What Vermonters are experiencing now is the predictable result of multiple systems breaking down at the same time: education finance, demographic decline, housing scarcity, regulatory overreach, healthcare inflation, workforce deterioration, and a tax base that continues to shrink while public obligations grow.
Major dairy processors and manufacturers accumulated hundreds of permit violations in 2024 while state regulators emphasize “partnership” over enforcement.
A State’s Attorney with an on-duty DUI history and an alleged insensitivity problem should resign, Scott and Democrats agree. But who would take her place?
Vermont is facing an estimated 12% increase in education property taxes next year unless lawmakers again step in with a General Fund subsidy.
Morley grew up in, and resides in, Orleans County with his wife, Jodi. He has worked for the Village of Orleans for 33 years, managing an electric department, street department, water and wastewater department, fire department, and library. Morley is an active member of the community, serving on many boards, in addition to having served in the Vermont House of Representatives for six years from 2004 until 2010.
Governor Phil Scott defended Afghanistan refugees in Vermont on Facebook Tuesday in response to the recent high-profile shooting in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghan refugee suspect.
Also, Governor Scott on the need for “education transformation” this legislative session.
Return-to-office stays on track. The conflict now moves to the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) for adjudication.
Inside the multi-state fight against Federal funding caps
Vermont passed a bipartisan bill in May calling for the creation of the New Americans Study Committee in order to make recommendations on a forthcoming Office of New Americans. The committee is required to develop a summary of economic data regarding immigrants in Vermont and provide recommendations for how to improve immigrant services.
The debate in Pittsford wasn’t about personalities or local politics. It reflected a broader question confronting nearly every town in Vermont: Where does state law end and agency preference begin?
And Republicans have a second chance to avoid disaster.
This is among several concerns in their new report titled the Vermont Voter Roll Integrity Analysis, prompting a response from the Secretary of State’s Office, sent to VDC by its chief of staff Bryan Mills on Friday, November 14.
The two weeks of state taxpayers funding SNAP benefits is over. Now, what about health care subsidies?
Vermont’s forests are not dying; they are being managed into bureaucracy. The danger is not fragmentation of trees but fragmentation of responsibility—where the authority to decide is collective, but the obligation to pay is individual. The landscape that once symbolized independence is now the backdrop for rulemaking by committee.
The central challenge is not that state revenues are collapsing. Instead, the state’s fixed costs are growing faster than its baseline revenue.
Here’s the good news: this year, we proved that when Montpelier is balanced — when no one party can simply bulldoze the other — we can actually roll up our sleeves and get things done. For the first time in a while, there was real collaboration.
A state-funded “Public Truth-Telling Session” scheduled for Nov. 15 in St. Johnsbury will bar reporters from recording, photographing, or interviewing participants inside the event, according to guidelines released by organizers.
The UNH poll reveals a different perspective from the general public. Just over half of Vermont residents—51%—support requiring state employees to work in-person at least three days per week.
The lapse in federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known locally as 3SquaresVT, has triggered delays in November benefits for more than 64,000 residents, exacerbating pressures on the state’s food banks.
The state-funded benefit is equal to 50% of a household’s November 1st 3 Square benefit and will be loaded onto EBT cards or directly deposited into bank accounts on or before November 7th 2025.
Pricetag: $6.3 million
Kornheiser said she’s confident the State Emergency Board, including Gov. Scott, will confirm the 100% payments. A reporter said the governor had floated paying 50%, but Kornheiser said she believes he’s on board with 100%.
Since joining the Legislature, Priestley said she has focused on rural equity, data privacy, consumer protection, and youth engagement. In her Senate campaign, Priestley plans to highlight housing, climate resilience, affordability, economic fairness, and government transparency.
“I have directed my administration to work with Attorney General Clark to support a multi-state lawsuit,” Scott said.
SNAP benefits not paid by the federal government proposed to be paid out of a state reserve fund.
Predatory industrial-scale renewable energy development in Vermont has just reached an all-time low with continued ecological devastation and accompanying rate hikes in queue.
Lindsay conspired with others, known and unknown to the grand jury, to develop a scheme to obtain money and property from the Vermont Unclaimed Property website, the indictment said.
epresentatives Kornheiser and Scheu serve on the Vermont Emergency Board, a panel that includes two senators and the governor. Lawmakers are coordinating with Governor Phil Scott and his administration to schedule an Emergency Board meeting next week to approve temporary state funding for the federal programs.
If you are expecting to receive your November 1 benefit, unless the federal government reopens and authorizes November benefits, it will not be issued due to a lack of federal funds, state officials said.
In Vermont, the line between environmental policymaking and courtroom strategy has nearly disappeared. The same advocacy network that helped write the state’s climate and water rules now sues the agencies and farms that follow them—an endless loop of petitions, corrective orders, and consent decrees that leaves little room for either legislators or citizens.
It’s the time of year when we begin to get ready for the next season. Golf clubs and kayaks get cleaned and put away for next year. The list includes an appointment at Charlie Dorr’s to change over to snow tires, taking down the garden hoses at the house and much more. And while the State House is mostly quiet these days, some are preparing for the new legislative session, which begins January 6.
