Late April 6th, the Senate voted overwhelming in favor S.15, which guarantees coverage for midwifery services in Vermont. The bill will end the discrimination against expecting mothers who would prefer to have their child in the comfert and supportive environment of their own home but currently have to pay for home birth out of pocket, in addition to their monthly private insurance premium.
On Tuesday, April 5, the House of Representatives passed a bill that will make renewable energy and energy efficiency projects more affordable to Vermonters. The bill, H.155, makes important changes to the Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program that was originally passed in 2009.
On Thursday March 24th, the House of Representatives passed Vermont’s comprehensive health care reform bill H.202 in a 89-47 vote. This bill is the first step on the path towards a health care system that is universal, affordable, transparent – and fair. Everyone participates, and most importantly, everyone would be covered.
Over the past five years, VPIREF has released three major reports addressing the challenges and opportunities in determining Vermont’s energy future. These reports provided insights into the economic challenges and environmental impacts of energy use in Vermont and identified solutions that could help Vermont build a clean energy future.
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.
