2/26/10 – News Clips
Pilot in command
Vermont Senate passes economic development package
Senate Considers Estate Tax Exemption Rollback
Vermont panel pushes more than a texting ban
Post-Yankee, a busy day for lawmakers
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February 2010
Senator Phil Scott Votes In Favor of Relicensing Vermont Yankee
Montpelier, VT - Senator Phil Scott voted yesterday in favor of relicensing the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. One of only four members of the Senate to vote “yes,” Scott took a bold and courageous stance against a staged political maneuver. Senator Scott explained his rationale with the following statement:
“There is no debate… Vermont Yankee has made bad decisions and has been a less than perfect partner with the State. Their breach of trust with people of Vermont leaves a terrible scar on their relationship with all of us. In my mind there are still many, many unanswered questions about whether we should relicense the plant for another 20 years.
Today, I and others have tried many avenues in order to be responsible and compromising before the final outcome… to no avail.
I cannot stand by and vote to support a blatant political power play. My “yes” vote is to remind my colleagues that there is more at stake today than scoring political points. The future of 600 jobs, affordable power and the Vermont economy should not be decided in a rush to judgment. Unfortunately for the people of Vermont, politics came before a responsible process. This is not the way we should serve Vermonters. Vermonters deserve better.”
For further questions, please contact Senator Scott at 802-223-5135 or phil@philscott.org
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Morrisville Is Next Stop on Lt. Governor’s Jobs Tour
The next leg of Lt. Governor Brian Dubie’s Jobs Tour will take him to the Lamoille County town of Morrisville. He launched the Jobs Tour on January 13 and has so far has travelled to Rutland, Windham, Bennington, Chittenden, Franklin and Caledonia counties, asking local area employers how the state can best help them retain existing jobs and grow new jobs.
Latest unemployment estimates for the Morristown-Stowe area indicate a December 2009 level of 7.7%, up from 6.8% the previous month.
Since taking office in 2003, Dubie has travelled all over the country and the world to promote Vermont businesses. He says that keeping existing jobs in Vermont and attracting new jobs requires Vermont to compete not just with 49 other states, but the world as well.
Forbes Magazine recently ranked Vermont as the 47th best state in the nation to do business. The ranking is down eleven spots from the previous year. Dubie attributes it in part to the state legislature’s failure to reduce state spending and “right-size” state government. “Actions have consequences,” he said, “and raising taxes in a recession, as the legislature did last year, is not leadership. It sends the message that Vermont is closed for business. When our small businesses grow, we create the revenue that funds all the great things that we value in our state.”
Lt. Governor Dubie says he is bullish on Vermont. “There is no bigger cheerleader for Vermont than me,” Dubie said. “But we simply must do better than 47th. Making Vermont the best state in New England to work and do business must be priority number one,” he stated.
“We need to send a message to our employers and employees that Vermont values them, and we need to send a message to the world that Vermont is open for business.” Dubie is encouraging state legislators to go to businesses in their own districts, to meet with employers and ask the same question: “How can Vermont make it easier for your business to hire and prosper?”
The itinerary for Thursday is as follows:
MORRISVILLE JOBS TOUR
25 March 2010
7:15 – 7:45 WLVB Radio 93.9 FM with Roland Lajoie
Rte. 15 West
8:00 – 9:00 Stone Grill Restaurant – Coffee Round Table
Rte 15 West
9:10 – 9:25 H.A. Manosh Corporation
120 Northgate Plaza
9:30 – 10:15 Butternut Mountain Farm
Industrial Park Drive
10:20 –11:00 MSI (Manufacturing Solutions, Inc.)
559 Harrel Street
11:10 – 11:45 Sterling Technologies
320 Wilkins Street
11:50 – 12:05 News & Citizen
417 Brooklyn Street
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BRITTON CALLS FOR STATE OF THE ART NUCLEAR REACTOR FUNDING
During his State of the Union address President Obama announced that America must create more clean energy jobs beginning with building a new generation of safe nuclear power plants in the United States. Last Tuesday, the President announced $8.3 billion in federal loans will help finance two state of the art reactors in Georgia – the first new nuclear reactors built in our country in almost 30 years. The President is also calling for an increase the 2011 federal budget to help fund between six to ten more reactors that will allow the US to meet greenhouse gas emission goals.
“I agree with State Rep. Patty O’Donnell’s forward thinking last week when she called for construction of a new reactor plant to replace the existing facility. Now is the time for action and leadership. When elected I will work with President Obama to help secure lending to fund a new state of the art reactor that will provide clean, low cost energy and will create jobs in Vermont” said Britton.
