By Guy Page

The House this week will review a Senate-approved bill that would give the Attorney General authority to punish health care providers for advertising information that has a “tendency to mislead.”

S.28, “access to certain legally protected health care services,” passed the Senate March 13. Passed 8-3 out of the House Health Care Committee last week, it’s a followup bill to a law passed previously that suppressed advertising by pro-life pregnancy resource clinics. This bill would more broadly apply misinformation-in-advertising restrictions. For example, doctors opposed to controversial vaccinations (like Covid-19) are concerned the State of Vermont could construe their medical opinion as having a “tendency to mislead.’

The bill also exempts nurses fom possible unprofessional conduct charges Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) who prescribe pregnancy termination medication. 

‘Devotional’ speaker delivers the F bomb – Tuesday, April 15’s House of Representatives ‘devotional’ speaker, Cassandra Gregware of Burlington, dropped the F bomb, described how she was raped by her first lover, and made the following assertion about what’s happening in Gaza: 

“Across the occupied lands of Palestine, systemic sexual violence and severe torture has been perpetrated against Palestinian men, women, and children for seventy six years in a violent seizure of the Holy Lands and its stewards. While the United States funds the Israeli Defense Force’s decimation of Gaza, from schools and hospitals to bakeries and homes or tents, Israel has increasingly inflicted atrocity atrocious acts of sexual, reproductive, and gender based violence upon Palestinians in a strategic effort to dominate and ethnically cleanse the region. In any escalation of violence, where every other form of abuse is prevalent, sexual violence is no exception.”

Word has it that House Speaker Jill Krowinski was not pleased and sent out a letter saying so. 

Land donated to State of Vermont – 125+ aces of land with $184,830 was donated by Pieter Van Schaik of Cavendish to the Agency of Natural Resources. It will become part of the Lord State Forest. 

Not all ‘conserved’ forestland is donated to the state. More than two million acres and 16,000 forestland parcels are enrolled in the Forest Parks & Recreation (part of ANR) Use Value Appraisal program, established in 1978 to keep forestland affordable fo private ownership. 80% of Vermont forests are privately owned. 

Speaking of Forests & Parks – there are 55 state parks in Vermont, 30% of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Every year more than half a million day visitors and half a million campers patronize the state’s parks, which have 2,225 campshires, 51 cabins, and 29 beaches, according to www.vtstateparks.com. 

The parks are an integral part of the $3 billion tourist industry. The state’s outdoor economy has is second highest in the nation by percentage of economy. 

Tariff talk tamps down tourism – At the House Commerce Committee April 10, tourism leaders noted that Canadian visitors account for significant spending, particularly in northern communities, and expressed worry about the impact of stabilizing rhetoric and tariffs on tourism.

Renee Sylvester, Quebec’s delegate, underscored the importance of strengthening cross-border relationships, revealing that Vermont is Quebec’s top trading partner. He noted a concerning decline in Canadian tourism due to an unfavorable exchange rate and political rhetoric. 

Different representatives from Vermont businesses, including Red Hen Baking Company, Kingdom Trail Association, and Basin Harbour, discussed the reliance on Canadian visitors, the importance of workforce housing, the impact of increased costs, and the necessity to maintain welcoming relations.

Burlington woman named Mother of the Year – The Senate on Friday, April 11 approved a resolution congratulating Kathleen Lynch of Burlington as the 2025 Mother of the Year. 

According to the Mother of the Year website, Lynch and her husband Tex have been blessed with seven strong, kind children, now ages 24-38 and say their greatest blessing is their twin grandchildren.

She has cared for surgical patients for 47 years, maintaining her RN license while raising her family.

Kathleen says: “Motherhood is an evolving role. Each pregnancy, each child teaches us something new. We need to be open to adapting in this remarkable, privileged role; always ready to listen, to be available and to pray for our children throughout their lives.”

In 2010 Kathleen’s family assisted with the first events hosted by their Champlain Valley Down Syndrome group. They gather a few times per year to promote inclusion and raise awareness of the wonderful individuals with Down syndrome living in their community.