Vermont legislature working hard to maximize recession’s negative impact

Not content with the ravages of the already-deep recession, the Vermont legislature is considering a raft of legislation that will make things worse. I will mention several of the measures here, but I’d like to point out from the very beginning that no matter how horribly these initiatives scar the state’s economy, no matter how [...]

Vermont should let entrepreneurs succeed or fail on their own

Vermont’s Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) program is designed to provide financial support to companies in the state that are increasing employment and/or making capital investments. Its role was highlighted last week to the Vermont legislature by Kevin Dorn, Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, who is seeking to expand its role in [...]

Why should the tourism industry get our money?

Vermont Travel and Recreation Council Chair Brian Cain has asked the Vermont legislature to increase its subsidy of the state’s tourism industry from $3.8 million to $6.8 million… and this comes as the executive and legislative branches of government are desperately working to slash tens of millions of dollars from the budget in response to [...]

This is what media bias looks like

As a former journalist, I like to think of myself as qualified to judge when a story has been written in a biased manner. This story from Vermont’s WCAX News is one of the most blatant examples of pro-social programs bias.
It’s very short, as is appropriate for television. A total of one sentence is devoted [...]

Vermont considering additional economic suicide measures

Bureaucrats and legislators in Vermont seem to never lose their enthusiasm for making it harder for businesses to turn a profit here. With one of the worst recessions in a generation under way, they are now talking about increasing the dollar amount that businesses have to pay into the unemployment insurance fund.
To say that this [...]

Vermont judge order reflects ignorance of homelessness

It’s not unusual for legislators or judges to make decisions, pass laws, or issue orders that cause significant damage to society. The unfortunate tendency of these folks, once they attain such office, is to think of themselves as superior to the benighted masses they are supposed to represent and serve, and to impose their “wisdom” [...]

Government regulations worsen homelessness

On a huge number of issues, our state and federal government actually exacerbate existing problems, or even create problems where none existed previously. One egregious example is that of homelessness, an issue that comes up every time the weather turns cold. In fact, in Rutland recently, there was a candle-light vigil held to raise awareness [...]