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Archive of Vermont on Monday May 05, 2008
Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
Vermont Supreme Court upholds DNA sampling of felons
The Vermont Supreme Court has upheld a 2005 law that allows the state to collect genetic samples from nonviolent felons. Read More
Debate on oil profits was sticky
With numerous bills still pending before the expected adjournment this weekend, the Vermont House got weighted down Friday on a resolution over the price of oil that literally carried no weight. Read More
Vermont housing bill gets approval at Statehouse
It took until late in the day Friday for opposing sides to iron out their differences on this session's housing bill. But by evening, the 15 or so legislators, lobbyists and administration officials responsible for the negotiations were posing for group pictures outside the Senate Finance Committee room where they inked the final version. Read More
Lawmakers -- Fiscal year 2010 'looks troubling'
Even as they finished work on one of the tightest budgets of the last few years, lawmakers and administration officials started talking and thinking about the next one. Read More
Vermont targets cycle of "domestic violence"
Longtime law enforcement officials have noticed a trend in dealing with domestic violence assaults: Add a junior to the name of today's offender and you may have identified tomorrow's abuser. Read More
Youngest House member champions values of her generation
From her spot in the far corner of the committee room, Rep. Rachel Weston has a cat-bird's view of the 10 other committee members, the witnesses who testify and the audience of those who are following the legislation before them. Read More
Voter registrations outpace runup to N.C.'s 2004 primary
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The number of people ages 18 through 24 who have registered to vote is greater than the number of people of all ages who registered during the same time in 2004. Read More
Action on major bills
The fate of some of the hundreds of bills the Legislature considered in 2008: Read More
Officials agree on health care deal
Lawmakers reached a compromise late this week on an omnibus health care bill that will allow some Vermonters with pre-existing conditions to receive coverage under Catamount Health. Read More
Legislature settles budget issues, nears adjournment
Intense emotions in the Statehouse were ratcheted up another notch Friday as it became clear the legislative session will likely end today. Read More
Lawmakers raise $4,000 for food bank
Tensions tend to run high at the end of legislative sessions, and this year two members of the Vermont House decided to redirect that energy into something productive. Read More
Sunbirds lured north
Every winter, the chilled masses of New England flee to Florida, as if drawn by a magnetic force. Vermont is hoping to spark a reverse-migration this year, enticing residents of the Sunshine State with one thing they do not have - a cool summer. Read More
Even in spring, heating oil prices a pain
With the arrival of spring, thermostats are being turned down but prices keep going up for New Hampshire residents who use oil to heat their homes. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More
Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure. Read More
With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
More states offer choice in long-term care
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes. Read More
Credit crunch hits states' college loans
(Updated 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008)
The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college. Read More
'Don't forget us,' PA candidates tell voters
As Pennsylvanians prepare to go to the polls tomorrow to cast ballots in the April 22 presidential primary, experts wonder how the surge in registered voters will affect little-noticed state legislative races, particularly those in the House, where Democrats cling to a one-seat majority. Read More
Partisan mix in R.I., Conn. poses challenges
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
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Gay marriage decisions ripe in Calif., Conn.
More than four years after its historic court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, Massachusetts stands alone in blessing gay marriages — more than 10,000 to date — and its example has spurred no imitators but lots of backlash. All eyes now are on the highest courts in California and Connecticut. Read More
'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Summary of the State of the State Address
Gov. Jim Douglas (R) called for tax reforms and environmental measures and asked the Democratic-controlled Legislature to make affordable health care its top priority in his Jan. 9 speech. For the most part, the governor proposed tweaks to current programs, rather than new initiatives. Read More
Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
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AG contests attract serious attention
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
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Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy
So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More
Embryonic stem cell research divides states
President Bush’s second veto of a bill to allow federal funding of stem cell research puts the ethical issue squarely in states’ hands. So far, seven states have moved to fund the research, six have banned it, three have affirmed its legality but do not fund it and a handful of others continue to debate the issue. Read More
States outpace feds on minimum wage
When the new federal minimum wage takes effect July 24, 30 states will require employers to pay hourly workers more than federal law requires. Read More |
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