A plan by the Shumlin Administration to double the current ‘assessment tax’ on all health insurance claims is running into some strong opposition at the Statehouse. The Administration says it needs the money to pay for several important health care programs, but key lawmakers aren’t sure that the Administration’s numbers add up. It’s no surprise that throwing an old tire by the roadside or tossing an empty soda can out the car window is against state law. But you might be surprised to learn that chucking a tire into a lake or stream or littering from a boat might not be violations. The Vermont House is set to take up a bill that would ban the use of all but hands-free cell phones while driving.
Melody is the Contributing Editor for But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids and the co-author of two But Why books with Jane Lindholm.
A graduate of NYU with a Master's Degree in journalism, Mitch has more than 20 years experience in radio news. He got his start as news director at NYU's college station, and moved on to a news director (and part-time DJ position) for commercial radio station WMVY on Martha's Vineyard. But public radio was where Mitch wanted to be and he eventually moved on to Boston where he worked for six years in a number of different capacities at member station WBUR...as a Senior Producer, Editor, and fill-in co-host of the nationally distributed Here and Now. Mitch has been a guest host of the national NPR sports program "Only A Game". He's also worked as an editor and producer for international news coverage with Monitor Radio in Boston.
