Peter Welch called for a new approach to making budget cuts, Vermont’s Congressional delegation defended LIHEAP subsidies, Governor Shumlin visited Quebec to discuss hydro power, a Vermont Yankee steam leak caused evacuation of the reactor building and a Montgomery school performed well on the NECAP [knee cap] exams.
These are some of the voices in the news this week:
Welch Calls For New Approach To Budget Cuts (2/16)
(Congressman Peter Welch) "The problem with the approach we’re taking is that we’re focusing solely on what’s called the domestic discretionary spending that’s only 12% of the budget. So even if you cut it out entirely you wouldn’t make a big dent in the problem."
Congressional Delegation Will Fight Proposed LIHEAP Cuts (2/14)
(Senator Patrick Leahy) "Do we have to find ways to cut the deficit? Yes. But it does not make sense to cut out heat for low- and middle-income families, but to then to give tens of billion of dollars in tax breaks to major oil companies."
In Trip To Quebec, Shumlin Focuses On Hydro Power (2/15)
(Governor Peter Shumlin) "It helps to do two things for Vermont: first is, it’s cheap reliable power if we can negotiate a good contract; and second is it reduces our contribution to climate change which is an imperative for all of us. So it’s a win-win for Quebec and a win-win for Vermonters if we can get the right price."
Steam Leak At Yankee Forces Plant To Clear Reactor Building (2/16)
(Vermont Yankee spokesman Larry Smith) "So the surveillance was stopped, valves in the steam path were closed and all unnecessary personnel were asked to leave the reactor building. And that’s a precautionary measure until the system could be inspected."
Students In Montgomery Defy ‘Achievement Gap’ (2/16)
(Montgomery Elementary School Principal Beth O’Brien) "Sometimes when you have people who live in poverty, the parents haven’t had a good experience in school themselves. So it’s a generational thing. So we really try to go out of our way to make everybody feel welcome in the buildings, to let them know that everybody can do it."