By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org American uproar over revelations of mass government spying has provoked a significant revision of the actions of U.S. spy agencies across the board. While ire has been focused at the Obama and Bush administrations, such snooping was given the green light by none other than former President Ronald Reagan over 30 years ago. As revealed in testimony during last week’s Senate Judiciary Hearing featuring members of President Barack Obama’s Review…
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New Hampshire marijuana vote pushes Vermont to New England ‘domino effect’
By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org The dominoes are falling all across New England. The New Hampshire House of Representatives made history last week when it became the first state Legislature to vote in favor of a bill to legalize the sale and possession of recreational marijuana. “Polls show 60 percent of voters in the state support (the bill), and we won’t rest until that includes a majority of their…
One Million Canadians to Cuba Every Year. Why Not US Citizens?
American Embargo Impedes the Means for Bottom-Up Change By Yaël Ossowski | PanAm Post (En Español) In the freezing slush and rain of winter, the vacation posters represent total serenity and warmth. “Check out Cuba’s glamorous vacations deals,” reads one. “Glorious beaches, ocean, and relaxation,” reads another. In the frigid arctic shelf nation of Canada, these advertisements for resorts in Cuba are littered across bus…
Vermont’s ‘welfare-to-work’ limits show early success
By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org Vermont last year began limiting how long its residents could receive welfare benefits. Six months later, the move appears successful. The ‘Reach Up’ initiative has already received fewer requests to join the program than in months’ past, according to the Vermont Department of Finance and Management. The new time-limit on the program, now at the federal standard of five years, was decried by…
Vermont governor declares new ‘War on Drugs,’ but pumps up old bureaucracy
By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org Vermont is knee-deep in a crisis of epic proportions, Gov. Peter Shumlin declared in his State of the State speech Wednesday. He’s determined to end it. “The crisis I am talking about is the rising tide of drug addiction and drug-related crime spreading across Vermont,” pronounced Shumlin. “In every corner of our state, heroin and opiate drug addiction threatens us … it threatens the…
Want a better NAFTA? The Economist Says Endorse Free Movement of People
The Newspaper Talks Sense on Free and Open Migration Across the Americas By Yaël Ossowski | The Canal Blog of PanAm Post Last month I invoked the 21st anniversary of the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement by arguing that a Schengen-type agreement allowing free movement of people, now reigning in Europe, would be the best way forward for North America. In my experience, living in Europe…
Vermont town to lose biggest taxpayer as nuclear plant shutters
By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org When nuclear power finally vanishes from Vermont’s borders this year, the town of Vernon will suffer the loss of its biggest taxpayer. As discovered in tax agreements with city officials, the announced shutdown of the Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, owned by Entergy, a New Orleans-based energy conglomerate, will not only reduce the choice in the energy market, but will leave Vernon starved for tax revenue….
What Has Government Done to Our Tips?
Desperate IRS on Mission to Squeeze Tip-Income Jobs By Yaël Ossowski | PanAm Post Waiting tables is hard work, but it’s especially hard when Uncle Sam is on your back. On January 1, the Internal Revenue Service of the United States began taxing automatic gratuities intended for employees in service jobs. This rule change mandates payroll withholding for the tips that servers receive when waiting tables of six or more people…
From horse lying to lengthy beer tasting, the 10 strangest Vermont laws
By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org In many aspects, Vermont isn’t not afraid to buck the status quo. After the Revolutionary War, it existed as its own republic for nearly 14 years. It was the first state to introduce women’s suffrage in 1880, allow civil unions in 2000 and pass same-sex marriage in 2009. And while it may be a trendsetter, it has its own strangeness hidden among his many legal achievements,…
Fox News Hit: Vermont says ‘tis the season’ to hike texting fines
By Yaël Ossowski Published December 19, 2013 Read story here