(Host) Governor Peter Shumlin says he sees signs of hope that Vermont’s economy is beginning to turn around.
The state’s unemployment rate is down to 5.6 percent. It was slightly lower than 6 percent last year.
The governor says state revenues of taxes and fees have also begun to pick up and are at the level they were at when the recession began.
(Shumlin) "The fact that we’re seeing our employment numbers go down, the fact that we’re seeing our revenues go up, the fact that we’re seeing some of the fruits of our labors actually pay dividends in jobs and a better economic future for Vermonters, we’re cautiously optimistic that the future is going to continue to be a bright one for Vermont."
(Host) The governor says he’s also feeling more optimistic because congressional negotiators have agreed to lift a cap on transportation repairs.
That means the federal government will probably pay the lion’s share of repairs to roads and bridges that were damaged by the floods of Tropical Storm Irene.