That’s not a crisis of resources—it’s a crisis of judgment.
The Caledonia Food Cooperative would be on the site of a former drug store on Railroad Street, the commercial district of Caledonia County’s largest town.
These hearings are an opportunity to learn about the Task Force’s work and to share your perspectives and priorities, which will help guide the Task Force as it develops proposals for Vermont’s school district boundaries. These hearings are not for commenting on finalized maps, but your input will inform the Task Force’s work and be included in their report to the legislature.
Oh, the hypocrisy, but there is an opportunity for redemption.
Trump Media makes up a minuscule 0.02% of the Russell 3000 total index—If its stock value went to zero tomorrow, the pension fund would lose less than two-hundredths of one percent.
Colby, who oversees a 10-deputy department, says the rules simply don’t work in Essex County, where federal officers are often the only backup available.
Bettors, particularly during the popular football season, performed significantly better than models anticipated, which directly reduced the state’s share of the proceeds.
The State is also reviewing, one by one, the cases of 1,532 non-citizens forbidden to receive food benefits under the OBBB.
Senate Republican Leader outlines some agenda items for next year.
“Remote work is so common that we fear the state will not be able to attract or retain high-quality employees if forced back into the office,” the union argues.
Currently, a quarter of Vermont renters spend more than 50% of their income on housing costs, which will continue to trend in the wrong direction if action isn’t taken, a Scott spokesperson said.
What are the people to do when a law creates a trap that plunders precious resources and hard earned money and brings harm to Vermonters, all for zero beneficial environmental impact?
Deputy involved in fatal shooting among them
Chris Winters, DCF Commissioner, will be the new deputy commissioner of the Department of Labor beginning September 22. The administration stresses the move is not a demotion.
Transportation fund receipts are down overall, with the largest deficits in diesel fuel sales tax and motor vehicle purchase and use taxes and fees. Gasoline sales are not below target.
It must be corruption because nobody is actually this stupid.
Act 73 formed a statewide redistricting task force, which is holding meetings–one of which could be held at Oxbow next month.
Claire Burns was recommended to the Governor by the Caledonia County Republican Committee. Burns has worked in public defenders’ offices in Colorado and California, representing individuals at all stages of criminal proceedings, including those facing deportation at the Aurora ICE Processing Center, as well as at a juvenile detention center in Colorado, providing group and individual therapy.
Act 21 appropriates $1 million for fiscal year 2026. That money goes from the State Treasurer to a nonprofit debt buyer, which purchases old hospital accounts for pennies on the dollar and then cancels them. Patients who qualify — Vermont residents with incomes under 400 percent of the federal poverty line (FPL), or whose debt exceeds five percent of household income (with no income limit) — get letters saying their debt has been forgiven.
The Affordable Heat Act raised costs, the PUC confirmed it, and the real outside cash is already funding Vermont’s media and advocacy landscape: they just don’t like competition.
Clark’s latest anti-Trump press release noted the detaining for possible deportation of illegal immigrants living in ‘the Northshire,’ an unofficial name for the Bennington County area. Press reports say that on August 25 ICE detained two Jamaican women working as home health aides and living in Manchester.
Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson: “Just to put some of the facts out there, the PREP program does provide information for adolescents and youth, particularly around STI [sexually transmitted infection] HIV, prevention and prevention of unintended pregnancies. It is not a school-based program, so it is not offered in the schools.
Supporters of state employees working from home say it helps hire and retain high-skilled workers, particularly those in the IT field.
Vermont: illegal sanctuary state, or complying with federal law?
Vermont has chosen to spend heavily on climate mitigation, with more than a quarter-billion dollars in state funds committed over just a few years. Meanwhile, as the toll of overdoses continues to outpace weather-related deaths by a factor of nearly 100 to 1, a contrast likely to grow harder for policymakers—and taxpayers—to ignore.
“Governor Salmon led Vermont through some of our nation’s most difficult times, doing his best to stabilize our economy and strengthen trust of government. His efforts on behalf of Vermont are worthy of our gratitude, remembrance, and respect.”
Regional recreation project hits a snag: New Hampshire resists Vermont’s soft stance on homeless encampments while enforcing strict rules that block the fix—new housing.
In the Netherlands, a design group called Why Knot turns knotweed into lightweight, formaldehyde-free building panels. Vermont’s regulatory system is too antiquated to see it as a win-win.
SPEAK VT President Marie Tiemann added that national developments raise questions for Vermont’s Agency of Education: whether it will respect parents’ right to opt out of controversial classroom material, and whether it will protect female athletes under Title IX.
Scott: “I’m going to call balls and strikes. We’re not going to oppose every single issue the federal government brings up, but we will take action and push back when necessary.”
“The bottom line is, this is a federal benefit,” Scott’s press secretary said. “The federal government is legally entitled to this information and has been for much of the last decade.”
The deputy commissioner at DCF noted that Vermont faced the risk of “unspecified sanctions,” which could include withholding of federal funds that cover half of the state’s SNAP program costs.
The state’s Regional Workforce Expansion Pilot program is hiring coordinators to find and train (mostly) young people to join the labor force.
