By Rep. Kate Webb One of the more inspiring aspects of working in the legislature, is engaging with students who visit. Some Vermonters complain that we shouldn’t be “wasting our time” on issues brought to us by students. Given that these students are developing a sense of civic engagement and will be voters in less… Read More »
By Rep. Kate Webb On the Speaker’s desk lies a letter from 23 legislators asking the legislature to resolve the $113 million budget gap by raising revenue alone. It then sets forth a variety of tax and fee alternatives to consider. Upstairs in the Appropriations Committee rests a resolution from 22 different legislators asking the… Read More »
by Rep. Joan Lenes Thank you to all who have gotten in touch with ideas on the State’s budget. It is never an easy process and seems even more difficult this session. The more input we get from Vermonters, the broader the range of possibilities. We are certainly thinking beyond any box I have seen… Read More »
The second installment of a two part series by Representatives Joan Lenes and Kate Webb. Education Reform The public’s demand for a more affordable funding system and equitable education structure has driven the work of the House Education Committee this year. Organizational complexities, small school viability, program evaluation, local control and rising costs in the… Read More »
In this two-week series, Representatives Joan Lenes and Kate Webb give an update on goings-on in Montepelier, providing glimpses of what legislators are doing to close the budget gap, increase economic development, and address health care issues. By Representatives Joan Lenes and Kate Webb This year we are highly focused on working together to bring… Read More »
By Representative Joan Lenes I look forward to seeing many of you on Monday, March 2. We are lucky to have a time before the official Town Meeting begins to have dinner and connect with friends, neighbors, and citizens of Shelburne. During that time, Senator Diane Snelling, Rep. Kate Webb and I will have a… Read More »
by Gov. Peter Shumlin Too often the news we hear focuses on the controversy over what we don’t agree on. As we work to put together a difficult budget that matches Montpelier’s appetite for spending with Vermonters ability to pay and other legislation that helps make this state a more affordable place to live, work,… Read More »
Update on education By Rep. Kate Webb Peter Drucker, the world-renowned management consultant and educator, once said “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” As we look to restructuring education funding, governance, and proficiency, Drucker’s words ring true. Our sense of community and culture here in Vermont is intimately tied to our local schools, and anything that… Read More »
By Representative Joan Lenes In previous articles, I have mentioned a different level of collaboration and problem solving I am witnessing this session. It is not that this was not the case before, but I see a different approach, thinking differently about existing problems – the sometimes too widely used cliché of “thinking outside the… Read More »
By Representative Kate Webb As we look to the future, why have successful businesses chosen Vermont, what keeps them here, and what can we learn from their experiences? I had an opportunity to hear from businesses in the tech and manufacturing sectors last Friday and as well as last summer. When asked how they got… Read More »