Podcasts about vermont senate

Most of Lt. Gov. John Rodgers' job is presiding over the Vermont Senate. But that's not all Rodgers has been up to. Last month he was the only Republican to speak at a protest on the Statehouse lawn against the Trump administration, and he's testified to lawmakers in favor of cannabis reform laws.

In this week's edition of the Capitol recap,  the Vermont Senate gave final approval on Friday to legislation that seeks to expand access to reproductive care.

Vermont has been thrust to the center of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.On April 14, Mohsen Mahdawi, a student at Columbia University and a legal permanent resident of the U.S. who lives in the Upper Valley of Vermont, traveled to Colchester for his naturalization interview, the final step in becoming an American citizen. Mahdawi was born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has lived in the U.S. for a decade and holds a green card.Mahdawi has been a Palestinian rights activist at Columbia, though he did not participate in the student protest encampment there last spring. He is set to graduate next month. He suspected that his immigration appointment was a “honey trap” meant to lure him out to be deported, as happened to his friend, Mahmoud Khalil, a green-card holder and a fellow Palestinian student activist at Columbia.Before traveling to Colchester on Monday, Mahdawi alerted his attorneys, Vermont's congressional delegation, and journalists in the event that he was arrested. When he showed up for his naturalization interview, he was taken by hooded plainclothes officers who placed him in handcuffs before he could leave the building.Mahdawi has not been charged with a crime. According to his attorneys, he was detained under an obscure law that permits foreign nationals to be deported if they pose "serious adverse foreign policy consequences." Mahdawi's attorneys argue that he is being punished for protected speech in violation of the First Amendment and his right to due process. In response to an emergency petition filed by Mahdawi's lawyers, Vermont federal Judge William Sessions ordered the Trump administration not to deport him or move him out of the state while he reviews the case.A CBS News crew interviewed Mahdawi the day before his arrest. He told them, "If my story will become another story for the struggle to have justice and democracy in this country, let it be."Also on Monday, attorneys for Rümeysa Öztürk, a graduate student at Tufts University, argued before Judge Sessions in Burlington that Öztürk's arrest on March 25 violated the law. Öztürk, a former Fulbright fellow who is from Turkey and is in the U.S. on a student visa, was grabbed off the street in Somerville, Mass., by masked plainclothes men, a scene that was captured in a now-viral video. She was whisked to Vermont that night before being flown to Louisiana the following morning. A federal judge in Boston ruled that her case should be heard in Vermont. Judge Sessions is now considering the matter.Öztürk's attorneys assert that the Trump administration secretly revoked her student visa and targeted her for co-writing an op-ed in Tufts' student newspaper that criticized university leaders for their response to demands that the school divest from companies with ties to Israel.Both Mahdawi and Öztürk have been targeted by shadowy right wing pro-Israel groups.  Mahdawi was named by the militant Zionist organization Betar US, which placed his name on a “deport list” that it gave to the Trump administration.Öztürk was targeted by Canary Mission, a right-wing group that claims that she “engaged in anti-Israel activism,” an apparent reference to her op-ed piece.Vermont's political leaders denounced Mahdawi's arrest. Rep. Becca Balint, and Senators Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders issued a statement saying that Madahwi's arrest “is immoral, inhumane, and illegal.” They demanded that he “must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention.”Gov. Phil Scott stated, “Law enforcement officers in this country should not operate in the shadows or hide behind masks.”On Tuesday, Democratic leaders in the Vermont Senate demanded that Vt. Gov Phil Scott terminate an agreement that allows federal immigration authorities to lodge detainees in state prison.The Vermont Conversation spoke with two attorneys at the center of these cases.“The larger concern here is one's right to free speech,” said Cyrus Mehta, an immigration attorney based in New York and an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School. He is part of Mohsen Mahdawi's legal team.“The Supreme Court has long held … that everyone in the United States, whether they're citizens or non-citizens, including green card holders, have a First Amendment right to free speech. The free speech might not be to your liking. You may not agree with it. But as long as it's lawful, as long as you're not engaging in criminal conduct, that speech should be protected under our First Amendment.”“It is against the interests of the United States to harshly go against students, treat them like criminals -- even worse than criminals by detaining them, not giving them bond -- and their only offense has been speech that has not particularly been favored by this administration.”Mehta warned that denying rights to green card holders “will slowly extend to U.S. citizens, we will all lose this cherished First Amendment right to express ourselves.”Grabbing people off the street by masked plainclothes officers “absolutely bears many of the hallmarks of a kidnapping,” said Lia Ernst, legal director of the ACLU of Vermont, who is on Rümeysa Öztürk's legal team. (Disclosure: I serve on the board of the ACLU of Vermont).“The notion that the administration — with no due process, with no judicial review — can sneak someone around the country, as happened in our case, and then, as has happened in these other instances, out of the country, and then claim they are powerless to do anything about it, is utterly foreign to the American legal system. It's utterly foreign to the rule of law, and it is abhorrent.”"It's just horrifying, and I believe intentionally. The government is not trying to just punish Rümeysa for her speech. It's trying to tell everyone else they better only express opinions with which the government agrees. And that cannot be in the United States of America.”As President Trump and his allies stymie court orders, will the legal system hold?“I have to believe that it will, but it will not do it on its own,” replied Ernst. She cited the importance of recent protests.“There is real power in the people standing together and demanding adherence to the rule of law … and to stand up to this administration and to say that its refusal to abide by the constitution and to abide by the rule of law will not be tolerated. But the legal system can't do it by itself.”

9:00 to 9:25League of Vermont WritersSpring event reportStephen Russell Payne 9:30 to 10:00Matt Cota. Meadow Hill ConsultingClean Heat Energy and Electric Vehicles Legislative update 10:00 to 10:45Kesha Ram HinsdaleVermont Senate Majority Leader

Send us a textPat Leahy is a giant of the US Senate...the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Vermont...the third longest serving Senator in US history...the Senate President Pro Tem...Chair of Appropriations, Agriculture, and Judiciary...and 8 terms in the US Senate. In this conversation, we talk his roots in small town Vermont, overcoming the state's deep Republican roots in a 1974 upset, entering the Senate in his mid 30s, and his favorite stories, lessons, and proudest moments from nearly 50 years in the US Senate.IN THIS EPISODEGrowing up in small-town Montpelier with a love of reading...How his service as District Attorney propelled his successful run for Senate in 1974 as the first Democrat to win a Vermont Senate seat...Early days in the US Senate in his mid 30s...How he won 8 terms in what was initially a very Republican state...The interesting story behind his 1998 re-election, his first true landslide...The most tense and high-stakes moments during his career in the Senate...Passing anti-land mine legislation...A day in the life of the Senate President Pro Tem...How trust among Senators one late night saved lives during a mid 80s Capitol bombing...Senator Leahy receives a tip he received from an "anonymous jogger" during the Iraq War debate...When Vice President Dick Cheney swore at Senator Leahy on the Senate floor...The Senator who gave the best Senate floor speeches...The most effective Majority Leader he saw...When his colleague Jim Jeffords switched parties and changed control of the Senate...His views on the rise of Bernie Sanders as a national figure...Why he didn't run for re-election in 2022...How he received the Order of the British Empire designation...His connection to the Batman character and appearing in several Batman films...His status as the Senate's leading Grateful Dead Head...The status of his wife Marcelle as his political secret weapon...AND anatomical impossibilities, Howard Baker, James Baker, Leonid Brezhnev, Dale Bumpers, George H.W. Bush, Robert Byrd, George Clooney, DC Comics, designated survivors, Charles Dickens, John Durkin, Jim Eastland, Jerry Ford, Jerry Garcia, John Glenn, holy water, Hubert Humphrey, John F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Heath Ledger, Mike Mansfield, Miranda Rights, Mitch McConnell, Bobby Muller, Christopher Nolan, Sam Nunn, Barack Obama, organic farming, Colin Powell, Quebec City, Hugh Scott, secret weapons, Alan Simpson, Bob Stafford, Ted Stevens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Fred Tuttle, Mark Twain, Vincent Van Gogh, Wayne Industries...& more!