“This case demonstrates the problematic nature of the Global Warming Solutions Act’s expansive private right of action provision,” said Vermont’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Julie Moore, in a written statement to VDC yesterday morning.
Governor Phil Scott today announced that Department of Corrections Commissioner Nick Deml will step down from his role on August 15, with former Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad named to serve as interim commissioner.
Doctors, judges and a race car driver lead the pack among the best paid state workers.
Campaign spotlights housing, taxes, and energy mandates
”It’s amazing how easy it is to feed my kids for free all summer long,” a social media influencer for the free summer meals program said.
For now, the Law remains unequal.
SNAP was created in 1964 to fight hunger by increasing access to calories. But critics argue it has not kept pace with nutrition science. Research shows SNAP participants often consume more calories than non-recipients, but their diets are higher in carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium—raising concerns about diet quality and long-term health outcomes.
Without clear and consistent records of its meetings, Vermonters are left with few details about how significant decisions, such as selecting the anniversary logo, were made. As the 2026 celebrations approach, maintaining transparency and ensuring that future meetings are fully documented will be key to building public confidence in the commission’s work.
How America banned TikTok for data collection while leaving data brokers untouched
These states are calling this freeze unconstitutional, unlawful and an arbitrary decision.
A food-start up bill exempts home based food producers from requiring state food safety permits if they keep their sales under $30,000.
Vermont’s General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing Program, commonly known as the “hotel/motel program,” remains operational with no termination date, despite confusion among some residents, and cost Vermont taxpayers $33 million dollars last year.
A statute can only stand if it fits within the Constitution. If it doesn’t, it must either be overturned in court, or the Constitution must be amended first. That is the proper process for changing how a government operates.
Vermont’s decision to end telework for roughly 100 employees in its Economic Services Division (ESD) has reignited a broader national debate over remote work in government—and the lack of systems to measure whether it’s working.
Several secretaries of state journeyed as part of a National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) delegation to Taiwan. The trip included meetings with government officials, universities, business and agriculture leaders.
The Vermont Climate Superfund Law aimed at holding oil companies financially responsible for flooding and other damages caused by climate change is facing a flurry of litigation that Gov. Phil Scott anticipated when he declined to endorse the measure last year.
It is no surprise, then, that the Conservation Law Foundation, which is proficient in bringing lawsuits, has taken the state up on its offer.
Stick that in your maple creemee, Governor Hochul!
Notable Vermont companies doing business in China include snowboard maker Burton. China’s winter sports industry has boomed following its hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Vermont lawmakers voted Monday to ban smartphones and other electronic devices used by students during the school day. The goal is to improve academic performance as well as battle a disturbing rise in the rates of depression and anxiety among young people in the state.
Attorney General Charity Clark gaslighted individuals challenging her failure to uphold federal laws regarding Title IX, parental rights, and immigration during a community forum held in Essex on Monday, June 2, to discuss The Impact of Federal Actions on Vermont.
Says 2027 start date leaves time for court challenges
Can the Vermont House and Senate agree this week on tuition for independent schools?
If pants literally caught fire when people lied, there would be no back-ends to wipe among the elected officials who participated in this “policy” forum.
Four months in, Vermont’s budget Is balanced—but the real fight might just Be delayed
Per the Joint Fiscal Office 2025 report, Vermont has the sixth highest per capita spending, at $15,426, yet when we look at results: Johnny can’t read, and our roads are crumbling. Let’s slash bloat and restore sanity
Dr. Oscar S. Peterson Jr. believed that nuclear radiation played an important role in the future, in its capacity to extend the lives of his patients, as well as its ability to cause irreparable harm. His work specializing in radiation therapy at the University of Vermont led to an invitation to serve as Vermont’s Radiological Consultant to the Civil Defense Division of the Vermont Department of Public Safety.
Ronald Reagan once quipped that government is like a baby, an endless appetite on one end, and no discipline on the other. No place lives up to – or down to as the case may be — that analogy more so than Vermont.
The driverless engines of State
The 3,000 member National Sheriffs Organization said the list was published without their knowledge and offers little direction on how sheriffs should proceed.
The entire state of Vermont and the cities of Burlington, Montpelier, and Winooski have been labeled as ‘Sanctuary Jurisdictions’ by the department of Homeland Security, and now face federal funding cuts under Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown.
A House Education Committee member this morning told VDC that the H.454 Conference Committee is taking seriously Gov. Phil Scott’s concerns about affordability and implementation timeline in the current House/Senate versions of this session’s landmark legislation: transformation of Vermont’s public education financing and governance.
How Russia weaponized America’s hacking tools to burn down the internet, and how Vermont lays vulnerable
This Vermont bill is a response to a January 20 executive order issued by signed by President Donald Trump, mandating that federal agencies, including the State Department, recognize only two sexes (male and female) based on biological sex assigned at birth, effectively eliminating the “X” gender marker option for passports and prohibiting gender marker changes that do not align with birth certificates.
Ten years and over $200 million later, Vermont is right back where it started—struggling to comply with the Clean Water Act, while farmers, taxpayers, and lawmakers all try to catch their breath.
