The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy passed an amendment to expand the Bottle Bill as part of the broader solid waste and mandatory recycling bill (H. 485) on Friday morning. Offered by Senator Joe Benning (R- Caledonia), the amendment adds beverages such as water bottles, juices, and sports drinks to the bottle redemption …
Senate Committee gives Thumbs Up to a Bigger, Better Bottle Bill Read More »
The Vermont Right to Know GMOs coalition held an “Unlabeled and Unnatural Buffet” at the Vermont State House today. The problem: right now, without a law requiring GMOs to be labeled, we just don’t know.
Forty years ago this week, on April 7, 1972, Vermont legislators passed the Bottle Bill – innovative legislation to add a redeemable deposit on soda and beer bottles and cans. Vermont was only the second state in the nation, after Oregon, to enact a bottle redemption program. The idea was originally conceived as a way …
Health Care was big news last week, from the Supreme Court to the Vermont Legislature. With all the coverage and endless political commentary, it can be hard to get a sense of what’s really going on. Here are the ‘Cliffs Notes’ to help decode the latest happenings in Vermont and Washington D.C.
In 2010, Vermont legislators voted to shutter a nuclear power plant, putting the state at odds with the federal government and the plant’s owner—the Louisiana-based Entergy Corporation. Public Meltdown explores the debate that roiled Vermont, including the lawsuits and court action that followed.
As Vermonters, we tend to take a special interest in our food. We want to know who grew it, what’s in it, and how far it traveled before it landed on our plate. That’s why at VPIRG, we think it’s essential that consumers be informed if the food they are buying is the product of genetic engineering (also known as “genetically modified organisms” or GMOs). As part of the Vermont Right to Know GMOs campaign VPIRG is working with a coalition of consumer, public health, agricultural and environmental groups to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods sold in Vermont.
Thanks to all of the calls and emails of VPIRG members and other activists, we are one step closer to requiring Vermont’s health insurers to provide detailed data to the state on the claims they deny. The Senate Health & Welfare committee unanimously passed the denied claims bill (S.200) last week prior to the looming “crossover” deadline on March 16.
Many of the groups who have led the massive grassroots, policy and legal effort to retire Vermont Yankee over the years gathered at the State House this morning to make clear that they aren’t going away or giving in on this 40th anniversary of the plant’s launch. March 21st is the day that was to …
Groups Mark 40th Anniversary with Renewed Commitment to Retire VY Read More »
Last week marked “crossover,” where most bills need to be passed out of committee to remain alive for this legislative session. VPIRG members made phone calls and sent hundreds of emails to their Senators urging the Senate Natural Resource & Energy committee to pass the expanded Bottle Bill out of committee by the Friday, March 16 crossover deadline.
In response to the overwhelming support for a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court’s disappointing Citizen’s United decision as displayed by Vermonter’s across the state on town meeting day, the VPIRG supported resolution at the state level (JRS 11) was given an extension from the crossover deadline.
