With a few days left in the 2015 legislative session the Vermont legislature passed significant legislation to protect consumers in rent-to-own transactions. The rent-to-own industry rents goods such as electronics, furniture and appliances to customers with little to no money down at greatly inflated prices. These services allow customers to pay top shelf prices on …
Before closing out the 2015 legislative session, lawmakers came to agreement on a health care reform package that moved forward important reform policy, and made necessary financial investments. The three million dollar package that passed the legislature is a shadow of the 90 million dollars originally proposed in the governor’s budget address, but it does …
Legislature passes health care reform bill in the last hours of 2015 session Read More »
The Vermont House of Representatives voted 87-54 to pass S.29, a bill allowing Election Day registration in the state. Beginning in 2017, all eligible Vermonters will have the opportunity to register to vote on Election Day. Under current law, any Vermonter who wants to vote on Election Day must be registered by the previous Wednesday. …
We asked VPIRG Interns to tell us how global warming has affected them and explain why they think we must act now to address this problem.These are testimonials from the generation who will be left to deal with the some of the still-unseen consequences of climate change if we fail to do something. Do you …
Last week, we reported that the Vermont Senate was considering a proposal by the Administration to raid funds for critical heating efficiency programs to help close the budget gap. VPIRG supporters launched into action, calling their senators and asking them to oppose this idea. We’re happy to report that it looks like this plan has …
This commentary originally ran in the Times Argus on May 1. We have an oral health crisis in Vermont. Thousands of Vermonters go without needed dental care every single year — in 2011 and 2012, nearly 100,000 people didn’t get care. And, if you live in Vermont and you get your dental insurance through Medicaid …
You may have seen the news that the Vermont Senate is scrambling to plug a hole in the budget – and we’ve learned there are plans to raid funding for heating efficiency to do that. A vote on these cuts is expected on the Senate floor FRIDAY. Please, take one minute to call your senators …
On Monday Judge Christina Reiss rejected a motion from corporate food and chemical companies asking Vermont to stop implementation of the state’s GMO labeling law. The judge also dismissed a number of the plaintiffs’ claims including assertions that the law violates the commerce clause and was expressly preempted by federal law. Possibly the most important …
VPIRG Energy and Democracy Advocate Julia Michel (pictured, left at at a 2014 young voter turnout event) testified before the House Government Operations committee today in support of S.29 – a bill that would allow Election Day voter registration in Vermont. (Read her full testimony here.) “Throughout our nation’s history, Americans have faced legal and …
VPIRG Advocate Testifies in Support of Election Day Registration Read More »
The Vermont Senate voted 23 – 5 today to pass S.R. 7 – a resolution recognizing that climate change is real and primarily driven by human activity. By passing the resolution, the Senate also renewed Vermont’s commitment to cutting carbon emissions. The move by the Vermont Senate comes at a time when accepted climate science …
Vermont Senate Recognizes Human-Caused Climate Change Read More »