We preview original classical music compositions written by Vermont students for a Music-COMP concert next week. Plus, what's behind the financial shortfall hampering Randolph's Gifford Medical Center, lawmakers consider a bill to provide emergency financial relief for Vermont's largest health insurer if its money woes worsen, the Vermont Senate approves legislation giving financial incentives to people who take care of seriously ill family members at home, lawmakers also advance a proposed constitutional amendment further protecting Vermonters' rights to organize and collectively bargain, the University of Vermont announces its next president, and we preview UVM's game against NC State in the opening round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament in our weekly sports report. 

We speak with UVM women's head basketball coach Alisa Kresge as the conference champion defensive-minded Catamounts prepare to compete against NC State in the NCAA March Madness tournament. Plus, the Vermont Senate gives initial approval to a bill providing extreme weather disaster relief for farmers, some of the funding for the Vermont Historical Society is at risk due to an executive order, the state announces its Barn Preservation Grants for 2025, business leaders from Vermont and Quebec meet with Sen. Welch to discuss the effects of President Trump's tariffs on Canadian products, and cross border traffic between the U.S. and Canada is down. 

Programs that provide support for older Vermonters and their caregivers could be at risk due to proposed federal cuts to Medicaid. Plus, the Trump administration shutters a nationwide program that provided local food for schools and food shelves, GE Areospace invests in Rutland, the Vermont Senate gives initial approval to more restrictions on social media for kids, a call for state lawmakers to take action against bullying in schools after a Vermont teenager's suicide last year, and the Essex Westford School Board announces the district's next superintendent.

We speak with Vermont's lone congresswoman Becca Balint about what she learned from her first term in the U.S. House, and the challenges ahead as she begins her second. Plus, Franklin County Republican Randy Brock is challenging Democrat Phil Baruth to lead the Vermont Senate, Sen. Peter Welch joins the powerful Senate Committee on Finance, a new federal rule will largely ban two toxic chemicals often used in dry cleaning businesses, and the Vermont State Colleges System ratifies a four-year contract with its staff union.

Phil Baruth, Senate President Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate, joins Kurt & Anthony to talk about the up coming Legislative Session.

John Rodgers is the most interesting man in Vermont politics. And he just may be its future.The Democrat-turned-Republican who just won the race for Vermont's lieutenant governor did something that has not been done since 1815: he became lieutenant governor by defeating the incumbent lieutenant governor in a general election.al election.Rodgers' 6,000 vote victory over sitting Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, who ran as a Progressive/Democrat, was part of a statewide backlash that ousted numerous Democratic incumbents. Democrats lost 18 seats in the Vermont House and six seats in the Vermont State Senate, thus ending the Democratic supermajority in both chambers that enabled them to override vetoes by Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Scott, who endorsed Rodgers and campaigned with him, emerged as the election's biggest winner.Rodgers' election as lieutenant governor must still be confirmed by the Vermont Legislature in January, since he won with 46 percent of the vote, just shy of the 50 percent required by the Vermont Constitution.John Rodgers' upset win may help explain Donald Trump's victory nationally. While Rodgers is a vocal Trump critic, both politicians tapped into a deep well of economic anxiety among voters who blamed Democrats for being out of touch with the day-to-day financial struggles faced by many people. In Vermont, those economic anxieties are rooted in double-digit spikes in property taxes and health care costs, compounded by a protracted and worsening housing crisis.Rodgers is uncomfortable with the comparison to Trump, but he understands it. "There are a lot of the folks that supported me that are Trump supporters, and there were some people who wouldn't vote for me because I spoke outright that I would never support Trump because I value honesty, and the man is totally dishonest ... He's lied, cheated and stolen his way through his entire life, and I can't understand why people cling to him other than the fact that he's not a career politician, and people are so fed up with what's happened in Washington over the last 20 years."The voter disillusionment that Rodgers channeled was best captured by Sen. Bernie Sanders, who issued a scathing indictment of the Democratic party following the 2024 election: “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.”John Rodgers said much the same thing throughout his winning campaign. “I think the Democrats in the legislature have lost their way and no longer are taking care of the working class people in Vermont,” he told The Vermont Conversation.John Rodgers, 59, is new on the statewide political scene but he is a familiar face in Montpelier. He has served in the Vermont State House for 16 years, half in the House and half in the Senate. In 2018, he ran unsuccessfully for governor as a Democratic write-in candidate. He is known for being fiercely independent, often to the frustration of his former Democratic colleagues. Democrat Becca Balint, when she was Vermont Senate majority leader, said of Rodgers, "He sometimes votes with us, he sometimes doesn't, and sometimes we don't know until we get on the floor."Rodgers lives on the 500-acre farm in West Glover where he grew up. He balances his work in Montpelier with making a living as a stone mason, running a construction company, and growing hemp and cannabis on his farm. He has spoken candidly about his experience growing up poor and the continuing struggles of working class people in Vermont.Rodgers said that changing parties was a big risk. “I didn't put myself on a glide path in a Democratic state by switching parties to the Republican Party in a presidential year when Donald Trump was running in a state that Kamala Harris won ... It really gives me hope that there are enough Vermonters that are still independently minded that they can pick a person from any party if the message is right.”Asked whether being a Republican in Trump's Republican Party — which has espoused anti-immigrant, anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ and pro-insurrection views — was comfortable, Rodgers replied, “Absolutely not. It is terribly hard for me to carry the R beside my name because of national Republican politics. But when I look here in the state, and I look at Phil Scott, and I look at a lot of the moderate Republicans that I worked with for years when I was in the State House and the folks that are new since I left, they are speaking up for working class Vermonters. And so I do not buy into any party platform.”Rodgers said he is especially concerned by Trump's talk of mass deportation, noting that Vermont's farms would be crippled without the work of undocumented immigrants. "Our economy can no longer run without them."How far is Rodgers willing to go to protect the civil liberties of Vermonters if they are threatened in a new Trump administration?“I'm a bit of a libertarian. I'm willing to go however far as is necessary, absolutely. Bad laws were made to be broken.”Rodgers said he is often asked whether he is interested in running for governor. He replied that he is not sure he would be ready to run for governor in two years should Scott decide not to run for re-election, but “if it's four years, then maybe I've had enough time to have an impact and convince people of who I am and I'm the right person for the job.”Rodgers paused, then added frankly, “When I look at the job of the governor, it's not really that desirable a job. It's super hard. I mean, we never have enough money to go around ... So it would take a lot to convince me that that was the next best thing to do.”Rodgers hopes that his experience in both parties can make him useful in his new role. “When I was a Democrat, the Democrats said, Oh, he's not really a Democrat. Now I'm a Republican (and) there's a bunch of them on the right that say, Oh, he's not really a Republican. But I'm a Vermonter. And what I hope to be is a bridge ... helping in the negotiations between what is perceived as the two sides.”

Today on Vermont Edition, we'll get a breakdown of the main takeaways from the state's elections with Vermont Public statehouse reporter, Peter Hirschfeld. Then, we speak with winners of major local and statewide races. Republican John Rodgers appears to have won the lieutenant governorship, besting Progressive Democrat David Zuckerman, the incumbent. Republicans flipped six seats in the Vermont Senate, ending the Democratic supermajority. We'll hear from one of those Republican winners, Steve Heffernan of Addison County. And Democratic state senator Thomas Chittenden of South Burlington will tell us about his re-election and gives us his take on why some candidates from his party were not able to hold on to their seats. Lastly, Democratic Congresswoman Becca Balint joins us to give us her thoughts on the results on the national stage, including the re-election of President-elect Trump, and how the changes in congress will affect her work next year.

