.
As Vermont transitions from a private insurance system to one that is publicly-financed and universal, it is critical that the daily concerns of our families and small businesses are not swept under the rug. This is a real danger and we need your help to stop it from happening.
In 1998, it became legal to patent various methods of filing taxes, which means you could be sued for simply filling out your taxes correctly. Fortunately, Senator Leahy has been leading the effort to fix this system and the bill is now on the Senate floor.
Town meeting is a rare instance of real, face-to-face democracy that only happens in special places like Vermont. Every year Vermonters gather to debate and make important decisions on everything from the roads we drive on to our energy future. We encourage everyone to attend their local town meeting and make their voice heard.
On Febuary 22nd 2011, the Vermont State Senate voted 20-10 on a bill (S. 31) that would have Vermont join a coalition of other states agreeing to give their Electoral College votes to whichever candidate won the national popular vote. The system would go into effect once enough states pass the bill to constitute a majority of votes in the Electoral College.
