Philip Baruth’s Vermont Daily Briefing has been an indispensable destination in the VT blogosphere since its inception. Now that Senator Baruth represents Chittenden County, his blog has entered uncharted territory.

Though chided in the Free Press’ blog for not writing as frequently, Baruth has eloquently documented the progress of the Pre-K bill, advised Governor Shumlin to Beware the Deal on health care, and captured the pace of the Senate’s endgame. As explained in the interview, Philip has solid reasons for not writing BREAKING insider accounts on the machinations of the Legislature. So he is sticking with the wit, the writing, and the insight that have defined the blog.  

Philip first visited an embryonic VTblogosphereTV for the pivotal third episode, proving himself both a risk taker and a trailblazer. Then we focused on the relationship between blogging and journalism. This time the discussion covered the ritual involved in becoming a Senator, netizen activism surrounding the Citizens United ruling, Vermont Yankee pre- and post-Fukushima, his Ed and Ag committee work, expansion of Pre-K public education, and the difficult decisions surrounding the budget.

One of Philip’s many gifts is his sense of balance. He almost immediately found the proper relationship between blogging and legislating. He still sounds off on issues close to his heart, but thankfully Vt’s first bloggin’ State Senator is not predisposed to fulfill any stereotypes about bloggers as grandstanding blowhards. His is a calm, centered, sane voice and he knows the job is about service and work. The people of Chittenden County were wise to send him to represent their interests and the interests of all Vermonters.  

Public comments will be accepted until Tuesday, May 3.  Comments may be submitted by email to atvrule@state.vt.us

Last night’s public hearing over ATV use on public lands demonstrated VASA’s ability to pack a room, but provided no valid reasons why that use should be permitted.

Rather like the arguments in Congress that say we shouldn’t “raise” taxes on the rich even though it is only proposed to sunset temporary tax CUTS,  arguments offered by the ATV crowd are heavily dependent on the illusion that ATV users now have a “right” to traverse public lands. This, despite the fact that their access lasted just a single season and was awarded by a departing governor against the recommendations of a legislative committee and public comments that came in at a rate of three-to-one against.

The refrain of the riders is always the same, ” We will ride responsibly; and, If you take away our right to use the trails legally, don’t blame us for what goes on illegally!”  Apart from the hint of blackmail, this assertion completely ignores the established fact that even while riding “responsibly” on the trails, ATV traffic is inflicting harm on the wild environment.

And what about that right to access?  Is it purely a question of fairness, as one rider insists:

“It’s a question of fairness. People who own and ride ATVs are Vermonters just as much as anybody,” Ed Gallo of Richmond said. “There’s no question there are outlaw riders, there always will be, but 99 percent of the people want to ride legal.”

Even if we accept the legitimacy of  VASA’s petition that supposedly has 4,000 signatures, that leaves 617,000 Vermonters who may have a different idea of what constitutes fair access.  Judging from public comments the Legislature received against Gov. Douglas’ rule change, the majority of Vermonters believe it is unfair to make them suffer the exhaust and noise of ATV’s on public lands, when that is just about the only place where one can avoid motorized vehicles if one wishes to do so.  

As Liam McSweeney, a Montpelier high school senior put it

“you want to get away from the smells and sounds that ATVs create. Every generation, a little more wilderness disappears.”

If we were to take the “fairness” arguments from VASA at face value, we might as well permit bicycles on I-89 because undoubtedly there are bike riders who think it is unfair to be barred from use of that public route just because one doesn’t own a car.

It’s time to make your voice heard loud and clear by your legislators.  Tell them that the environmental evidence is overwhelming; and common sense about the purpose of public wilderness only makes the argument against ATV access more compelling.

There simply is no such thing as “responsible” ATV use on these public lands.

( – promoted by odum)

From VWC Blog– http://www.workerscenter.org/w…

Yesterday, with the vote on the universal healthcare bill H.202, we saw politics at its best and at its worst. At its best, because the participation of thousands of Vermonters in the Healthcare Is a Human Right campaign convinced a strong majority in the Senate to pass a historic universal healthcare bill. At its worst, because a majority of senators also approved an amendment to make the bill less than universal, in a cynical political move to appeal to hatred and intolerance.

In a last minute amendment, the Vermont Senate voted 22-8 to exclude one of Vermont’s most vulnerable populations, undocumented farm workers. The amendment was introduced by Senator Brock (Franklin County) and Senator Sears (Bennington County).

From the debate on the Senate floor it seemed that there were a number of Senators who misunderstood the implications of the amendment. But it should come as no surprise that just as we are establishing the commitment to universal healthcare there was a last desperate attempt to undermine our social solidarity by pitting Vermonters against each other. To our knowledge, if passed this would be the first Vermont law to discriminate against people because of their federal immigration status and would set a very bad precedent.

