Politics

WASHINGTON, April 1– Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today welcomed significant progress by the Department of Veterans Affairs in reducing a disability claims backlog.

The VA announced today that its current backlog of claims pending more than 125 days is at its lowest point in three years. The backlog was reduced from 611,000 one year ago to 344,000 claims pending today, a 44 percent reduction. The VA also said the accuracy of the decisions on disability claims has improved.

(cross-posted from Green Mountain Daily, ; originally posted to Vermont Watch, here)

Although one is left to wonder about whether or not it is merely fool’s gold or the real thing, there have been recent rumors about how, on condition of anonymity, a top administration official is reported to have disclosed that Governor Peter Shumlin‘s plan to fund his single payer health care initiative could potentially include instituting taxes on what currently is non-taxable food and clothing purchases.

If you’re not a Town Representative, you might not know that there is an initiative happening right now to gather enough signatures to put the 2014-15 Town budget up for a referendum.

I support this initiative because the Town Representatives (elected representatives to Town Meeting) are not the be-all and end-all of Town politics … the people of Brattleboro ourselves are. The possibility of a referendum exists for this precise purpose; for a process to be invoked where the Town’s voters can over-rule the Town Representatives.

WASHINGTON, March 31 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today that the latest report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is another jolting wake-up call for nations around the world.

The report by the U.N. panel said the effects of global warming already are occurring on every continent and across the world’s oceans. The scientists warned that the problem was likely to grow much worse unless greenhouse gas emissions are brought under control.

For anyone who attended or wanted to attend the outstanding event today at The Root Social Justice Center, where part of the documentary “Dark Girls” was shown, .

Congressman Peter Welch, United States House of Representatives Official Appearance Schedule

Monday, March 31st , 2014, 9:30 a.m., Energy Efficiency Roundtable: Brattleboro

Rep. Welch will convene a meeting on energy efficiency with community members, contractors, and energy efficiency leaders.

Climate change is having a real impact on Vermont.  For example, Rep. Welch regularly hears from Vermont’s maple producers about how changes in temperature and shifting seasons are affecting their businesses.  He  last week with Dave Marvin, owner of Butternut Mountain Farm, and Tim Perkins, Director of Proctor Maple Research Institute at the University of Vermont, about the impact of climate change on Vermont’s maple industry.  Rep. Welch will be bringing the voices of Vermonters like Dave and Tim’s to Washington to demonstrate why urgent action on climate change is needed.

Editorial from the Concord Monitor:

As it turns out, Scott Brown isn’t the only politician from next-door New Hampshire voters should be watching.

In an interview with The Nation magazine this month, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s thinking about launching a campaign for president in 2016.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/03/25-1

WASHINGTON, March 25 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today on reports that President Barack Obama intends to seek another 90-day extension of the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records before asking Congress to make private phone companies store the records:

“As someone who voted against the Patriot Act and opposed its reauthorization, I have long been concerned about out-of-control intelligence agencies.

BURLINGTON, Vt., March 24 – At a time of growing income and wealth inequality in the United States, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday will host free screenings of the Robert Reich documentary “Inequality for All.”

Sanders has held hundreds of town meetings across Vermont. This Sunday’s events will mark the first time he has held four town meetings simultaneously.

The documentary, featuring former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, will be shown in Middlebury, Brattleboro, St. Johnsbury and Bennington. Afterward, the audiences will come together via video conference for a discussion led by Sanders from Middlebury Union High School.

Joan Bowman is excited to announce that she will be running for a seat in the Vermont State Senate, representing Windham County, as a Democrat.

“I am pleased to announce my candidacy and look forward to a spirited campaign that focuses on the issues that matter to residents of Windham County. Over the last six months I have had the pleasure of serving as a navigator for the Vermont Health Connect program. In this capacity I assisted hundreds of Vermonters in their efforts to finally get the affordable health care they deserve. As a Vermont State Senator I will work toward sensible solutions that pilot our region and state towards economic prosperity and social equity.”

