There are 180 members of the Vermont Legislature, and only 7 of them represent the Progressive Party. But despite their small caucus, the Progressives want to make an impact on how the state closes the $176 million budget deficit. The Progressives say they oppose cuts to Agency of Human Services programs that help vulnerable Vermonters, and they argue that wealthy Vermonters should pay more in taxes to close the budget gap. Host Bob Kinzel talks with caucus leader Rep. Chris Pearson and state Sen. Anthony Pollina about the budget priorities of the Progressive caucus, how they stand on other key issues being debated at the Statehouse.
Also in the program, Senator Bernie Sanders has just returned from a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan, where he spoke with President Hamid Karzai and General David Petraeus. Sanders describes how he sees the U.S. role in Afghanistan going forward.
And we listen back to some of the voices in this week’s news.