Scott Beck, (R) Candidate for Vermont Senate, Caledonia District, joins Kurt & Anthony to discuss his campaign.

Beth Pearce & Maureen Dakin, join Kurt & Anthony to talk about why they are supporting Andy Julow for Vermont Senate.

Mike Mazza, Charlie Papillo & Chris Conant, join Kurt & Anthony to talk about why they are supporting Pat Brennan for Vermont Senate.

Vermont Public hosted a debate on Tuesday with candidates for Vermont's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was the first in a series of debates and candidate interviews ahead of the general election on Nov. 5th.Incumbent Congresswoman Becca Balint, a Democrat from Brattleboro, is running for a second term. She previously represented Windham County in the Vermont Senate. Her challenger is Mark Coester, a Republican from Westminster. He is a small business owner with a background in fishing, logging, and sugaring.During the debate, the candidates disagreed on nearly every topic, including climate change, foreign policy and the role of the federal government in addressing rising health care costs and solutions to the affordable housing shortage.

This episode contain 3 different interviews:Joe Luneau, a candidate for Representative of House District Franklin 3.Bruce Roy, a Republican candidate for a Vermont Senate seat in Chittenden County - Southeast District.Tish Hinojosa, legendary singer and song writer from Austin, Texas.

State Representative Matt Muratore joins the show to discuss illegal immigration, his opponent, and his recent victory in both in election and recount. Plus, Vermont Senate candidate Gerald Malloy talks his race against Bernie Sanders. Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

Phil Baruth, President Pro Tem. of the Vermont Senate, joins Kurt & Anthony to discuss the past session and his up coming campaign.

We begin our episode with an interview co-host Scott M. Graves held with Vermont State Rep. Monique Priestley (D-Bradford) regarding the latest on the bill she is co-sponsoring.  VT. House Bill 121 was vetoed by Gov. Phil Scott at the end of the 2024 legislative session and upheld by the Vermont Senate. We offer our listeners the latest on the future of the bill from Monique, who used the opportunity to engage our audience with information via her new web presence Let'sDoPolicy.com.   Many citizens and small business leaders are not informed on the importance of data privacy rights to their lives and businesses.  Further, many people do not have a comprehensive understanding for what's at stake and exactly how their information is used and potentially abused every day. We offer our listeners some definition around the issue and perspective from both the voters, small business professionals and  technology companies.

Let us know what you think - text the show!On this week's show:Happy National “Shades” DayNo one wants to be the racial equity directorBurlington mayor seeks to reduce graffiti problem Meet your next governor, Poa MutinoMan accused of killing gf says not enough evidenceWhatchu know ‘bout Searsburg, VT?Women's prison proposal too bigWe got our weathervane backVeteran broadcaster Stewart Ledbetter to run for Vermont Senate (36:54) Break music: The Funky Flats - “Play the Fool”https://thefunkyflats.bandcamp.com/track/play-the-fool Notch Road barriers fail to stop tractor-trailerVT master sculptor wins a webby VT team heading to national drone championships Sip & Shop returns to RutlandNew chef at Starry Night cafeWe're getting jamaican cuisineBrattleboro granola business for sale(1:20:46)  Break music: Gas Station Dog Exchange - “Air”https://gsde.bandcamp.com/track/air Scumbag Map  2 wrong-way drivers stopped on Vt. interstates, police say Ex-corrections officer charged for smuggling tobacco into Rutland prisonSaint Albans woman arrested for restaurant theftsPolice say masked man killed in St. Johnsbury died from gunshot wounds to his VT man shoots at occupied homeDerby Line man held without bail after domestic assault, resisting arrest  Former Vermont man charged for alleged role in death of James ‘Whitey' Bulger Stay alert for turtlesThanks for listening!Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/VermontCatchup Follow Matt on twitter: @MatthewBorden4 Contact the show: 24theroadshow@gmail.comIOutro Music by B-Complex

A tour of Vermont's only women's prison – a half century old and in need of replacement – and the problems associated with trying to build a new one. Plus, Gov. Scott says he'll veto a bill that would set up a safe injection site in Burlington, pro-Palestinian student protesters take down their encampment at UVM, the Slate Valley Union School District prepares for a third round of voting on its yet-to-pass school budget, a consumer protection warning is issued for cannabis sold at a Northeast Kingdom dispensary, and the Vermont Senate passes a bill increasing penalties for repeat shoplifting convictions.

How small, independent transit services are helping fill in travel gaps for Vermonters in hard to reach areas. Plus, the Vermont Senate rejects Gov. Scott's pick for education secretary, a communications union district is having financial issues building out broadband infrastructure, a bill to discourage speeding in highway construction zones gets strong House backing, and a St. Johnsbury teenager prepares to compete in a national poetry competition.

Vermont has more than 80 cold cases, which present unique challenges for police. Plus, the Vermont Senate supports a cap for the emergency motel housing program, lawmakers advance a ban on pesticide-coated agricultural seeds, the city of Burlington faces a larger-than-expected budget deficit, U.S. Rep Becca Balint tours a redevelopment project in Bennington, and state lawmakers are collecting public testimony on a proposed constitutional amendment.

How recent storms and updated federal flood maps are leading some coastal Maine residents to consider flood insurance. Plus, the Vermont Senate approves a proposed equal protection constitutional amendment, the man accused of setting fire to Sen. Bernie Sanders' Burlington office pleads not guilty, the Vermont House passes new regulations for so-called ghost guns, and Norwich University appoints a new president.

Renters have a lot to gain from things that reduce emissions in their space – so why is it so hard to do this work in rental properties? Plus, the Vermont Senate approves a new fee for EV owners, a case of measles has been discovered in Vermont, Sen. Jane Kitchel has been appointed to a powerful committee, and health care organizations are encouraging more people to volunteer for hospice care.

The Vermont Senate has lost one of its most respected and influential members, and his departure signals a potentially generational change in the chamber.

Description: Veteran meteorologist Mark Breen talks about the upcoming and historic total solar eclipse and why Vermont is a prime viewing spot. Plus, the Vermont Senate approves direct financial aid to towns and cities slammed by summer flooding, the House advances a bill scuttling a tax break in an effort to reduce education spending, why two local substance abuse programs are shutting down, and GE Aerospace takes a financial hit for alleged hiring discrimination against women at its facility in Rutland. And now that Mitch Wertlieb is settling in as the new host of The Frequency, we want to hear your feedback on the show. What's working for you? What doesn't? What do you wish was in the podcast that you're not hearing? Your input helps us make the best show we can – one you'll look forward to hearing every day. So please share your thoughts at thefrequency@vermontpublic.org.

