The Vermont House of Representatives is debating Vermont’s comprehensive health care reform bill (H.202), and will likely vote on it on Thursday March 23rd. In the next few hours there will be attempts to stall the bill, and there will be amendments introduced to weaken it.
The benefits of fluorescent bulbs in terms of energy efficiency are tremendous, and VPIRG supports their continued use. However, fluorescent bulbs also contain mercury, a known neurotoxin that can build up in our bodies and the environment. As the demand for energy efficient lighting increases, it’s imperative that Vermont have an effective recycling infrastructure in place.
Late last week the Senate Education committee passed a bill (S.92) to protect Vermont’s children from harmful cleaning chemicals in schools. The bill will require schools in Vermont to use safer, green cleaning supplies, and is headed to the full Senate for a vote.
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.
