vermont

  • In VT, state psychiatrist makes $40,000 more than governor

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    By Yaël Ossowski | Vermont Watchdog All of the problems in Vermont seem bad enough to warrant paying big for mental health professionals. A recent examination of the employee state compensation database in Vermont shows the highest-paid public employee in the state is a “private secretary” for the Department of Mental Health. While he’s not actually a secretary, his job…

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  • Vermont’s ‘welfare-to-work’ limits show early success

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    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…

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  • Relaxed Vermont pot laws may lead to legalization

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    By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org In July of this year, Vermont lawmakers took a bold step. They removed criminal penalties for those caught with small amounts of marijuana. Now, 5 months later, decriminalization of pot is generally judged to be a great success in the Green Mountain State, a sentiment which could push Vermont to be the third…

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  • Passing gas: Will seized private land clear way for pipeline?

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    By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org If you build it, they will come … and take your land. Vermonters might face that scenario if the state’s largest private energy company can get approval for its new natural gas pipeline. Vermont Gas Systems put forth a proposed extension of the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project pipeline project to bring natural gas to…

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  • Natural gas in Vermont? No fracking way, say green groups

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    By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org No drilling, no pipelines, and no natural gas. If environmental groups in Vermont get their way, this could be the new slogan of the Green Mountain state. That’s the message of their latest campaign to oppose the extension of a Vermont Gas Systems pipeline intended to transport shale gas from Canada to New York. Vermont already became…

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  • Vermont uses Democratic state rep’s brother to push state health exchange

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    By Yaël Ossowski | Watchdog.org In the effort to promote the new health insurance exchange required by Obamacare, Vermont might have gone a little overboard. In a promotional advertisement posted to its social media accounts, Vermont Health Connect, the state’s health insurance exchange, posted a testimonial featuring Brian D. McCarthy, a father of two from Swanton. Hepraises the exchange.…

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