It is that time of the year again, but it is not, cause it is Thanksgiving...cause SOMEONE got us lost on the way to the Rutland Vermont Halloween Party. Still, we know why we are all here this year....again. It is all because of Mephisto and his evil ways. So, what madness are we subjected to this year? According to Wikipedia: Rutland is the only city in and the seat of the county of the same name in Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 15,807. It is located approximately 65 miles (105 km) north of the Massachusetts state line, 35 miles (56 km) west of New Hampshire state line, and 20 miles (32 km) east of the New York state line. Rutland is the third largest city in the state of Vermont after Burlington and South Burlington. They also suffer from the largest deposits of melted man in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.67 square miles (19.9 km2), of which 7.6 square miles (20 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.52%, is water. Rutland is drained by Otter Creek, Moon Brook, Tenney Brook, East Creek and Mussey Brook. There is also a large number of unexplained dimensional portals. The downtown section contains the Rutland Free Library, the Paramount Theater and Merchant's Row, a restored street dating back to the mid-19th century. 108 buildings in downtown Rutland are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. But when the Juggernaut comes to town, statistics change. At the local level, Rutland is governed by a Mayor and Board of Aldermen. For representation in the Vermont House of Representatives, Rutland is split into four districts. In the Vermont Senate, Rutland is represented by three state senators who serve most of Rutland County. The rest of the town is ruled by fear of rampaging monsters. And of course their is the Rutland Halloween Parade has taken place annually since 1960. In the early 1970s, the Rutland Halloween Parade was used as the setting of a number of superhero comic books, including Batman #237, Justice League of America #103, Freedom Fighters #6, Amazing Adventures #16, Avengers #83, and The Mighty Thor #207. The parade celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. It brought friends together through fights. So be sure to visit this lovely town, and keep your eyes out for the Beast...he may still be looking for his skin suit.   Here are the other shows participating this year: Married with Comics - Avengers #83 Ninjas 'n' Bots - Batman #237 Unpacking the Power of Power Pack - Amazing Adventures #16 The Outcasters - Justice League of America #103 Resurrections An Adam Warlock and Thanos Podcast - Thor #207 Coffee & Comics - Generation X #22 We also have some merchandise over at Redbubble. We have a couple of nifty shirts for sale. https://www.redbubble.com/people/jeffrickpresent/?asc=u   You can also subscribe and listen to us on YouTube!  Our show supports the Hero Initiative, Helping Comic Creators in Need.  http://www.heroinitiative.org/ Eighties Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3703-eighties-action License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Plucky Daisy by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4226-plucky-daisy Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Phillip Baruth, the President Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate, Comes on the Morning Drive. Mr Baruth discusses the 2023 Legislative Session with Kurt & Anthony

Representative Becca Balint is a new member of Congress, joining this January after several years in the Vermont Senate. She didn't start her career in politics, but is now working to use her power to fight for those who need better mental health care.  She shares her own story with depression and anxiety with host Morra Aarons-Mele, opens up about the ways she stays grounded in Washington, and why it's important for more policymakers to be open about - and help create resources for - mental health struggles.

A proposal to increase student housing in Burlington has been stalled for months. Plus, the Vermont Senate approves universal school meals, seven towns receive revitalization grants, COVID test results for deer, and remembering Dean Corren.

A high schooler's effort to bring Civil War artifacts home to Danville. Plus, the end of some SNAP benefits, and the Vermont Senate approves a state-run retirement savings program as well as a ban on chemicals in some products.

Why the iconic Rutland business is closing after 70 years. Plus, two state troopers resign, the Vermont Senate wants to strengthen enforcement of fair housing laws, and the AG's office distributes opioid settlement money to towns and cities.

COVID relief money turned an old motel into housing, but its future is uncertain. Plus, the Vermont Senate approves bills on flavored tobacco products and young offenders, and advocates call for more housing for people with developmental disabilities.

ALSO: Republican Gov. Phil Scott delivered his fourth inaugural address on Thursday; Three of the Vermont Senate's standing committees have new chairs this year; Two proposals to amend South Hero's development regulations have renewed debate in this small island community about the density and possible locations of future building projects.

Today on Vermont Viewpoint, Kevin Ellis hosts! During the first half of the show, he'll speak with Philip Baruth, the incoming President of the Vermont Senate. Then, during the second half of the show, he'll speak with UVM Professor Tom Sullivan. Tom also wrote a book about free speech.

The new President Pro-Tempore of the Vermont Senate was a guest Monday on The Morning Drive on WVMT.

ALSO: Now that Burlington voters have overwhelmingly approved a $165 million bond to help build a new high school, the school district will move toward completing design work and demolishing the old high school; Residents are furious that the town of Chelsea has lost its road crew just as winter is approaching and soon, the town could also be missing a selectboard; The High Street Mural Project is a $25,000 collaboration between local designers and newly resettled Afghan artists.

Please learn more and help Deploy America First Vermont Senate Candidate Major Gerald Malloy here:    https://www.geraldmalloyforussenatevermont.com We at www.themelkshow.com want to thank all our amazing patriots pals for joining us on this journey, for your support of our work and for your faith in this biblical transition to greatness. We love what we do and are working hard to keep on top of everything to help this transition along peacefully and with love. Please help us amplify our message: Like, Comment & Share! The Show's Partners Page: https://themelkshow.com/partners/   Consider Making A Donation: https://themelkshow.com/donate/ Another way to get involved and find ways to become active in the community is to come meet Mel and many amazing truth warriors at our upcoming live in person speaking events. Together we are unstoppable. We look forward to seeing you. GodWins! https://themelkshow.com/events/ Branson, Missouri Nov 4-5, 2022 (Reawaken America Tour) Nashville, TN January 20-21, 2023 (Reawaken America Tour) Remember to mention Mel K for great discounts on all these fun and informative events. See you there! We are taking our country and freedoms back! Support this nationwide crowdfunding campaign to save freedom. Click this link to hear an important message from General Flynn: www.melksavefreedom.com Website  www.TheMelKShow.com Locals.com - Exclusive Mel K Content https://melk.locals.com/ CloutHub (Video/Social Media) https://app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/TheMelKShow Mel K Show Video Platform - (Subscription) https://www.themelkshow.tv Rumble (Video) - The Mel K Show https://rumble.com/c/TheMelKShow Bitchute (Video) - Melk.News/Bitchute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Iw2kiviwZpwx/ Podbean (Podcast) https://themelkshow.podbean.com/ TRUTH Social https://truthsocial.com/@themelkshow Gab (Social Media) https://gab.com/MelKShow GETTR (Social Media) https://www.gettr.com/user/themelkshow Telegram (Social App) The Mel K Show Group - https://t.me/themelkshowgroup The Mel K Show Channel - https://t.me/themelkshowchannel The Mel K Show Mailing Address 1040 First Avenue #367 New York, NY 10022 If you are interested to explore investing in precious metals please contact below and mention MelK for special offers: Beverly Hills Precious Metals Exchange Buy Gold & Silver https://themelkshow.com/gold/ Speak with Gold Expert Andrew Sorchini…Tell Him Mel K Sent You! Gray & Sons Jewelers Have you considered alternative methods to hedging against inflation? With all the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, now is a great time to protect your wealth with hard liquid assets. https://themelkshow.com/grayandsons/ Support Patriots With MyPillow Go to www.MyPillow.com Use offer code “MelK” to support both MyPillow and The Mel K Show Mel K Superfoods Supercharge your wellness with Mel K Superfoods  Use Code: MELKWELLNESS and Save Over $100 off retail today! www.MelKSuperfoods.com HempWorx The #1 selling CBD brand. Offering cutting edge products that run the gamut from CBD oils and other hemp products to essential oils in our Mantra Brand, MDC Daily Sprays which are Vitamin and Herb combination sprays/ https://themelkshow.com/my-daily-choice/ Dr. Zelenko Immunity Protocols  https://zstacklife.com/MelK Dr. Stella Immanuel, MD. Consult with a renowned healthcare provider!  Offering Telehealth Services & Supplements. Use offer code ‘MelK' for 10% Off https://bit.ly/MelKDrStellaMD Dr. Mark Sherwood. Take care of your health with Dr. Mark Sherwood and his team at Functional Medical Institute. Download the free e-book to develop physical and emotional resiliency www.Sherwood.tv/melk    EMP Shield EMP Shield is designed to protect an entire home from lightning, solar flare (coronal mass ejection), power surges, and an electromagnetic pulse. Use promo code MelK https://bit.ly/EMP-Shield Great Offers on Satellite Phones & more Satellite phones provide voice, SMS, and data services anywhere on the Earth and you don't have to rely on cell phone networks. www.melkphone.com The Tuttle Twins The Tuttle Twins children's books help you teach your kids how the world really works & helps children develop critical thinking skills about real-world concepts. https://bit.ly/TuttleTwinsLearning The Commander's Artist Save 10% Promo Code: MelK https://thecommandersartist.com The Flag Shirt - Patriotic Clothing & Accessories  https://theflagshirt.com/?sscid=a1k6_q2olu&utm_source=shareasale&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3418926&utm_content=1485847 Defend the Midterms Bootcamp https://defendthemidterms.com/melk Propaganda Exposed - 8 Part Docuseries. 50 health and freedom experts will be highlighted in this docu-series. https://bit.ly/PropagandaExposed-8Part

