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Real health care Reform, NOW!

Congressman Welch was joined by VPIRG, Vermont Tent Company, Vermont NEA, Vermont AFL-CIO, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, the Vermont Health Care Ombudsman, TrueMajority, and Vermont Teamsters supporting strong federal health care legisation this year.

While there is debate in Washington over whether the reform measure should include a public health insurance option, the Vermont organizations will leave no doubt as to their stance on the issue.

“Vermonters and citizens across the country want greater choice in health care,” said Burns.  “A public care option is one choice that is critical for this reform to have real meaning.”  

While we are in many ways a diverse group of organizations and citizens, we are united today in calling for real and lasting reform of our health care system so that all Americans can get the high quality health care they need at a price they can afford.

Packed house for Panel discussion on Vermont Yankee

150 Vermonters gathered at Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield to listen and ask questions of a panel of experts on the political, health, economic and environmental implications of Vermont Yankee.

Vermont is faced with a critical decision on our energy future: Vermont Yankee, the state’s sole nuclear power plant, is scheduled to close down in 2012. It is clear that Vermonters want a new energy future and Repower Vermont with clean, local, renewable energy.

The moderator was Eugene Jarecki (Filmmaker, Author, Public Thinker) and panelists included Adam Greshin (State Representative, Waitsfield-Fayston-Warren),
Arnie Gundersen (Vermont Yankee Oversight Nuclear Engineer), Nancy Chickering (MD, MPH, Physicians for Social Responsibility ), James Moore (Clean Energy Advocate, VPIRG) and Lawrence Mott (Managing Director, New Generation Partners)

Check out the Seven Days article reporting and twittering on the panel by clicking here.

10,000+ Rally for Health Care Reform

On June 25, over 10,000 people rallied in Upper Senate Park in Washington, D.C. for health care reform this year.  Our message to Congress was clear: We need real health care reform in 2009 and we can’t wait.

VPIRG leads the Vermont state coalition for the national Health Care for America Now (HCAN).  Health care advocate, Susan Baker, (picutred left with Sen. Leahy and coalition parnters) was joined by Vermont representatives from AFL-CIO and TrueMajority to attend the rally and lobby our federal delegation.  Our Congressmen remain strong in the debate, promoting principles we’ve been fighting for since last July: coverage we can afford, comprehensive benefits we can count on, equal access to health care, and a choice of either a private or a public health insurance plan option.  To see video of the day click here.

While Susan was in D.C., VPIRG health care advocate Stefanie Sidortsova held a local press event right here in Vermont.  Stefanie was joined by Speaker of the House, Shap Smith, Chair of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, Doug Racine, and some of the 131 state legislators who recently supported a public health insurance plan option.  We commend their leadership on this issue.  They recognize that even though Vermont is a national leader in health care reform, we need federal legislation that can take us even further and we need it now.  

Elected Officials Support Public Health Insurance Plan Option

Legislative leaders, including President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, Speaker Shap Smith, and Senate Health & Welfare Committee Chair Doug Racine and VPIRG, lead organizer for the Health Care for America Now campaign’s Vermont coalition, will be holding a press conference on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10 a.m. on the State House steps to urge Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation that includes a public health insurance plan option by the end of the year.

Last week, 131 Vermont legislators, including members of the Republican, Democratic, and Progressive parties, voiced their support for a public health insurance plan option by signing onto the Progressive States Network letter that was delivered to the Obama Administration and Congress. Vermont had more state legislators, both in number and by percentage, sign onto the letter than any other state. Click here to see the letter and list of Vermont legislators that signed on.

Thursday’s press conference is being held in conjunction with Health Care for America Now’s Health Care ’09 Rally and Lobby Day taking place in Washington, DC to demonstrate support for the public health insurance plan option.

VPIRG advocate Susan Baker will be among the thousands at the rally on Capitol Hill.She will also, with our partners, be meeting with our Federal Delegation to thank them for their support of a public plan option and push for their continued strengthened support.

Vermont Yankee: A Discussion of Our Energy Future

Vermonters face a critical decision on our energy future: Vermont Yankee, the state’s sole nuclear power plant, is scheduled to close down on 2012. Currently, the Vermont Legislature is considering whether or not to grant a 20 year license extension to continue operation of the plant through 2032.  Panelists will discuss the political, health, economic, and environmental implications of this decision. Come join the discussion and learn more about this critical issue.

Wednesday, June 24 from 6-8pm
Big Picture Theater, 48 Carroll Rd, Waitsfield, VT map
Free and open to the public

Moderator:
Eugene Jarecki, Filmmaker, Author, Public Thinker

The Panelists:
Adam Greshin, State Representative, Waitsfield-Fayston-Warren
Arnie Gundersen, Vermont Yankee Oversight Nuclear Engineer
Nancy Chickering MD, MPH, Physicians for Social Responsibility
James Moore, Clean Energy Advocate, VPIRG
Lawrence Mott, Managing Director, New Generation Partners

Co-sponsored by Valley Futures Network Energy Group, with support from Mad River Valley Localvores, Green Mountain Global Forum, Carbon Shredders, Friends of the Mad River, and Big Picture Theater. 