I commend Chairman Feinstein for speaking so forcefully in defense of the indispensable role that Congress plays under our Constitution in overseeing the executive branch, and in particular the intelligence community. Chairman Feinstein described a troubling pattern of interference and intimidation by the CIA that raises serious questions about possible violations of the Constitution and our criminal laws. This only compounds the grave concerns I have had for years about the underlying conduct that the Senate Intelligence Committee has been investigating: the torture of detainees during the previous administration. I fully support Chairman Feinstein’s efforts to seek declassification of her committee’s report on the CIA detention and interrogation program.

WASHINGTON, March 11 – A Senate panel chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) heard today that other major countries offer better health care at less cost than the United States.

“What this hearing is really about is two fundamental issues. First, the U.S., the wealthiest country on the planet, is the only major industrialized country in the world that does not guarantee health care as a right to its citizens. Should we consider joining the rest of the world? I’d argue we should,” Sanders said. “Second, the U.S. spends twice as much as other countries that have much better health outcomes. What can we learn from these countries?” asked Sanders, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging.

WASHINGTON, March 10 – As part of an all-night Senate discussion on climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement from remarks prepared for delivery later tonight:

“The scientific community has been extremely clear. Climate change is real. Climate change is man-made. And climate change is already causing severe damage in terms of draught, floods, forest fires, rising sea levels and extreme weather disturbances.

“Given that reality, I find it extremely disturbing that virtually all of my Republican colleagues continue to ignore the scientific evidence and refuse to support legislation which will address this planetary crisis.

BURLINGTON, Vt., March 9 – In a dramatic gesture to urge action on climate change, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other members of the Senate Climate Action Task Force will pull an all-nighter speaking on the Senate floor from Monday night through Tuesday morning.

“When I go home to Vermont, people ask me what world the United States Congress is living in,” said Sanders. “They understand that the overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is real, it is caused by human activity and it is causing devastating damage all over the world. They want us to act and take bold measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Brattleboro Town Selectboard will hold a pre-town meeting information forum on Wednesday, March 12 at Academy School beginning at 7:00 PM. Prior to the forum, each district will caucus begin at 6:30 PM. Town meeting members of each district will be available to meet with constituents to offer residents an opportunity to discuss articles to be voted on at the annual meeting.

Also, at that time, districts will be accepting nominations to fill town meeting member vacancies. Appointments are for one year. District 1 has 12 vacancies, District 2 has 13 vacancies and District 3 has 1 vacancy. Anyone interested in being considered for these positions should be present at Wednesday’s 6:30PM caucus. Classroom locations at Academy School for each caucus will be posted in the school lobby that evening.

Got the long winter blues? Want to make new friends in Vermont?Tired of meeting singles far away on the internet?

It is easy to meet people right here in Vermont who you might become personally interested in by volunteering for any political campaign.

For single people, Republican and Democratic campaign functions are a real “meet market”.

As an independent candidate, the best “meet market” I can offer you  is to ask you to volunteer to collect political campaign signatures for me.

I decided to run as a write in candidate for the one year Brattleboro Select Board seat on March 4th.    I figure that this should not be a walk-in.  I am one of the District 3 reps and plan to continue as such.  I do not support the present plans for the Police and Fire as they stand and know there are other alternatives and how this will effect the property taxes in the future.  How many cuts can you make without shredding all of the necessary needs of this community?

Please write me in:

Kathryn Turnas II.

This morning we learn that there is a write-in candidate for the one year Brattleboro Selectboard seat. Former candidate Kathryn Turnas II announced her candidacy in an email this morning:

“I plan on running as a write-in candidate for the one year Select Board seat.  If you decide to write me in please use Kathryn Turnas II. 

Thanks in advance and see you at the polls.”

BURLINGTON, Vt., Feb. 20 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today welcomed White House assurances that President Barack Obama will not call for cuts in Social Security benefits as part of a budget blueprint that he will submit to Congress on March 4.

“I applaud President Obama for his important decision to protect Social Security,” Sanders said. “With the middle class struggling and more people living in poverty than ever before, we cannot afford to make life even more difficult for seniors and some of the most vulnerable people in America.  I look forward to working with the president to support the needs of the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor.”