We need to send a loud and clear message that Vermont is not Arizona (which passed a law last year to criminalize and scapegoat immigrant communities, background see: http://www.workerscenter.org/n… When we say healthcare is human right, we mean for everybody who lives and works in Vermont regardless of legal status. We will not tolerate racial profiling and accept the unjust immigration and foreign policies of the federal government. We can do better than that. That is what our universal healthcare system is about. It would not be universal if groups are left out based on this kind of criteria. When we say health care for all, we mean for all!



What you can do:

1. Contact Your Legislator

Call the Sgt-at-arms at 802-828-2228 to tell your legislator that Vermont is not Arizona, that healthcare is a human right and farm workers need healthcare, too.

If you aren’t sure of who your Representatives or Senators are, you can go here: http://leg.state.vt.us/legdir/…

2. Help with Open Letter of Organization, Faith and Community Leaders: Go here: http://www.workerscenter.org/n…

3. Come to May 1st Rally: At 11am on Sunday, May 1, 2011 thousands of Vermonters will meet at City Hall at 39 Main Street to march for universal healthcare. Join us! Check out a video update about the campaign at www.workerscenter.org/peoplesstruggle

MORE INFO: Contact the VWC at 861-4892 or info@workerscenter.org

For more information about the lives of Vermont’s migrant farmworkers, why they come to work in Vermont, and why Vermont’s dairy industry needs them, visit our allies at The Vermont Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project at http://www.vtmfsp.org/.

so glad Obama can prove his birth

it was making me uncomfortable

giving me some homesick flashback

you know about me don’t you?

I’m your average American lost

in time and space in the Comfort Zone

when the corporations murdered

Jack Kennedy I was so relieved

by the Warren Commission report

and next thing I knew I was here

where nobody would tell me exactly

what’s what except not to worry about it

since 1964 I’ve been trapped here

not that I’m complaining mind you

but sometimes I long to go back

back when maybe we could fix things

by speaking out about the obvious

like what was WWII all about anyway?

like when did graduated income tax

become tax breaks for the rich?

and all these wars we don’t really need?

still it is comfortable here

they let me have everything I need

well maybe not as much anymore but hell

I can’t do anything about that  can I?

I can’t get out of here  there’s

a goddamn force field or something

sometimes I think maybe what the fuck

who cares anyway?  it’s like nature

shit happens and the planet’s in on it

but I’m so glad Obama was really born

they say now they can genetically

engineer people  even leaders

I don’t want to think about this stuff

there’s a fucking game on today

and my team is going to beat your team

professional sports are incorruptible

here in the Comfort Zone  and I can

take a nap on the couch besides

Peter Buknatski

Montpelier, Vt

And Holy Shit!  This just in…30 seconds ago.

Donald Trump escalated his questions about President Obama at a press conference just now breaking up outside the New York Stock Exchange.

Trump has previously charged Obama with being an illegal alien (see Trump Statement At Ellis Island), and on Monday (see Trump Statement On As The World Turns), Trump accused the President of being a ‘poor student’ not worthy of admission to Columbia University and Harvard Law School.

Obama released full and detailed Hawaiian birth certificate records this morning, and the New York Stock Exchange has been fluctuating as of mid-day.  The President has yet to respond to Trump’s questions on his academic record.

But, just moments ago, Trump released his latest bombshell:  “I would like to know if the President has ever in his life told, what we all know as, a stupid honky joke.  I have sources who have told me that, not only has he made them in the past, but, since he became President, has been making more and more of them.  I challenge President Obama to deny this, and, further, if the President does not respond to this request, well…I will be forced to make him respond.  Then Americans will see the President’s true color.  And mine.”

And then Trump cited former LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman’s testimony at the famous OJ trial:  “Fuhrman said, as we all recall, he had never said or thought the N word in 10 years. Come on.  Even I’ve done that.  A lot.  So, it stands to reason that the President has had his lapses, and the American people demand full disclosure.  I can assure you, I have a long long list of questions about Obama.  I haven’t even gotten into his sex life yet.  I’m saving that for next year.

“No, no questions,”  Trump concluded.  “What, you clowns work for me.  You want to get fired!”

   

(We have made a habit of bringing to our readers Arnie Gundersen’s thoughtful analysis of the still unfolding crisis at Fukushima.  An informed public is a responsible public, and there has never been a more critical time in Vermont for the average person to take an active interest in how exactly reactors go wrong when they do. Arnie makes it easy for us to understand some pretty startling facts of physics playing out before us in the current situation. – promoted by Sue Prent)

Gundersen Postulates Unit 3 Explosion May Have Been Prompt Criticality in Fuel Pool from Fairewinds Associates on Vimeo.

When building 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi plant exploded last month, those who saw the video footage were left to wonder why it was more severe than the other explosions. Adding to the mystery were reports that the containment and reactor in building 3 were still intact. Gundersen discusses several known facts about Fukushima 3 and theorizes on a possible scenario leading to the explosion.

