News

Feb 8, 2025 Legislative Update

The Education establishment provided mixed feedback on Governor Scott's education reform proposal this week. They generally focused on the need to provide "sufficient funds" for education and predictability in funding. Of course, the teachers union already took a shot at the Governor because they rightly concluded that cost-savings would be generated by staffing reductions (both teachers and administrators). We already know that a driving factor in Vermont education spending is our ultra small class sizes; it seems like others are also catching on. They also took the opportunity to attack the 3500 students in tuitioning districts who chose to take their tuition dollars to independent schools.

  • Feb 8, 2025 Legislative Update

    The Education establishment provided mixed feedback on Governor Scott's education reform proposal this week. They generally focused on the need to provide "sufficient funds" for education and predictability in funding. Of course, the teachers union already took a shot at the Governor because they rightly concluded that cost-savings would be generated by staffing reductions (both teachers and administrators). We already know that a driving factor in Vermont education spending is our ultra small class sizes; it seems like others are also catching on. They also took the opportunity to attack the 3500 students in tuitioning districts who chose to take their tuition dollars to independent schools.

  • Deep Fakes in Elections (S.23) - Overview & Analysis

    The bill aims to regulate the use of synthetic media (deepfakes) in elections by requiring clear labeling of realistic, deceptive AI-generated content in the 90 days before an election and giving prosecutors and candidates new tools to respond to harmful deepfakes.

  • Time to Rethink GWSA and Take a Broader View of Environmental Protection

    What is the right way for our state to engage on climate change and environmental protection? As someone who considers themself an environmentalist, this is a question I have been asking myself frequently in recent years as we’ve started to see the impacts of climate change here in Vermont.

  • Feb 1, 2025 Legislative Update

    This week Governor Scott gave his budget address for FY2026 and we learned more details about his plan to overall Vermont's education system.

  • FY2026 State Budget - Overview & Analysis

    Governor Scott gave is budget address on January 28th, proposing a $9B budget for FY2026 with heavy investments in housing and other areas while simultaneously cutting taxes for the most financially vulnerable Vermonters.

     

  • Jan 25, 2025 Legislative Update

    This week we received the broad strokes of Governor Scott's plan to transform Vermont's education system. It is undoubtedly the boldest policy proposal he has ever put forward; doing away with local control and 52 supervisory unions and consolidating our 119 school districts down to 5.

  • Governor Scott's Education Reform Plan - Overview & Analysis

    After much teasing, Governor Scott's team introduced a comprehensive education reform that is undoubtedly the boldest policy proposal he has put forward during his career in public service. It would make dramatic changes to the way that Vermont's education system looks and functions.

  • Response to Don Tinney (VT-NEA) Remarks

    Vermont taxpayers hard hit by the recent property tax increases and in the line of fire for another increase this year may be alarmed to know Don Tinney, the President of the state teachers’ union, recently said “We’re not spending too much money on education. We’re having a difficult time funding it.”

  • Jan 18, 2025 Legislative Update

    We are of to the races! The first week of the legislative session was as active as you would expect as a flood of new legislators sought to get up to speed on big issues like education spending, health care costs, and carbon-pricing.

  • Vermont Population Growth: Why it Matters

    A thriving, prosperous state is a goal that all Vermonters can agree to. That goal is easier to achieve with a growing population.

    More people means a larger selection of workers for businesses, government, and non-profits. It means more people earning incomes, supporting local businesses, and paying taxes to support government programs—many of which serve the neediest of our citizens. A growing economy means more opportunities for us and our children.