In case you missed it, check out the Time Argus and Seven Days articles on the event.

VPIRG-backed renewable energy bill becomes law

After months of work to help craft and build support for the bill, VPIRG Clean Energy Advocate James Moore celebrated Vermont's most recent green energy victory when Gov. Douglas let the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency bill (H.446) become law without his signature.

"This bill does more for small-scale and community-scale renewable energy than anything that’s been passed,” said James. “This helps businesses, schools, farmers, towns.”

H. 446 puts Vermont on the map as a leader in the renewable energy revolution. It establishes the first statewide standard offer program in the country allowing farms, business owners, and municipalities to be better positioned to install solar, wind, small hydro, farm methane or combined heat and power projects. A standard offer provides financial certainty to developers who build the renewable energy projects that Vermonters want, thereby jumpstarting construction of up to 50 megawatts of clean renewable power.

H. 446 also:
• Enables towns to create clean energy assessment districts to help property owners finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

• Directs $30 million dollars of federal economic recovery money to the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund. Consumers, businesses and towns can apply for financial support for clean energy projects.

• Strengthens Vermont’s building efficiency standards

• Encourages the Agency of Natural Resources to reconsider their ban on wind power development on state lands.

• Supports the development of downtown district heat projects in Montpelier and Randolph.

2009 Legislative Session

In a session fraught with economic challenges, VPIRG worked with our partners, members and legislative allies to successfully pass bills that promote a renewable energy future, protect Vermonters from toxics in our environment and make health care more affordable. We still have major work ahead of us, and with your continued support we will continue making progress on the issues you care about.

H. 446 — Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency -- Gets renewable energy projects started and helps jump start our economy with good, local jobs.

H. 436 — Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Fund -- Makes sure that Vermonters don't get stuck with the bill of cleaning up after Vermont Yankee

S. 47 — Salvage Yards -- Takes a first step in addressing environmental concerns of some junk yards by consolidating oversight of salvage yards within the Vermont Agency of Natural resources and requiring enforcement of state and federal law.

S. 109 — Toxic Flame Retardants -- VPIRG worked with a diverse group of allies to successfully pass S.109 which bans toxic flame retardants in certain products and requires the use of safer and equally effective alternatives.

S. 48 — Reducing Prescription Drug Marketing -- By removing a long-standing “trade secret” exemption, the law allows more transparency of the financial relationships between drug companies and doctors and gives Vermonters the information they need to decide if their prescriber is being influenced or not.

H. 444 – Increased health care funding and access -- This comprehensive bill allows Vermonters to take full advantage of Health Care dollars allocated by President Obama and Congress.

H. 24 — Affordable Colon Cancer Screenings -- Ensures that no one, who is at-risk for colon cancer and has health insurance in Vermont, will have to forego a screening due to concerns over cost

For a full report on the Legislative Session click here.

Hundreds Rally for Health Care Reform

VPIRG joined the Worker's Center and over 100 organizations that endorsed the Healthcare is a Human Right campaign for one of the largest healthcare rallies in Vermont's history. At least 500 people showed up on the state house lawn to demonstrate broad public support for the need for healthcare reform in 2009. The event featured speakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders, a "dunk the insurance companies" dunk tank, music, and skits.

VPIRG was there representing Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the national campaign VPIRG is leading in the state. We brought our message that any meaningful health care reform this year must include a public health insurance plan option, which has been publicly supported recently by both Senator Bernie Sanders and Governor Howard Dean.

The event was a success - our elected leaders heard the message that healthcare reform cannot wait because healthcare is a human right!

250 rally for Vermont's Energy Future

Activists from across Vermont gathered on the Statehouse lawn for the Vermont’s Energy Future: It’s Our Choice! rally. The day sent a clear message to lawmakers that they have choice to make for Vermont: to rely on an unsafe, unreliable nuclear power plant that is plagued with accidents and chronic mismanagement or, invest in clean, safe, renewable energy.

The day started with a march from Montpelier’s City Hall to the Statehouse where marchers were welcomed by House Speaker Shap Smith who reaffirmed his commitment to renewable energy projects across the state. Followed by, Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin who expressed his support for the rally and commitment that Vermont Yankee needs to be held accountable for its promises and not leave Vermonter's paying the bill for the cost of decommissioning.     

The day ended with a citizen lobbying training and activists went into the Statehouse to deliver personal messages to their legislators about the clear choice for Vermont’s energy future. 

Check out some of the media coverage here.

