The Montpelier Happy Hour

October 11, 2024: Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher joins our ongoing conversations about health care in Vermont. He outlines the work of Vermont's Office of the Health Care Advocate, some of the issues facing people navigating the health care system, policy, and finding support. The Office of the Health Care Advocate is available to all Vermonters free of charge. To ask questions, get support, or...

October 4, 2024: Rep. Lori Houghton, Chair of the House Health Care Committee, discussed health care in Vermont and the challenges associated with reforming the system. She provided an overview of the Act 167 Community Engagement report, which was prepared by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman. This report garnered attention for its recommendations to restructure hospitals and for identifying four "...

September 27, 2024: As Emilie and Olga prepare to dive into the topic of health care, we wanted to share with listeners this conversation with Vermont's Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher from December 15, 2023. From the December 15, 2023 episode: Vermont Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher discusses the cost of health care. What options do we have to lower costs? This conversation builds off of last w...

September 20, 2024: Earlier this month, the State Auditor's office released its audit of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan outlines the state's responses to disasters such as flooding and infectious diseases. The audit concluded that there is room for improvement in the state's planning efforts. Auditor Doug Hoffer shared his office's findings. Read full audit here: https://auditor.vermo...

September 13, 2024: Leslie Black-Plumeau from VHFA joins this week's discussion. Leslie is the Research and Communications Relations Director at VHFA and helped put together the Vermont Statewide Housing Needs Assessment 2025-2029 on behalf of the VT Department of Housing and Community Development. The assessment's key findings outline how the state's housing shortage is pinching communities now a...

September 6, 2024: Last month, the Brattleboro Selectboard received crime data showing a 16 percent increase in calls to police. Many calls were to report violations such as burglary and assault. Investigative Journalist Leah McGrath Goodman shares her views on the data and what it could mean for the town. For more information, check out coverage from Journalist Kevin O'Connor at VTDigger: Brattle...

August 30, 2024 (prerecorded 8/29): Writer, communications consultant, and podcast host Kevin Ellis joins our conversation today. Where does Vermont (and Vermont voters) fit in the national political landscape? Do our votes matter in presidential elections? Or, are those the wrong questions in a state that guest Kevin says does democracy really well?  Learn more about Kevin and his work:&nbsp...

August 23, 2024: Esther Charlestin is the Democratic candidate for Vermont Governor. She joins the show to share her experience as an educator and small business owner and discuss the power of systems change. Esther also discusses how her experience has prepared her for elected office and how she plans to work with the Legislature.  Esther's campaign website: https://www.estherforvt.com/ Them...

August 16, 2024 (prerecorded 8/15): John Walters of The Vermont Political Observer joins us to share his thoughts on the Aug. 13 primary. Rep. Emilie Kornheiser joins in with observations from her weeks spent door-knocking and the potential ripples of the Windham-1 race.  The Vermont Political Observer: https://thevpo.org Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

August 9, 2024 (prerecorded 8/5): Teacher, musician, conductor, and now a candidate for Windham-1, Zon Eastes, joins the conversation this week. We discuss how a career in the arts has prepared him for the State House, rural economies, and the difference Zon sees between politics and serving.  Zon's website: https://zoneastesvt.com/ Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

August 8, 2024: A quiz, dear listeners: In the 1970s, did the hippies A) save Vermont or B) ruin Vermont? Or, there's C) From guest Amanda Kay Gustin: "History is more interesting when it's more complicated." In this week's episode, we're going with "C" (as if regular listeners would be surprised). This week's guest, Amanda Kay Gustin, director of Collections and Access at the Vermont Historical S...

July 26, 2024: Incumbent Rep. Emilie Kornheiser is seeking another term serving Windham 7. In this conversation, we discuss what she enjoys about serving in the State House, her ongoing policy efforts, and taxes. Emilie's website: https://www.emiliekornheiser.org/ Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

July 19, 2024: Amanda Ellis-Thurber is running in the primary to represent people living in one of Brattleboro's three districts, Windham-7. Amanda co-owns and operates Lilac Ridge Farm with her husband, Ross. She holds a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In this conversation, Amanda discusses why she chose to run, how Vermont could help small businesses and her concerns about afforda...