Becca Balint President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate and Candidate for the U.S. Congress. Each morning we talk about the issues and events that are important to you. And they want to hear from you. Feel free to call in anytime during the show at 888-414-0303.

This hour, Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus talks about the qualified immunity legislation that passed the Vermont Senate and explores what it would mean for Vermonters.

Education is the new frontline in America's culture wars.In Florida, teaching about LGBTQ+ issues has become a flashpoint. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently surrounded himself with smiling elementary school children as he signed the “Don't Say Gay” bill that bars discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in the state's primary schools.Teaching about racism is also now perilous. At least 36 states have passed or proposed laws or policies that restrict the teaching of race or racism.At the heart of this culture war is a struggle over who controls education. As a result of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions loosening restrictions on funding religious schools, some states are enacting policies permitting public funding of private schools, including religious schools. The Vermont Senate recently passed S.219 to restrict public funding for religious schools. But critics, including former Vermont Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe, fear that Vermont may unwittingly establish a precedent that conservative legal groups will take to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to knock down the wall between secular and religious education.I spoke with Holcombe and Derek Black, a professor of law at the University of South Carolina and a leading expert on education law and policy, about the implications of allowing public funds to pay for private and religious education.“The Supreme Court is moving toward a doctrine that suggests … that you can't exclude religion and that the state really can't control its dollars once they enter the private sector,” Black said.If that happens, he said liberal states may simply end programs to pay tuition for some students to attend private schools, while other states may “run wild” with public support of religious schools.“We may be leading to a tale of two different countries when it comes to public education and privatization in America,” Black said.

Each morning we talk about the issues and events that are important to you. And they want to hear from you. Feel free to call in anytime during the show at 888-414-0303.

Balint joins Lt. Gov. Molly Gray in the Democratic primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Peter Welch; Southern Vermont lights up on Vermont's town-by-town Covid-19 map; Franklin County teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student for years; Small dairy farmers eligible for an increase in subsidies.

On today's show, David and Meg speak with Senator Kesha Ram, the first woman of color ever elected to the Vermont Senate. We focus on specific, actionable strategies that will move us forward as a diverse community using examples from the state that has always led toward change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, Becca Balint (Windham), joins WVMT's The Morning Drive to discuss the end of the session, accomplishments and misses, and how the legislature will work moving forward.

In our latest episode, hosts Michelle McGann and Jon Mandel rang in Women’s History Month with Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint.

When Sen. Becca Balint is sworn is as the Vermont Senate's new president pro tem next month, she will shatter not one, but two glass ceilings over the state's highest legislative body: Balint will become the first woman and the first openly gay pro tem in the state's history. "I am a woman, I am an openly gay woman, I am a mom, I am a Vermonter," says Balint. "When I walk into that building [the Statehouse] though...the biggest weight that I feel is wanting to do the work that Vermonters have sent me there to do and make lives easier for people on the ground." Balint is a former teacher who was elected to the Vermont State Senate in 2014, becoming its first openly gay member. Her Democratic Senate colleagues elected her majority leader two years later. Balint grew up in upstate New York and attended Smith College, then received a masters degree in education from Harvard and another masters in history from UMass Amherst. She and her wife have two children and live in Brattleboro. Balint is part of a first ever all-female leadership team that will run the Vermont Senate, which includes incoming Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, Majority Leader Alison Clarkson and Asst. Majority Leader Cheryl Hooker.

Kesha Ram is used to breaking barriers. At the age of 34, she already has an impressive list of firsts: she was elected to the Vermont House in 2008 at age 22, becoming the youngest member of that body. Earlier this month, she was elected to be a state senator from Chittenden County, Vermont's most populous county. Ram, who was born to an Indian father and Jewish American mother, will become the first woman of color to serve in the Vermont Senate. "I want to I give credit to Donald Trump," Ram says. Prior to Trump's election, "nobody felt like we had any racial justice issues in Vermont. After 2016, a lot of people woke up to the racial reality of a lot of Americans and a lot of Vermonters. ...Now I feel I have the wind at my back to advance racial, economic and social justice issues."

Ericka joins The Morning Drive by phone to discuss her run for Vermont Senate, policy position, and party support.

David Zuckerman is an American businessman, farmer, and Vermont Progressive Party politician currently serving as the 81st Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, since 2017. He previously served in the Vermont House of Representatives for seven terms (1997–2011), and the Vermont Senate for two (2013–2017). He is the Democratic Nominee for Governor of Vermont in the 2020 election. In 2016 Zuckerman ran for lieutenant governor as a Progressive, and also received the nomination of the Democratic Party by defeating Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives Shap Smith and Representative Kesha Ram in the Democratic primary. He defeated Republican State Senator Randy Brock in the 2016 general election. Zuckerman was re-elected in 2018. Zuckerman is the first Progressive Party candidate to win statewide office in Vermont. Zuckerman's win reinforced Vermont as a state with the presence of a major party other than the Democratic and Republican parties. On January 13, 2020, Zuckerman announced his intention to run for Governor of Vermont in the 2020 election.

Adam joins The Morning Drive by phone to talk about all the work he has done to connect with voters, discuss the issues, and move the needle. Adam talks about some issues in Burlington and greater Vermont.

Rep. Giambitista joins The Morning Drive in studio to discuss his campaign for Vermont Senate, schools reopening, and much more.

Kesha Ram joins The Morning Drive in studio to talk about how her campaign is going, issues of the day, and some of your calls.

Gov. Dean talks to The Morning Drive via phone to discuss Vermont's response to the pandemic, his support for Vermont Senate candidate June Heston, and much more.

Erhard Mahnke joins The Morning Drive by phone to discuss why this former Burlington City Councilman is running for Vermont Senate. He talks about the issues that are foremost on his mind and how he sees the current state of Burlington.

Tom joins The Morning Drive in studio to discuss his run for a Vermont Senate seat. He currently serves on the South Burlington City council so he will discuss a couple of issues related to SB. He will tell us why is in the race, what he hopes to do, and his position on a number of issues brought up by your calls.

David is in studio with The Morning Drive to discuss his run as a VT state Senator. He will share his thoughts on affordability, housing, criminal justice, and answers many calls.

June comes into The Morning Drive studio to discuss her desire to be a Vermont Senator for Chittenden County. She will share her story and her focus as she wishes to make a difference as a Senator. How will she stand out among 13 candidates? What are her top priority issues? She will tell you that and more.

Rep. Giambatista talks about what he focusing on right now in light of his responsibilities, the pandemic, and his candidacy for Vermont Senate. He will share his thoughts on the pandemic response, Vermont State Colleges, and much more.