Vermont’s Energy Future: It’s Our Choice

On April 29th, VPIRG and our friends will show what replacing Vermont Yankee with clean, renewable energy looks like. The decision facing Vermont is clear: Do we Repower Vermont's future with clean, safe and reliable energy, or repeat past mistakes by betting our future on a decaying plant that has been plagued by mismanagement, accidents and broken promises?

Click here to RSVP to the event and make your voice heard .

The schedule for the day is:
• 9:30am: arrive at City Hall in Montpelier
• 10:00am: march from Montpelier's City Hall to the Statehouse.
• 10:30am - 2:00pm: Renewable Energy Fair and nuclear Mock Evacuation - a choose your future rally with music, fun, speakers and more!
• 11:30am: Press conference.
• 12:00pm: Citizen Lobbying Event to get constituents in touch with legislators and tell them the choice is clear!

Our legislature will decide soon between Vermont Yankee or a renewable energy future. They've heard from Vermont Yankee's lobbyists, now they need to hear from you.

Click here to RSVP.

PSB Approves the Deerfield Wind Farm

A while back VPIRG asked members and supporters to contact the Public Service Board in support of the "Deerfield Wind Farm" being proposed in Southern Vermont. Hundreds acted -- sending personalized comments to the Board in support of clean energy options like wind power.

The leaders listened to the people. In a clear statement the Board approved the Deerfield wind farm, which will produce enough power for 12,500 Vermont homes. And they cited comments and legislation that VPIRG fought to get passed as reasons to support the project.

Two wind farms have been approved in Vermont, which is great, but we all know that we are just getting started. The legislature is still waiting to vote on key legislation in the next two weeks to guarantee that wind farms and other clean energy projects get built.

Renewable Energy Bills Advance!

The House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy is poised to pass legislation that would open up state lands for renewable energy projects. If the ban is successfully lifted it will send a clear sign that Vermont is serious about its renewable energy future.

In separate action, the Vermont Senate also took great steps this week to support private renewable energy development. Under the Senate bill property owners can apply for low interest loans to set up small-scale wind turbines, solar panel systems, methane gas collection and geothermal heating.

Both bills are great steps in the right direction towards Vermont’s independent energy future. Check out our full report here!

As these two pieces of legislation move it is a very exciting time in Montpelier to see a progressive energy become a reality. Lawmakers are starting to put plans into place to give private citizens the power to create their own energy future while at the same time sending a message to Entergy that we are serious about our energy independence.

Passed: Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Bill

The House passed, by a wide margin, legislation to make Vermont Yankee owners, Entergy Nuclear, responsible for the clean-up costs, not Vermont taxpayers. This is another step to ensure that Entergy is responsible for the costs of decommissioning Vermont Yankee as they promised when the bought the plant.

The decommissioning fund contains money Vermonters contributed before Entergy bought the reactor to make sure that Vermont Yankee is cleaned up whenever it is shut down. Since Entergy bought it they have not added any money and because the fund was invested in the stock market it has lost value. Today it has less than half the estimated $1 billion it will cost to clean it up. If there isn't enough money in the fund Vermonters could be left holding the bill to clean up Entergy's toxic nuclear waste dump.

Hand Delivered: Comments to Obama's Health Reform Team

President Obama's health care team came to Burlington on Tuesday March 17th, and with your help, we hand delivered over 200 comments calling for major health care reform this year. VPIRG advocate Susan Baker (pictured at left) was there in person and had the wonderful opportunity to partcipate in the discussion. It was an exciting opportunity to see doctors, students, nurses and patients from all over Vermont joining in the debate. In case you missed the live webcast, check out the Burlington Free Press article on the forum.

Congressman Welch was there and we are proud that he's endorsed our principles: we need quality, affordable health care that puts people's health before profits; equal access to coverage in all of our communities; a choice of health care plans which includes access to a high-quality public plan; a choice of doctors; fair, strict rules for insurance companies, and a standard for benefits we can count on. Congressman's Welch's support will be critical in this debate, and his support is great.

Obama Health Reform Team Visiting VT

March 17 - President Obama's health care team is in Burlington! And they want our input on national health care reform. VPIRG advocates will be there in person to join the debate and deliver hundreds of comments from our members. It's part of our ongoing work to secure quality, affordable health care for all Vermonters, and all Americans. You can read more about our whole campaign in our op-ed piece in the Times Argus and Rutland Herald here.

Unfortunately, there are no tickets left available for the public to join in person, but you can watch the forum live online by clicking here.

VT Yankee forced to drop misleading ads

We’re bombarded with corporate spin from Vermont Yankee almost every day - but on March 11 VPIRG succesfully caught Vermont Yankee in the act of running misleading ads, and forced them to admit their deception and stop making the false claims.

