Vermonters for Economic Health

“The Coming Tsunami: The Dire State of the Vermont Economy”

A Vermonters for Economic Health/Kemper Report

SUNDAY, FEB. 7, 2010
1:30 PM
Mark Skinner Library
48 West Road, Manchester, VT

Tom Licata, MBA, College of William and Mary; Burlington, VT Resident & Community Volunteer; 10 years in corporate finance & strategic planning; founder, Vermonters for Economic Health

Hugh Kemper, B.A., Harvard; Londonderry, VT Resident & Community Volunteer; Managing Director, JP Morgan, 30+ years; Flood Brook School Board Member 2005-2008

This Legislative update by Rep. Jim Condon was originally published in
the Colchester Sun on January
28, 2010. It is presented here with Rep. Condon's permissio.

"There was more circumstance than pomp last week when Governor Jim Douglas delivered his final budget address to the state legislature.

Comparing Vermont’s current economic situation to the Great Flood of 1927, Douglas suggested our state’s economic foundation should be rebuilt, much like our roads and bridges were reconstructed and our infrastructure strengthened after the big flood.

Featured image: 

The Janus Forum at UVM is hosting a debate on the future of nuclear power. The date is Monday, February  8 at 4:00pm at the Davis Center. (Thanks to Ethan Allen Institute for this item).

With so much interest and the swirl of facts and assertions, myth and reality surrounding nuclear energy in the nation's energy mix, here's an opportunity to learn more about the issue.

See attachment below for details.

(Thanks to Vermont Chamber of Commerce for this item)

The Senate Economic Development Committee has scheduled two hearings on the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to hear from Vermont businesses about the impact proposed changes would have on employers. The first hearing will take place on Wednesday, February 3 from 9 am to Noon in the Board of Alderman Chamber, City Hall, in Rutland.
The second hearing will take place on Thursday, February 4 from 9 am to Noon at Contois Auditorium in Burlington.

Featured image: 

Gordon Winters, owner of Swanton Lumber, presented his views about Vermont's business climate and the  issues he faces as a small business owner to a Legislative Business/Jobs forum at the Statehouse on January 21, 2010. We could not have said it better! (used with permission)

January 21, 2010

Senator Shumlin, Speaker Smith and distinguished legislators, thank you for allowing me to speak with you today.

I am the owner of Swanton Lumber Company and two ACE Hardware stores that employ 30 Vermonters. My third hardware store is under construction, and when it opens this
spring, I expect to hire 10 more people. As a lifelong Vermonter there is no place I would rather grow my business than Vermont because I know what a unique place it is.

VEH - Douglas Budget Proposal

Warning! Prepare for the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Why?
Governor Douglas has proposed a balanced budget for Vermont that will
eliminate a $150 Million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2011. Why the
wailing? He proposes to cut $53 Million from the Agency of Human
Services and to accept the Treasurer's pension and post-retirement
healthcare benefit proposals. In addition, the Governor also proposes
to shift the cost of teacher pensions and benefits to the Education
Fund (where it belongs) from the General Fund. In addition, Gov.
Douglas proposes to roll back the tax increases the Legislature enacted
last year when overriding his veto of the Legislature's budget.

At VEH we support these proposals as a reasonable approach for legislative
consideration. Balancing the budget is of paramount importance and Gov.