South Burlington City Councilor Tom Chittenden has thrown his hat in the ring to be one of our next Vermont state Senators. Tom will tells you about himself, why he's running, and how he would make an impact in Vermont as a Senator.

This is an fictitious excerpt from the Vermont Senate, secretly recorded. It's up to you to decide if this package should be approved. You decide by voting with your feedback. 

This week there was so much exciting news that we needed our whole team to cover it! Tyler and Sarah join Sam and Rachelle to discuss last week’s marijuana bonanza, the upcoming National Drug Summit in Australia, and much, much more. News Updates: Marijuana Bonanza! Legal recreational marijuana clears final Vermont Senate hurdle Ban on […] The post This Time It’s All of Us [#33] appeared first on This Week in Drugs.

#20 - Google and Facebook will reportedly file court motions supporting Apple in fight with FBI   #19 - How Amazon Fulfillment Works   #18 - Shopping   #17 - MRW the interviewer sits me at a computer and tells me to create a relationship between 2 tables after I lied about having Microsoft Access experience   #16 - TIL that after its tourism sector boomed, Kazakhstan's foreign minister thanked Sacha Baron Cohen in 2012 for the release of Borat after the country saw a 10x increase in issued visas.   #15 - I survived...   #14 - My teacher friend thought a student was checking the time too often during a test...   #13 - Driving on Hard Mode   #12 - The original Russian trailer mount   #11 - TIL that convicted murderer Philip Workman declined a last meal, instead requesting that a large vegetarian pizza be given to a homeless person in Nashville. His request was refused, but in response, people all over the state donated pizzas to homeless shelters.   #10 - TIL Apples originated in Kazakhstan and wild apples can taste like roses, strawberries, popcorn, anise, and many other flavors. 90% of modern apples can be traced back to 2 trees.   #9 - Swimming with a Mola Mola   #8 - Columbia University professor explains gravitational waves to Stephen Colbert   #7 - Brian Greene goes on Colbert's 'Late Show' to explain the recent gravity wave discovery.   #6 - Free running fail   #5 - Screen printing   #4 - The European Parliament called on the European Union to impose an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia   #3 - Opened my work van after working on a farm yesterday...   #2 - Vermont Senate approves marijuana legalization 16-13   #1 - Apple CEO: We Will Take This iPhone Case to the Supreme Court     Thanks Show contact E-mail: feedback.ireadit@gmail.com Twitter: @ireaditcast Phone: (508)-738-2278   Michael Schwahn: @schwahnmichael Nathan Wood: @bimmenstein "Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Summary of today's show: Proponents of a ballot initiative to legalize physician assisted suicide in Massachusetts cloak their effort in misleading terms like “compassion” and “choice”. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor expose the lies of the assisted suicide movement, which has been defeated in 124 of 127 places it's been advanced, and give a thorough discussion of the Church's teaching on assisted suicide by examining the US bishops' recent letter “To Live Each Day with Dignity”. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Links from today's show: Today's topics: US Bishops' statement on assisted suicide: To Live Each Day with Dignity 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Chris caught up on the past week and talked about how Fr. Chris and Fr. Wayne Belschner celebrated their 40th birthdays. The Italian families at their parish in East Boston invited them for an incredible Italian feast. They discussed the ending of the Seminary year, including preparing the 4th year seminarians for ordination. Fr. Chris said they also had Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford celebrate Mass at the seminary this past weekend for the candidacy of the men preparing for the priesthood at the end of their first year of theology, which would normally give them three more years to ordination. Fr. Chris said one of the men put it as “You're now officially engaged” to the Church. He said this is the first step to ordination. Next year they would be made acolytes, which would allow them to serve in an official capacity at the altar. The third year, they would also be made lector, giving them an official capacity to proclaim God's word. They then discussed how these ceremonies and titles are different from those who serve in parishes. Scot switched to today's topic and said he's been surprised by how many people in Massachusetts he meets who have no idea that this fall we could be voting on whether to legalize assisted suicide. They will be going through an important document on the topic today in depth. The document from the US Bishops Conference was released last June and is called “To Live Each Day with Dignity.” To live in a manner worthy of our human dignity, and to spend our final days on this earth in peace and comfort, surrounded by loved ones—that is the hope of each of us. In particular, Christian hope sees these final days as a time to prepare for our eternal destiny. Today, however, many people fear the dying process. They are afraid of being kept alive past life's natural limits by burdensome medical technology. They fear experiencing intolerable pain and suffering, losing control over bodily functions, or lingering with severe dementia. They worry about being abandoned or becoming a burden on others. Our society can be judged by how we respond to these fears. A caring community devotes more attention, not less, to members facing the most vulnerable times in their lives. When people are tempted to see their own lives as diminished in value or meaning, they most need the love and assistance of others to assure them of their inherent worth. The healing art of medicine is an important part of this assistance. Even when a cure is not possible, medicine plays a critical role in providing “palliative care”—alleviating pain and other symptoms and meeting basic needs. Such care should combine medical skill with attention to the emotional as well as spiritual needs of those facing the end of life. Scot said it begins by comparing the hope we have was Christians with the fear of the end of life. Fr. Chris said there is fear of passing from this world to the next. God is with us at the beginning and the end of life and in a continuum from one to the next. Scot said we hope in our final days we will be surrounded by loved ones, that it will be without pain, we will not be a burden on others. We have fears that we will linger in pain or dementia or be a burden. We can respond to those hopes and fears in others with love or by telling them to end their lives abruptly. Fr. Chris said the gift of life is a gift that we're not in charge, but it belongs to the Lord for us to cherish and value. He said on becoming a burden to others, we have to think of it as a moment to allow ourselves to be loved by and care for by others. Family members are naturally desirous to surround us and care for us. The bishops are reminding us we live in a culture that is concerned with the expedient. He said Archbishop Mansell talked about the reality that if you want to destroy a person, convince them that they're useless. Scot said there's nothing in Catholic teaching that says you can't get the maximum pain relief for any physical pain, but those who choose suicide aren't about physical pain, but mental and spiritual anguish. That's what people at the end of life really need. Today there is a campaign to respond to these fears and needs in a radically different way. It uses terms like “death with dignity” to describe a self-inflicted death, generally using a drug overdose prescribed by a doctor for the purpose of suicide. This campaign to legalize doctor-prescribed suicide has been rejected by most policymakers in our society. Although Oregon passed a law in 1994 allowing physicians to prescribe deadly drugs for some patients, similar proposals were rejected by legislatures and voters in all other states for many years. The claim of a constitutional right to assisted suicide was firmly rejected in 1997 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld state laws against the practice as legitimate safeguards for innocent human life and the ethical integrity of medicine. But after fourteen years of defeats, the assisted suicide campaign advanced its agenda when Washington state passed a law like Oregon's in 2008. The following year, Montana's highest court suggested that physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients is not always against public policy. With expanded funding from wealthy donors, assisted suicide proponents have renewed their aggressive nationwide campaign through legislation, litigation, and public advertising, targeting states they see as most susceptible to their message. If they succeed, society will undergo a radical change. Jewish and Christian moral traditions have long rejected the idea of assisting in another's suicide. Catholic teaching views suicide as a grave offense against love of self, one that also breaks the bonds of love and solidarity with family, friends, and God (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], no. 2281). To assist another's suicide is to take part in “an injustice which can never be excused, even if it is requested” (John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, no. 66). Most people, regardless of religious affiliation, know that suicide is a terrible tragedy, one that a compassionate society should work to prevent. They realize that allowing doctors to prescribe the means for their patients to kill themselves is a corruption of the healing art. It even violates the Hippocratic Oath that has guided physicians for millennia: “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan.” Proponents know these facts, so they avoid terms such as “assisting suicide” and instead use euphemisms such as “aid in dying.” The organization leading this campaign has even concealed its agenda by changing its name. The Hemlock Society, whose very name reminded people of the harsh reality of death by poison, has become “Compassion and Choices.” Plain speaking is needed to strip away this veneer and uncover what is at stake, for this agenda promotes neither free choice nor compassion. Scot said this segment was called “A Renewed Threat to Human Dignity”. Scot said his brother gave a talk at Harvard last week in which he said proponents have tried to advance assisted suicide in elections 127 times in the US and they've only succeeded 3 times. Sometimes the media makes it look this is inevitable, but we're 124-3 in the win column. Just last week, a proposal was defeated in the Vermont Senate. Fr. Chris said legalization would affect the good moral order of the entire society, not just those directly involved. He said the Hemlock Society has co-opted good language, calling themselves compassionate. This is about taking a pill that ends your life. That's not compassion. Scot said people who are primary caregivers will take on the role of executioners. It's also a terrible tragedy every time someone decides to take their life. It's always a tragedy. It's also a corruption of the healing arts. Does the drive to legalize physician-assisted suicide really enhance choices or freedom for people with serious health conditions? No, it does not, for several reasons. First, medical professionals recognize that people who take their own lives commonly suffer from a mental illness, such as clinical depression. Suicidal desires may be triggered by very real setbacks and serious disappointments in life. However, suicidal persons become increasingly incapable of appreciating options for dealing with these problems, suffering from a kind of tunnel vision that sees relief only in death. They need help to be freed from their suicidal thoughts through counseling and support and, when necessary and helpful, medication. Because the illnesses that cause or aggravate suicidal desires are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, many civil laws provide for psychological evaluation and treatment for those who have attempted suicide. The Catholic Church, as well, recognizes that “grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture” can diminish the responsibility of people committing suicide; the Church encourages Catholics to pray for them, trusting in God's mercy (CCC, no. 2282-3). These statements about psychological disturbance and diminished responsibility are also true of people who attempt suicide during serious illness. Yet this is often ignored in proposals authorizing assistance in these individuals' suicides. Many such proposals permit—but do not require—an evaluation for mental illness or depression before lethal drugs are prescribed. In 3 practice such evaluations are rare, and even a finding of mental illness or depression does not necessarily prevent prescribing the drugs. No evaluation is done at the time the drugs are actually taken. In fact, such laws have generally taken great care to avoid real scrutiny of the process for doctor-prescribed death—or any inquiry into whose choice is served. In Oregon and Washington, for example, all reporting is done solely by the physician who prescribes lethal drugs. Once they are prescribed, the law requires no assessment of whether patients are acting freely, whether they are influenced by those who have financial or other motives for ensuring their death, or even whether others actually administer the drugs. Here the line between assisted suicide and homicide becomes blurred. People who request death are vulnerable. They