News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
A collection of Vermont legislators led by Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden SE) and Treasurer Mike Pieciak (D-VT) gathered in the Cedar Creek Room of the State House to decry and bemoan proposed reforms to the SNAP (Supplemental NUTRITION Assistance Program, aka Food Stamps) that would disallow taxpayer-funded EBT cards from purchasing junk … Read more
People have been itchy, antsy, and downright belligerent about how long it takes to see some accountability at the federal level. I’ve been reminding everyone that’s listening that you don’t get there overnight. We’re not Democrats. We don’t just whip an indictment because someone rustled our jimmies. Angry tweets, sure, legal filings that could stick? … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, Alison and I discuss Chittenden County State’s Attorney not prosecuting disorderly conduct, Telecom siting, and new S.325 Regional Planning language. Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Get More Right Side Up Here Check out all of our other podcasts. Get More Morning … Read more
Rural Vermonters have certainly woken up to the dangers of Act 181, the state land use law that threatens to basically steal the property rights away from landowners living outside the 2.5 percent of the state deemed to be “urban settlement.” The “Vermont Act 181” Facebook group has exploded almost overnight to 11,400 members, the … Read more
This week, on Right Side Up, Mike and Alison talk about Justice Clarence Thomas’s speech @ U of Texas at Austin, H.670, a voter ID bill, and RES siting.” Chapter List: Watch on the ‘Grok Rumble Channel if the embedded video does not load. Authors’ and Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent … Read more
If there is one thing I’ve learned watching and often finding myself neck deep in Vermont politics over the past quarter century, it is that you have to evaluate every word that comes out of Democrats’ mouths for linguistic loopholes. This, after all, is the party of “it depends on what the definition of “is” … Read more
Many Vermont Democrats are giddy over the prospect of a genuinely competitive opponent to take on Phil Scott for the first time in 10 years: Aly Richards. All I can say is, it’s cute that you think that. While I’ll buy that Richards is likely to put up a better show than Esther Charlestin or … Read more
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