July 12, 2024: Emily Carris Duncan is running as a Democrat to represent Windham-6 in the State House (Wilmington, Whitingham, Halifax). She is an artist and educator who has returned to her home state after living in Philadelphia. In this conversation, she shares her thoughts on supporting a creative economy, what makes the Windham-6 towns unique, and her thoughts on where our systems need mendin...

July 5, 2024: This week, Emilie and Olga sit down with Democratic Primary Candidate Ian Goodnow, who is running to represent Windham 9. Lawyer and former Brattleboro Selectboard member Ian discusses affordability, housing, and the opportunities and challenges of making a life in Vermont. Ian's campaign page: https://iangoodnow.com/ Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

June 28, 2024: David Gartenstein is running on the Democratic ticket to represent Windham 9 in the State House. David is a deputy state's attorney and has served on the Brattleboro Selectboard and School Board. In this conversation, he shares his thoughts on the state's mental health system, law enforcement, and his belief that government needs to be accessible and transparent. David's campaign si...

June 21, 2024: Rep. Emilie Kornheiser updates listeners on the 2024 veto session. What votes happened? What bills were left behind? And, what role did social media play in people's understanding of the veto overrides? Read a detailed list of action taken by Governor Phil Scott during the 2024 session: https://governor.vermont.gov/governor-scotts-blog/action-taken-governor-scott-bills-during-2024-l...

June 14, 2024: Emilie is busy in the Legislature this week and Olga is busy in the newsroom. This week's episode is a rebroadcast of a 2023 conversation on housing with Maura Collins from VHFA. To learn more about VHFA: https://vhfa.org Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

June 7, 2024: After more than a decade in the State House, Rep. Tristan Toleno has decided to leave politics. In today's conversation, he reminisce about his early days in Montpelier, lessons learned, and the financial reality of a citizen legislature.  Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

May 31, 2024: Rep. Tristan Roberts who serves Windham-6 (Halifax, Whitingham, Wilmington) has decided to step down at the end of his term. In this conversation, he says good-bye to constituents, discusses why he decided to run for office in the first place, and what it's meant to serve the unique towns of Windham-6. Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net To follow Tristan at Quill No...

May 24, 2024: Journalist John Walters and regular contributor Rep. Emilie Kornheiser share their perspectives on the Legislative session and Gov. Phil Scott's response to building policy. The Vermont Political Observer (Walter's website): https://thevpo.org Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

May 17, 2024 (prerecorded 5/16): Speaker of the House Rep. Jill Krowinski joins the show to share her thoughts on the second half of the biennium. Along with Regular Contributor Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, Krowinski discusses the legislative sleeper hits, education taxes, the upcoming veto session, and hope. To follow the action taken by Gov. Phil Scott on recent bills: https://governor.vermont.gov/go...

May 10, 2024 (prerecorded 5/7): Vermont's Attorney General Charity R. Clark and Shari, an advocate with The Woman's Freedom Center (WFC), discuss two efforts that passed the state House and Senate this session. S.120, focused on postsecondary schools and sexual misconduct. The Legislature also updated its revenge porn law to include nonconsensual deep fake porn. As the WFC commemorates its 50th an...

May 3, 2024: Regular Contributor Rep. Emilie Kornheiser takes a break from legislative work to update us on education taxes and some of the other work of the House Ways and Means Committee. To listen to the episode on Education Taxes from December we mentioned: https://themontpelierhappyhour.captivate.fm/episode/understanding-vermonts-potential-18-5-education-tax-increase-hint-it-might-be-less The...

April 26, 2024: Groundworks Collaborative supports people in Windham County dealing with housing insecurity and hunger. Executive Director Libby Bennett and Board member Peter Elwell discuss homelessness in Vermont post-pandemic. To learn more about Groundworks Collaborative: https://groundworksvt.org/ Do you know your state's housing wage? Learn more from the National Low Income Housing Coalition...