need care and protection. To offer them lethal drugs is a victory not for freedom but for the worst form of neglect. Such abandonment is especially irresponsible when society is increasingly aware of elder abuse and other forms of mistreatment and exploitation of vulnerable persons. Second, even apparently free choices may be unduly influenced by the biases and wishes of others. Legalization proposals generally leave in place the laws against assisting most people to commit suicide, but they define a class of people whose suicides may be facilitated rather than prevented. That class typically includes people expected to live less than six months. Such predictions of a short life are notoriously unreliable. They also carry a built-in ambiguity, as some legal definitions of terminal illness include individuals who have a short time to live only if they do not receive life-supporting treatment. Thus many people with chronic illnesses or disabilities—who could live a long time if they receive basic care—may be swept up in such a definition. However wide or narrow the category may be, it defines a group of people whose death by lethal overdose is wrongly treated by the law as objectively good or acceptable, unlike the suicide of anyone else. By rescinding legal protection for the lives of one group of people, the government implicitly communicates the message—before anyone signs a form to accept this alleged benefit—that they may be better off dead. Thus the bias of too many able-bodied people against the value of life for someone with an illness or disability is embodied in official policy. This biased judgment is fueled by the excessively high premium our culture places on productivity and autonomy, which tends to discount the lives of those who have a disability or are dependent on others. If these persons say they want to die, others may be tempted to regard this not as a call for help but as the reasonable response to what they agree is a meaningless life. Those who choose to live may then be seen as selfish or irrational, as a needless burden on others, and even be encouraged to view themselves that way. In short, the assisted suicide agenda promotes a narrow and distorted notion of freedom, by creating an expectation that certain people, unlike others, will be served by being helped to choose death. Many people with illnesses and disabilities who struggle against great odds for their genuine rights—the right to adequate health care and housing, opportunities for work and mobility, and so on—are deservedly suspicious when the freedom society most eagerly offers them is the “freedom” to take their lives. Third, there is a more profound reason why the campaign for assisted suicide is a threat, not an aid, to authentic human freedom. The founders of our country declared that each human being has certain inalienable rights that government must protect. It is no accident that they named life before liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Life itself is a basic human good, the condition for enjoying all other goods on this earth. Therefore the right to life is the most basic human right. Other valued rights—the right to vote, to freedom of speech, or to equal protection under law—lose their foundation if life itself can be destroyed with impunity. As Christians we go even further: Life is our first gift from an infinitely loving Creator. It is the most fundamental element of our God-given human dignity. Moreover, by assuming and sharing our human nature, the Son of God has more fully revealed and enhanced the sacred character of each human life. Therefore one cannot uphold human freedom and dignity by devaluing human life. A choice to take one's life is a supreme contradiction of freedom, a choice to eliminate all choices. And a society that devalues some people's lives, by hastening and facilitating their deaths, will ultimately lose respect for their other rights and freedoms. Thus in countries that have used the idea of personal autonomy to justify voluntary assisted suicide and euthanasia, physicians have moved on to take the lives of adults who never asked to die, and newborn children who have no choice in the matter. They have developed their own concept of a “life not worth living” that has little to do with the choice of the patient. Leaders of the “aid in dying” movement in our country have also voiced support for ending the lives of people who never asked for death, whose lives they see as meaningless or as a costly burden on the community. Summarizing, the three reasons assisted suicide doesn't really help people: People who take their own lives are often mentally ill; it devalues all human life; and apparently free choices may be influenced by the biases of others. Scot noted the New York Times recently reported that in the Netherlands there is a group that wants to do drive-in assisted suicide. Fr. Chris said the bishops are pointing out the threats that come with assisted suicide. How many of us have seen the images of a man not in his right mind on a window ledge and police and firemen risking their lives to protect the life of the man on the windowsill. We know as a society that we have to save and preserve those in similar situations. Scot asked listeners to imagine a firefighter showing up at a house fire and asking if it the life of the person left in the inferno was worth saving. That's crazy. Firefighters and police officers train to be willing to risk their own lives to protect others. This is what is built into men as husbands and fathers. How can we look at a proposal to say we're willing to let others die or even be coerced into death while we stand by? Fr. chris said lifers the first principle. From life flows all of our other rights. Scot said it came before liberty for a reason. Fr. Chris said there's a hierarchy. You can't have freedom or the pursuit of happiness without life. Scot said he learned in seminary that there is a difference between Catholic thinking and secular thinking. What makes us valuable is our being in the made and likeness of God, not what we do or how productive we are. This proposed law does make a dichotomy by saying some lives are more valuable than others. The idea that assisting a suicide shows compassion and eliminates suffering is equally misguided. It eliminates the person, and results in suffering for those left behind—grieving families and friends, and other vulnerable people who may be influenced by this event to see death as an escape. The sufferings caused by chronic or terminal illness are often severe. They cry out for our compassion, a word whose root meaning is to “suffer with” another person. True compassion alleviates suffering while maintaining solidarity with those who suffer. It does not put lethal drugs in their hands and abandon them to their suicidal impulses, or to the self-serving motives of others who may want them dead. It helps vulnerable people with their problems instead of treating them as the problem. Taking life in the name of compassion also invites a slippery slope toward ending the lives of people with non-terminal conditions. Dutch doctors, who once limited euthanasia to terminally ill patients, now provide lethal drugs to people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, mental illness, and even melancholy. Once they convinced themselves that ending a short life can be an act of compassion, it was morbidly logical to conclude that ending a longer life may show even more compassion. Psychologically, as well, the physician who has begun to offer death as a solution for some illnesses is tempted to view it as the answer for an ever-broader range of problems. This agenda actually risks adding to the suffering of seriously ill people. Their worst suffering is often not physical pain, which can be alleviated with competent medical care, but feelings of isolation and hopelessness. The realization that others—or society as a whole—may see their death as an acceptable or even desirable solution to their problems can only magnify this kind of suffering. Even health care providers' ability and willingness to provide palliative care such as effective pain management can be undermined by authorizing assisted suicide. Studies indicate that untreated pain among terminally ill patients may increase and development of hospice care can stagnate after assisted suicide is legalized. Government programs and private insurers may even limit support for care that could extend life, while emphasizing the “cost-effective” solution of a doctor-prescribed death. The reason for such trends is easy to understand. Why would medical professionals spend a lifetime developing the empathy and skills needed for the difficult but important task of providing optimum care, once society has authorized a “solution” for suffering patients that requires no skill at all? Once some people have become candidates for the inexpensive treatment of assisted suicide, public and private payers for health coverage also find it easy to direct life-affirming resources elsewhere. Scot said the proposal of those in favor of the ballot initiative says that to eliminate suffering take a pill, but this only eliminates the sufferer, not the suffering. We say we should increase pain management and other techniques to reduce suffering. But if people are just going to commit suicide, some will ask why we need to waste time and resources on palliative care? Fr. Chris said he was struck by the discussion of cost effectiveness for health care providers. Scot said people say that no insurer ever denied coverage for someone who refuses to take the suicide pill. He said it only agrees with what we know already about human nature and track record of some bean counters and penny pushers. There is an infinitely better way to address the needs of people with serious illnesses. Our society should embrace what Pope John Paul II called “the way of love and true mercy”—a readiness to surround patients with love, support, and companionship, providing the assistance needed to ease their physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering. This approach must be anchored in unconditional respect for their human dignity, beginning with respect for the inherent value of their lives. Respect for life does not demand that we attempt to prolong life by using medical treatments that are ineffective or unduly burdensome. Nor does it mean we should deprive suffering patients of needed pain medications out of a misplaced or exaggerated fear that they might have the side effect of shortening life. The risk of such an effect is extremely low when pain medication is adjusted to a patient's level of pain, with the laudable purpose of simply addressing that pain (CCC, no. 2279). In fact, severe pain can shorten life, while effective palliative care can enhance the length as well as the quality of a person's life. It can even alleviate the fears and problems that lead some patients to the desperation of considering suicide. Effective palliative care also allows patients to devote their attention to the unfinished business of their lives, to arrive at a sense of peace with God, with loved ones, and with themselves. No one should dismiss this time as useless or meaningless. Learning how to face this last stage of our earthly lives is one of the most important and meaningful things each of us will do, and caregivers who help people through this process are also doing enormously important work. As Christians we believe that even suffering itself need not be meaningless—for as Pope John Paul II showed during his final illness, suffering accepted in love can bring us closer to the mystery of Christ's sacrifice for the salvation of others. Catholics should be leaders in the effort to defend and uphold the principle that each of us has a right to live with dignity through every day of our lives. As disciples of one who is Lord of the living, we need to be messengers of the Gospel of Life. We should join with other concerned Americans, including disability rights advocates, charitable organizations, and members of the healing professions, to stand for the dignity of people with serious illnesses and disabilities and promote life-affirming solutions for their problems and hardships. We should ensure that the families of people with chronic or terminal illness will advocate for the rights of their loved ones, and will never feel they have been left alone in caring for their needs. The claim that the “quick fix” of an overdose of drugs can substitute for these efforts is an affront to patients, caregivers and the ideals of medicine. When we grow old or sick and we are tempted to lose heart, we should be surrounded by people who ask “How can we help?” We deserve to grow old in a society that views our cares and needs with a compassion grounded in respect, offering genuine support in our final days. The choices we make together now will decide whether this is the kind of caring society we will leave to future generations. We can help build a world in which love is stronger than death. Scot asked what kind of society we want to live in. That's really what this comes down to and we have a chance to do with regard to this proposed ballot initiative. Fr. Chris said the quick fix of assisted suicide is an affront to the Gospel, where we are all called to love and mercy, especially when we hear about the corporal works of mercy. Scot said it's important for us to choose a better way to deal with the hopes and fears of the end of life. We have to be able to trust health care providers will work to help us and save our lives, not to work to take them away. Fr. Chris said listeners have to get the word out that true compassion is being closed to our loved ones.

