This week, Senator Bernie Sanders spoke about the VA health care scandal, and compared to problems facing the rest of the US health care system. Congressman Peter Welch, meanwhile, praised President Obama’s announcement that emissions from coal-fired power plants must be reduced in the coming years.
In Vermont’s forests, efforts continue to slow the advance of an invasive insect, the Emerald Ash Borer. Governor Peter Shumlin unveiled an effort to attract skilled workers from out of state.
The Slow Living Summit got underway in Brattleboro to promote sustainable, holistic lifestyles. And a massive hailstorm hit Rutland, followed by the arrival of traveling dent-repair experts to fix damaged cars.
These were some of the voices in the news this week
Sanders: VA Problems Don't Shake Faith In Government-Run Health Programs
(Sen. Bernie Sanders) “What happened in Phoenix and elsewhere is horrendous, unacceptable, has to be dealt with. But we have to also understand that this is America, not everybody can walk into their doctor’s office tomorrow and get good quality, affordable health care.”
Vermont Officials Hail EPA Climate Change Plan
(Congressman Peter Welch) “The coal plants are contributing immensely to the carbon footprint and we’ve got to make adjustments there. What the president is doing is, number one, focusing attention on – ‘this problem is real.’ We’re having wild weather events in Vermont and all around the country, and every day we wait makes it solving this much more difficult.”
Vermont Prepares For The Invasion Of The Emerald Ash Borer
(Forest protection specialist Jim Esden) "So our strategy in Vermont is not to eradicate, but simply slow down the spread of emerald ash borer.”
State Launches Headhunting Mission For Skilled Workers
(Gov. Peter Shumlin) “Today our challenge is different – it is finding enough skilled workers to do the jobs we have in a job market that is growing and thriving.”
Slow Living Summit Returns To Brattleboro
(Slow Living Summit artistic director Linda McInerny) “The urban environment is often the best environment for slow living because there are so many ways that we can conserve resources and share resources, instead of more purchases and more carbon footprint.”
(‘Dent Guy’ Dan Ushinski) “I’m a PDR technician, a hail technician. We repair hail-damaged vehicles across the U.S. My home is in Massachusetts but during the course of a hail season I call many places home.”
