Democracy Dispatch

Act 250's Impact on Affordable Housing (w/ Kathy Beyer of Evernorth)

On this week’s episode of the Democracy Dispatch Podcast, I’m joined by our 2024 legislative intern, Cora Smith. We will have a conversation about her role and the interests that emerged while spending many hours reporting on committee discussions this year. Later, Cora takes the wheel as host for an interview with Kathy Beyer, Senior Vice President for Real Estate Development at Evernorth, an organization with offices across northern New England that have developed and financed environmentally, socially, and economically responsible housing for low and moderate-income people. Cora and Kathy discuss Act 250’s role in allowing affordable housing and also unpack just how affordable housing is created and defined. 
 
Lauren Hierl and I recap action of the past week, including a strong tripartisan vote (26-3) in the Senate on S.259, Make Big Oil Pay, and the movement of a comprehensive PFAS bill, S.25, out of the House Committee on Human Services on a unanimous 11-0 vote. 
Lastly, we hear from Representative Jonathan Williams (D-Barre City) who discusses the response, recovery, and resilience measures needed for communities impacted by flooding. The conversation highlights bills S.310 and S.213 as important steps toward flood safety and management.

Act 250 Floor Discussion + Vote; Recapping the AV State Summit

Lauren speaks with Rep. Amy Sheldon following the floor discussion and vote on H.687, a bill that would modernize Act 250. Justin recaps the America Votes State Summit in Washington, D.C.

Inside Proposed Act 250 Reform Legislation (w/ Kati Gallagher & Catherine Dimitruk)

Kati Gallagher, Sustainable Communities Program Director at Vermont Natural Resources Council, and Catherine Dimitruk, executive director of Northwest Regional Planning Commission, join for a conversation about Act 250 reform and the proposed changes within H.687, a bill heading to the House floor this week. 
The two outline the bill's nexus with planning, walk through the location-based jurisdiction and tier structure, and how regional planning commissions work to provide mapping and planning for communities.  
Also on the podcast, Attorney General Charity Clark adds her thoughts on PFAS regulation and the proposed creation of a climate superfund. 

When Businesses Get Political (w/ Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Kristin Warner, and Kate Ogden)

Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden SE), chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs and Kristin Warner, Public Policy Manager at Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility discuss the roles of businesses in shaping policy, how businesses band together to stack a stand on climate protections, and the apprehension some feel about getting political in the first place. To assist in that conversation is Kate Ogden, the Advocacy and Movement Building Manager at Seventh Generation.
Also, a deeper look at the climate superfund act known as Make Big Oil Pay with Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (P-Chittenden Central). 
And finally, a breakdown look at the League of Conservation Voters’ national scorecard to see how our federal delegation stacks up and their voting records on environmental policies in Washington D.C. 

2024 Halftime Report (w/ Lauren Hierl)

With the legislature on break for Town Meeting Day, it seemed like the opportune time to sit down with Lauren Hierl, executive director, Vermont Conservation Voters, to discuss the policy priorities outlined in the 2024 Environmental Common Agenda and provide a progress report on each. 
We update you on the latest surrounding Act 250, climate resiliency, the Renewable Energy Standard, cleaner transportation solutions, neonicotinoid pesticides, PFAS, the updated bottle bill, and ranked choice voting.

Burlington Mayoral Candidates Joan Shannon & Emma Mulvaney-Stanak

Democratic Burlington City Councilor Joan Shannon and Progressive State Representative Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, both vying to be Burlington’s next mayor, answer the same set of questions on Burlington’s existing climate efforts and their vision for the future.
Senator Christopher Bray of Addison County talks about the advancement of S.213, the Flood Safety Act.

Chiefs of Staff: Legislative Lassos (w/ Conor Kennedy & Ashley Moore)

Ashley Moore and Conor Kennedy are the chiefs of staff for Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D-Chittenden Central) and Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington), respectively. The two provide a peek behind the podiums, if you will, sharing details of their roles, what led them to this work, how they spend their rare free time, and their involvement in helping pass legislation.
Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden Southeast) shares details about a housing bill currently in the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs.

Kicking the Can: Modernizing the Bottle Bill (w/ Marcie Gallagher)

Marcie Gallagher, an environmental advocate with VPIRG, joins the podcast to discuss Vermont’s beverage container law known more commonly as the Bottle Bill. We unpack the history of the 50-year-old law, its importance, and the attempts and complexities surrounding modernizing it for today’s economy and consumer trends.
Representative Julia Andrews (D-Westford) talks about work in the Committee on Ways & Means and a bill that would raise revenue through the taxation of Vermonters with the highest incomes.

Generations in Governance (w/ Sen. Ginny Lyons and Rep. Esme Cole)

Senator Ginny Lyons (D-Chittenden SE) and Representative Esme Cole (D-Hartford) are two trailblazing legislators on opposing ends of the age spectrum. They bridge wisdom and progress sharing their perspectives, their path to politics, experiences with ageism and misogyny, and priorities for the rest of this session. 
I also welcome back Representative Dara Torre (D-Moretown) to the podcast to hear more about a bill in the House Committee on Environment and Energy that would reform the Renewable Energy Standard, accelerating the pace at which Vermont reaches an all-renewable energy grid. 

Climate Solutions Caucus (w/ Sen. Rebecca White and Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins)

On the this week’s episode of the Democracy Dispatch Podcast, I have a conversation with Senator Rebecca White (D-Windsor) and Representative Gabrielle Stebbins (D-Burlington), co-chairs of the Climate Solutions Caucus. They share their environmental priorities for the session, how their caucus operates and moves policies forward, their personal thoughts on the biennium structure of the Vermont legislature, and where to go from here now that the Senate failed to override Governor Scott’s veto of the modernized Bottle Bill. 
Also on the podcast, Lauren Hierl catches up with Representative Robin Chesnut-Tangerman (D-Middletown Springs) to hear more about a bill he is sponsoring that would ban the usage of neonicotinoid pesticides and why that is an important step in protecting pollinators and the environment.