By Guy Page

Lots of news to talk about today, Monday March 9, on Hot Off The Press on AM 550, FM 96.1, Wdevradio.com at 11:05 AM. Call us at 802-244-1777.

First, it’s Crossover Week at the Statehouse, when bills have to pass from one chamber to the other or risk dying for the year. Lawmakers are working long hours, and a number of proposals are getting last-minute scrutiny.

Among them: a bill that would expand the contractor registry and require contractors to disclose criminal records while also strengthening building energy code enforcement. Another bill would increase protections for utility customers, potentially preventing power shutoffs if someone in the home is ill or during extreme heat. And a third proposal would allow people held pre-trial in prison for six months or more to receive a free Vermont non-driver ID card.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Congress is asking Vermont officials for answers about possible Medicaid fraud risks. A U.S. House committee has sent a letter to Governor Phil Scott and Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson seeking information about oversight of the state’s $2.3-billion Medicaid program. The inquiry cites several recent Vermont fraud cases and asks the state to explain how it detects suspicious billing.

Education is also back in the headlines. A new lawsuit challenges Vermont’s Act 73, the law passed last year that restricts which independent schools families can choose under the state’s historic town tuitioning system. The suit argues the law unfairly limits school choice and violates the Vermont Constitution.

And on the energy front, global tensions in the Middle East are already hitting Vermonters’ wallets. With oil flows disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, gasoline prices have jumped and heating oil has climbed above four dollars a gallon in some places — a reminder of how dependent Vermont remains on imported fuel.

Finally, in Springfield, police and state troopers raided a troubled home on Valley Street again this week. Several people were arrested on drug charges, and state fire safety officials have now revoked the occupancy permit, effectively shutting down the residence after years of complaints and enforcement actions.

So there’s a lot going on — Statehouse legislation, Medicaid oversight, school choice lawsuits, rising energy prices, and local crime enforcement.

What do you think about it all?

Give us a call on Hoff Off The Press at 802-244-1777. We’d love to hear from you.