We called out Vermont Yankee's misleading advertisements that claimed that the facility has "zero emissions." We also urged Attorney General William Sorrell to investigate company's contention that the plant is "clean, safe and reliable." With a track record of collapsing cooling towers, leaking pipes, and higher-than-legal radiation emissions, Vermont Yankee is a potentially dangerous accident waiting to happen.

Attorney General Sorell agreed with VPIRG that some key Entergy claims were, in his words, "factually untrue." As a result, Entergy has agreed to stop misleading the public and our legislators with their deceptive advertising2. They will also institute a review policy for all of their other advertising.

Click here to read our press release.
Or click here to read the news.

Tell Us What You Think

Help us do our work more effectively by sharing your thoughts and opinions. Our Member Survey takes just a few minutes to complete. All information will be kept confidential and will not be associated with your name unless you choose to share it with us.

Just click here to take our member Survey.

Thanks!

New Report: Levels of toxic flame retardants are increasing at a dangerous rate

Fire fighters, parents, children’s advocates, health professionals, and environmentalists gathered at the State House to release a report on the dangers of toxic flame retardants.

“As our report documents, levels of toxic flame retardants in the environment and our bodies are increasing at a dangerous rate.  This is of particular concern because these chemicals have been linked to reproductive disorders, cancer, liver damage, and other serious health effects,” said Charity Carbine, VPIRG’s environmental health advocate.

Click here to read the press release
Click here to read the full report

What's wrong with your TV?

Have you heard the news? Millions of Vermont televisions are scheduled to become obsolete when national broadcasters switch over to all digital signals. The U.S. Congress has delayed this 'digital conversion' until June 12th. However, Vermont television stations are moving forward with their plans to switch from analogue to digital signals on February 17th. And Vermont still has no plan to recycle all the toxic leftover TVs.

If you are preparing for the switch by buying a new television (you don't have to, click here for more information), don't forget to donate or recycle your old TVs and other electronics. TVs and other electronic waste (e-waste), can contain lead, mercury, brominated flame retardants, cadmium, and other chemicals. In fact, older TVs can contain 4 to 8 pounds of lead each. For tips on donating and guidelines, click here.

But don't stop at recycling one piece of toxic trash! Contact your legislators and tell them to take back all Vermonters toxic e-waste with tough new laws banning these hazards from landfills. Click here to take action.

New Report: Without reform,
health costs will double

Without health reform, premiums and deductibles for Vermonters with employer provided insurance will nearly double by 2016, according to a new VPIRG report.

VPIRG attributes these high costs to wasteful health spending and the insurance and pharmaceutical industries that profit from it.

“At a time when our state legislators and Governor are debating cuts to critical health assistance programs, our research found over $1 billion in wasted cash and profit within our health care system,” said Susan Baker, VPIRG’s health care advocate. “Our leaders should be cracking down on insurance companies first, instead of balancing the state budget on the backs of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Click here to read the press release
Click here to read the full report

Campaigns and Coalition Work...

Upcoming Events ...

Click here for a full calendar.....

Current research...

Health Care in Crisis
Without health reform, premiums and deductibles for Vermonters with employer provided insurance will nearly double by 2016 as a result of insurance industry greed and mis-management.

Renewing America
By embracing the promise of renewable energy, efficeincy and local energy sources, America can re-power our economy and renew the American dream.

Trouble in Toyland 2008
The 23rd Annual VPIRG Trouble in Toyland report helps consumers avoid potentially toxic toys this holiday season. Many of the victories we had this year don't take effect until Feb. 2009, so it's still buyer beware!

Feeling the Heat
A new report released by VPIRG and our national advocacy partners at Environment America shows that over the course of 2007, Burlington experienced 10 days where the temperature hit at least 90°F, which is a 66% increase over the historical average for the city.

Scoring Catamount Health:
Phase I and Phase II
VPIRG's reports grading the Douglas Administration on their effectiveness in implementing the Catamount Health plan.

When it Rains, It Pours
This new report finds that New England leads the country in severe precipitation. Storms with heavy rainfall or snowfall are now 61 percent more frequent in the New England region than they were 60 years ago.

A Decade of Change
This report outlines a clear, achievable path to a clean, safe and affordable electricity future for Vermont, showing how we can get more than half our electricity from renewable energy sources by 2016.

Building Solutions
Vermont has the potential to dramatically reduce its global warming pollution and reduce heating bills by improving the energy efficiency of Vermont homes according to this new VPIRG report.

Troubled Waters
This report outlines the successes and failures of the Clean Water Act in Vermont 35 years after its passage. Sadly, more than 50% of of industrial and municipal facilities across the state continue to violate the law.

Have you heard ...

VPIRG is hitting back against misleading ads by Entergy Nuclear- the corporate owners of Vermont Yankee - with our own radio ads on WDEV thanks to support from the Lintilhac Foundation!

Click here to listen:
Ad 1..... Ad 2..... Ad 3

or listen online to WDEV here