“The people of Vermont understandably may not have confidence in Entergy right now – however we should not close our eyes or turn our backs on the new technology and innovation tomorrow has in store for us. We must work to preserve the 620 jobs in Vernon and listen to the needs of Vermont residents and businesses. Our state needs environmentally sound nuclear energy options like the ones proposed by President Obama which will provide clean energy and protect our state from further job losses”
“The Vermont Legislature should hold off voting until all of the facts are on the table – they owe that to the people of Vermont. We need to see the results of the pending investigations, be assured the leaks have been repaired and that there is no public health hazard to worry about” continued Britton.
Len Britton is the Republican candidate for US Senate focused on changing “business as usual” politics in Washington D.C. He is campaigning on a platform emphasizing jobs, national security and fiscal reform. Further press information and updates can be found at the campaign website www.lenbritton.com.
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MARK SNELLING CALLS FOR DELAY OF YANKEE VOTE
SNELLING SAYS VERMONTERS DESERVE ALL THE FACTS AND A THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION TO DELIVER GOOD PUBLIC POLICY
Mark Snelling, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor said today that he believes the Vermont Senate should delay its planned Wednesday vote on the future of Vermont Yankee.
“Vermont Yankee has saved Vermonters hundreds of millions of dollars on their electric bills and provides millions of dollars to the State through taxes paid while employing hundreds of Vermonters at good wages.”
The rush to vote in the middle of the current controversy does not deliver the sound, thoughtful public policy discussion that Vermonters deserve. The legislature and Vermont Yankee are in the process of gathering information about the recent leaks and about the economic impact of Vermont Yankee.
Snelling believes many Vermonters agree with him that Vermont Yankee is an important resource for Vermont’s future and important to Vermont’s future economic development.
“Vermont Yankee has delivered safe, reliable, and low cost power to Vermont’s homes and businesses for 40 years. It would be hasty to vote to shut the plant down in 2012 without listening to all of the information that will be available in the next several months.”
Snelling said he understands the concerns of those who want the plant closed and agrees the management of the plant has done a poor job recently and that the plant must operated consistent with Vermonters’ high standards.
“The people of Vermont deserve good public policy, but they also deserve to have any power generation facility in Vermont be well run, safe, and reliable. Vermont Yankee’s management has a tall hill to climb to meet the standards of quality we hold dear in Vermont”
He went on to say he would support Yankee relicensing if the problems are solved and if the Public Service Board approves.
“If the problems are addressed properly, and the financing package is acceptable, Vermont Yankee provides a possibility of the lowest cost power available to Vermonters for the next 20 years. Vermont can not afford to turn her back on this possibility at this time.”
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Poll Shows Vermont Republican Len Britton’s Path to Senate Victory Widening
A poll conducted over the past weekend for a trio of news organizations, Vermont Business Magazine, WCAX-TV, and WDEV Radio Vermont released the following results:
Do you approve or disapprove of the job Vermont’s Congressional delegation is doing?
45% approve – 44% disapprove.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress handled health care?
33% approve – 62% disapprove.
How concerned are you about the federal government’s budget deficit; very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not concerned?
Very 43% – 39% Somewhat – 11% Not concerned
“These poll numbers reflect the concerns people have been voicing at my town hall meetings. Voters are looking for common sense leadership – excess spending, the healthcare debacle, and “business as usual” system of politics has not inspired confidence in Washington – it is time to change the players. My position on the issues is clearly in line with main street Vermonters” said Britton.
Britton finished by saying, “if you’ve ever been so frustrated with Washington that you’ve talked to the TV; said ‘toss all the bums out’; or ‘there’s no one in Washington who represents my interests,’ then this campaign is for you.”
“Vermont knows that we cannot afford Patrick “inside the Beltway” Leahy anymore. The real questions are: what is he going to spend our money on next and how are our children going to pay the bill?” said campaign spokesperson Dan Riley.
Len Britton is the Republican candidate for US Senate focused on changing “business as usual” politics in Washington D.C. He is campaigning on a platform emphasizing jobs, national security and fiscal reform. Further press information and updates can be found at the campaign website www.lenbritton.com.
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2/22/10 – News Clips
James Douglas: What’s in the best interest of the state?
Governors call for new health bill, Douglas leads charge
Douglas on budgets: Tough times still ahead
Listening To The Kingdom
Governors talk energy with Canadian premiers
Cost-cutting pact nears legislative approval
New tax on workers part of proposed unemployment fund fix
School budgets are down and taxes are up in Vermont towns
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