Expert analysis from Fairewind’s Arnie Gundersen, nuclear engineer

Arnie answers comments recieved regarding Fukushima reactor #3. Breaking down the evidence & analyzing information, Arnie gives his insight of what happened.

With next to nothing for information about the present status making its way to the public, personally I find these updates extemely helpful.

  Yesterday the Vermont Electric Co-op sent a clear signal to Entergy Vermont Yankee.  They voted 9-1 against signing a 20 year power purchase agreement with the aging plant.  One VEC board member described his vote as follows:

“We need to lock in with a credible supplier,” he said. “We need to deal with a company that has the trust and support of the majority of our members. Entergy isn’t that company.”

Entergy had fired off its PR gun a little early on March 30th with a press release that was trumpeted by local online cheerleaders of the plant.

Entergy Corporation today announced Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC has completed negotiations on a 20-year agreement to sell power from the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to customers of Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc., the third-largest electric distribution utility in Vermont.

This announcement was quickly shot down by the VEC Chairman, and yesterday’s vote shows the deal had little support. Chalk it up to an ill timed PR move or an awkward attempt to bulldoze the VEC board or…it could be a move sooo sly only a few chosen souls even understand the sheer cleverness.

You see according to YesVY blog (which understandably claims no inside knowledge) it was never meant to be about a VEC power deal at all!!  

Entergy was sending secret signals to others.

It’s a little long but here put on these special glasses and you will see the message.

I think Entergy is signalling. Signalling can be sort of fancy word for advertising. However, advertising is often comparatively simple: "Strawberries now available at $2.50 a quart." Signalling can be much subtler. For example, a potential employee shows his dedication to his career by going to night school, therefore "signalling" to the potential employer that he will be a very good employee. In my opinion, this press release signals: Entergy Vermont Yankee intends to be open for business after March 2012, and they are willing to give very good power purchase agreement rates.  

[…] Similarly, I think that the question of why Entergy sent this press release at this time cannot be answered by looking at Entergy's relationship with VEC. This press release is a signal to a wider market. Also, this is an upbeat way of signalling: we're ready to sell power to a buyer! If the VEC board turns down the agreement later this month, Entergy's signal would not be as effective.

(Rethinking the role prisons should play in Vermont was a central theme of the Democratic campaign for governor, so it is appropriate to keep the conversation going even as we face other challenges. – promoted by Sue Prent)

It's for all those reasons that I began volunteering with the St Albans Community Justice Center's reentry program.  Specifically, I'm part of a Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA):

As a member of a Circle of Supportand Accountability, you will work very closely (on a weekly basis) with an offender returning to the St. Albans Community. Your role is to offer mentorship and support toan offender who has expressed a desire to change and a commitment to cause no more harm.

You also will work in a larger group to establish clear expectations with the offender in regards to community behavior and responsibility. COSA members will work in teams of three with a single offender. The commitment is for one year of service. COSA members will receive intensive training, supervision and support by program staff.

Thus far it's been an interesting and positive experience personally, and I am both hopeful and realistic about what will come of the team's efforts.  Our “core member” worked hard to get into the program and while we've had some ups and downs–including a rather heavy weekly group meeting today–there is great potential to make good things happen.

I encourage community members to learn about the Second Chance Act, a law signed by President George W Bush that provides grants to programs such as COSA, and check out recent testimony presented to the Legislature about reducing recidivism in our state.  And please call the Community Justice Center at 524-7006 if you're interested in volunteering in any capacity (provide transportation, offer employment, donate household items, lead a training/workshop) to help some folks get on the right track, create safer communities and save Vermont a bundle of money.

ntodd

THE BEST BASEBALL MOVIE EVER (though not as good as the play) is DAMN YANKEES.  JESUS CHRIST, GWEN VERDON GWEN VERDON GWEN VERDON

HEY GUYS, YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART

THE BEST BASEBALL MOVIE EVER (though not as good as the play) is DAMN YANKEES.  JESUS CHRIST, GWEN VERDON GWEN VERDON GWEN VERDON

HEY GUYS, YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART

(As the Royal Wedding and conflicts in the Middle East claim the news cycle, the situation at Fukushima continues to be unresolved; a slowly unfolding disaster whose final dimensional impact remains unknown.

There are important take-aways from the disaster, and there are industry incentives to suppress that conversation.  Our own Vermont watchdog, Arnie Gundersen suggests there is no time left to waste in getting to it. – promoted by Sue Prent)

Fairewinds Calls for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Delay Licensing Until Fukushima Lessons Are Evaluated from Fairewinds Associates on Vimeo.

Gundersen implores Congress and NRC to think outside the box.  Pause licensing of new nukes and 20-year-life extensions until the lessons learned from Fukushima are applied.  Fairewinds Associates recommends that regulators look at the feasibility of emergency evacuation plans, containment leakage, and aging management plans for 40-year-old Fukushima model reactors.