Summary of new audio - Arnie Gunderson interviewed by Dr. Helen Caldicott - wow!; North Anna's Dominion operators caught in lie about quake-resistance; Vermont Senate votes to block nuclear plant as of 2012; Fukushima workers receiving 17 times the maximum allowable radiation dose; and one bet Lloyds of London won't make.

Summary of new audio - Arnie Gunderson interviewed by Dr. Helen Caldicott - wow!; North Anna's Dominion operators caught in lie about quake-resistance; Vermont Senate votes to block nuclear plant as of 2012; Fukushima workers receiving 17 times the maximum allowable radiation dose; and one bet Lloyds of London won't make.

Summary of new audio - Arnie Gunderson interviewed by Dr. Helen Caldicott - wow!; North Anna's Dominion operators caught in lie about quake-resistance; Vermont Senate votes to block nuclear plant as of 2012; Fukushima workers receiving 17 times the maximum allowable radiation dose; and one bet Lloyds of London won't make.

Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a Town Meeting in Montpelier, Vermont on Saturday Match 5. The focus was on the issue of corporate personhood, the effects of the Citizen’s United decision, the proposed bill J.R.S.11 in the Vermont Senate and the … More ... The post Town Meeting in Montpelier, Vermont: Bernie Sanders appeared first on Paradigms Podcast.

Switchboard for May 08 2007 from VPR. The leaders of the Vermont House and the Vermont Senate are our guests. Hosted by Bob Kinzel.

On this week's 51%, hear from the first woman expected to serve as Vermont Senate Pro Tem, and another woman has taken disaster prepping to another level. A record number of women will serve in Congress next year. And women are gaining political ground in a number of states, including Vermont. In fact, when the new biennium of the legislature begins on January 6th, the first woman to serve as the Vermont Senate Pro Tem is expected to be confirmed. During a caucus in November, Democrat Becca Balint won the nomination and with Democrats controlling the Senate, her election to the post is secure. Balint, a Brattleboro resident who is openly gay, is one of a cadre of women assuming top positions in the Statehouse in 2021. She tells 51%'s Pat Bradley why she wants to be pro-tem of the Vermont Senate. This next story comes to us from Wyoming Public Media's podcast HumaNature. Host Erin Jones introduces us to a woman who wanted to be prepared…but found herself the odd one out. This story was produced by Wyoming Public Media's podcast HumaNature. To hear more episodes, subscribe to the podcast. Search for HumaNature…with just one N. That's our show for this week. Thanks to Tina Renick for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you'd like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio This week's show is #1639.