News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Ken Lund The Green Mountain State is a textbook case of how progressives employ social justice causes to drain the wallets and dreams of citizens. A growing populist backlash against a land use scheme that will steal wealth from property owners without any compensation is just the tip of the Marxist iceberg that is sinking the once-Republican … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, Mike and Alison discuss public safety, a bit of health care news, and a bit about “Green Grabbing.” Note: This week, Segment two includes video and audio, not just audio. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their … Read more
The Vermont State House recently hosted “Manufacturing Day” to highlight the successes and concerns of a key – and it turns out declining – sector of our economy. Amy Spear of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce kicked off testimony before the Economic Development Committees, “Manufacturing employment in Vermont has declined 11.3% since 2020. And Vermont … Read more
Police are asking for help identifying three individuals involved in a brazen retail theft at Kohl’s in the Berlin Mall on Sunday afternoon. According to the Berlin Police Department, the incident occurred at about 3 PM on April 12, when three individuals entered the store, filled shopping carts with merchandise, and then exited without attempting … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alison and Mike discuss more Act 181, Geoengineering H.217 and H.955, an Education bill.” Listen on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, or … Read more
…For high taxes, low affordability Democrats are pointing the finger at Vermont Governor Phil Scott for the state’s climbing tax, housing, health care and affordability problems. At a recent press conference, he said the Legislature’s majority party should look at the three fingers pointed right back at them. In an exchange with Vermont Public reporter … Read more
How a non-vote exposed the Democrats’ true attitudes regarding the housing crisis When new Vermont House members receive their orientation to how things work in the legislature, one point of etiquette driven home is that it’s not good form to spring amendments to bills onto the floor without a healthy heads up. “No surprises,” goes … Read more
Growing awareness about a progressive Vermont land-use measure has sparked widespread populist backlash. Act 181 was passed in 2024 by the Green Mountain State’s progressive supermajority, overcoming Governor Phil Scott’s veto. Falsely framed as a pro-housing bill, the stealth measure seeks to preserve natural resources at the expense of traditional development rights, draining wealth from property … Read more
Vermont is suffering from an early childcare availability crisis and an affordability crisis. We are suffering under crippling state taxes, particularly, but not limited to, property taxes. If you want to solve these issues, a hard NO vote on S.206 – An act relating to licensure of early childhood educators by the Office of Professional … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alison and Mike discuss this week’s tax legislation, the Senate’s healthcare legislation, and S.325. Listen on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, or … Read more
Welp…. Looks like the Democratic Socialists in Vermont learned nothing from the 2024 election that saw massive public opposition to their Clean Heat Carbon Tax, which played a starring role in the shellacking they took the hands of the voters. Today the House Democrats voted near party line (by my count only four broke ranks) … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alison and I discuss more of the active legislation in Montpelier incluindg more on land use, education reform, and H.933 – a whole lot of taxes. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not … Read more
I read the Vermont Democrats’ post-mortem report following their 2024 election debacle, in which Republicans picked up 19 House seats, 6 Senate seats, and the lieutenant governorship (the first time an incumbent LTG was ousted from office since 1815), ending their supermajority status in both chambers. The key insight in the document leaves me wondering … Read more
Most Americans don’t realize it, but Vermont has become quite progressive. Even some liberal Californians who moved to Vermont have remarked how much more extreme the Green Mountain State is today compared to the land of Gavin Newsom. For years, those progressives have been taunting the federal government to dispatch ICE for a visit. On … Read more
One Big Beautiful Bill gives scholarship donors $1700 federal tax credit – but Dem majority doesn’t want it Vermonters will not be allowed to take a federal tax credit for contributing to a private/independent school scholarship program, if a House Ways & Means Committee miscellaneous tax bill introduced yesterday becomes law. H.933, titled “miscellaneous administrative … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Alison and ike discuss housing reform, land use planning law, H.606 ( A new gun bill), and Edwatch Vermont, ” a nonprofit organization advocating for education independence, accountable spending, and student-centered education policy.” Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load.* *Some browsers’ security settings … Read more
Remember back in 2024 when the Democrats and Progressives in the Vermont legislature passed H.72 (Act 178), establishing a much hyped “overdose prevention center” in Burlington? (No Republican voted for it, and the Governor vetoed it only to see that veto overridden by the supermajority.) The law basically gave the Queen City around $2 million … Read more
Vermont ranks low when it comes to political ethics accountability. According to the Coalition for Integrity’s S.W.A.M.P. (States With Anti-Corruption Measures for Public Officials), Vermont ranks in the bottom ten nationally. The Center for Public Integrity gives us a D-. The general reasoning behind the bad grades is we have few rules governing our politicians’ … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, Alison and I discuss Act 73 issues, Medicaid data requests from the Feds, and some miscellaneous bills in the legislature. You Can Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok … Read more
The Cost of Joining New York’s (Still Non-Existent) Cap & Invest Carbon Tax Scheme As the Vermont House Energy & Digital Infrastructure (HEDI) Committee debated whether or not to blow $800,000 (and $500,000 every year subsequent) establishing a new fossil fuel registry (H.740), Treasurer Mike Pieciak (D-VT) chimed in with a February 25, 2026, letter … Read more