Nuclear Power  Vermont will soon be deciding what to do about our aging nuclear plant. Listen to an exerpt from political leaders on VT Public Radio.
VT Income  Over 70% of Vermont households earn less than $50,000
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"The Republican and Democratic parties are not the same. The Republicans are an extreme right wing party. The Democrats are a centrist party tilting, perhaps, a little bit to the left but they are not aggressive enough on protecting the interests of working people and the middle class."
-Senator Bernie Sanders - October 26, 2007
About 150 people turned out in Middlebury this month for a community forum on "Single Payer in Vermont: How Can We Make It Happen." Middlebury Community Television has a stream of the forum available on its website: With Senate President Peter Shumlin publicly stating his support of single payer, and a bill in the statehouse with over half of the Senators as co-sponsors, one wonders why this issue has been stalled in Montpelier. Several groups are making healthcare their primary focus this fall, including the Vermont Workers Center's Healthcare is a Human Right campaign, and the Progressives' town party reorganization process. E-mail us if you would like to be involved in town organizing, and watch the space for details about meetings in your area.
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 (Rep. David Zuckerman-P & Rep. Steve Howard-D celebrate victory)In 1993, Burlington's Progressive Mayor Peter Clavelle lost his re-election after he gave domestic partners of city employees full benefits. He came back in 1995 to win and serve another 11 years. As the Civil Union bill took shape in the House Judiciary committee, then Progressive Representative Steve Hingtgen (a member of the committee) held firm that separate was not equal. He wasn't successful, of course, but advocates widely credit him with making the civil union bill as strong as it could be. When the Civil Union bill came to the House floor in 2000 then Progressive Representative Dean Corren offered an amendment to grant full marriage rights. The amendment got just 22 votes. Since 2000, Rep. David Zuckerman has been a lead sponsor of a marriage bill each session. As Vermont and the nation celebrate this breakthrough we should remember that change takes endurance, determination, and stamina. Congratulations to the many many people who made this victory possible, we are proud to have been part of the movement since the beginning. [New York Times editorial][USA Today story]
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Newly re-elected Mayor Bob Kiss delivered his state of the city address in front of a full house Monday. "Our common goal should be efficient and effective government that meets the needs of people. We must make decisions based on the merit of the plans and proposals that we consider, not on personal or party politics. I am confident that in the future we’ll work closely together to serve the people of Burlington and their interests. While there are always challenges, our community has the resources and vitality to meet them along with the optimism and goodwill to move forward and to build better lives and a better City." Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss – April 6, 2009
[Full Speech (pdf)]
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Today Vermont became the first state to recognize same-sex marriage without acting under court order. Congratulations to those who have fought over the past decade to address this civil rights issue. And congratulations to the huge majorities in the Statehouse that passed the bill, and then worked to find the votes needed to override the Douglas veto. In 2000, Progressive Representatives Dean Corren and David Zuckerman joined with four other members to put forward a bill that would ensure marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. That same session, other members of the house brought forward a bill that called for the impeachment of the justices who voted for the Baker decision, which recognized the unconstitutionality of Vermont’s marriage laws at that time, as well as a bill that would restrict same-sex marriage (which had 57 co-sponsors). Serving on House Judiciary, the committee responsible for addressing the Baker decision, Progressive Steve Hingtgen lead the fight for recognizing same-sex marriage. When the committee voted to pursue civil unions instead of marriage equality, he stated: “For all those who have come before this committee preaching hate in all its poor disguises, whether with a Bible, a law degree or Ph.D. in hand, those who have filled our ears with hate, they will not be sent a message of rebuke by this committee by us choosing domestic partnership. The hateful will have been strengthened by our decision. Pursuing the domestic partnership path validates the hate. Going with domestic partnership validates the bigotry. It does more than validate it. It institutionalizes the bigotry and affirmatively creates an apartheid system of family recognition in Vermont.” To see how your legislators voted on the bill and the veto override, click here.
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Tuesday was a great day for Progressives and the city of Burlington. Stalwart Progressive organizing over the past thirty years combined with a re-energized base in Burlington brought home a sweet victory celebration last evening! Mayor Bob Kiss (center) was re-elected over Republican Kurt Wright in the third round of instant run-off voting. The final vote tally was Kiss: 4313 (51.5%); Wright: 4061 (48.5%). Democrat Andy Montroll, Independent Dan Smith, and Green James Simpson were eliminated in early rounds, when both Kiss and Wright were shy of the 50% threshold. In Ward 2, Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (right) took roughly two-thirds of the votes, besting Democrat Nicole Pelletier 447-173. Emma now holds the seat previously held by Jane Knodell. In Ward 3, Marrisa Caldwell (left) edged out Democrat David Cain 498-461. Marrisa was running to fill the seat vacated by Tim Ashe, who was elected to the Vermont Senate in November. Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out on the three campaigns, especially a frigid final week of leafletting, sign waving, and parading!
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