The Montpelier Happy Hour

October 27, 2023: Several state and federal-level lawsuits have been filed against Meta. Vermont's lawsuit alleges the company designed its social media platform Instagram to cause teens to use the site "compulsively and excessively." AG Charity Clark discusses the filing on today's show.   Read the state's complaint here: https://ago.vermont.gov/sites/ago/files/2023-10/Complaint%20-%20R...

REBROADCAST 10/20/23 October 29, 2021 (prerecorded 10/28): A conversation about issues facing rural communities is a nuanced one in Vermont that is... well... rural. But are some communities more rural than others? And if so, do their economic challenges differ from the less rural - or is it more urban? - communities? Member Rep. Charles Kimbell (D-Woodstock)of the Rural Economic Development Worki...

Hello lovelies! Olga Peters here. I'm feeling nostalgic and so wanted to share with you the very first episode of the Montpelier Happy Hour Emilie and I recorded in February 2019. REBROADCAST 9.22.23 - Feb. 8, 2019: In this first episode, a Lemon, Lime, and Bitters meets a Bourbon Negroni. Guest Rep. Emilie Kornheiser and host Olga Peters discuss what happened in Montpelier this week. Kornheiser s...

September 15, 2023 (prerecorded 9/13): 1976 was the last time the State of Vermont underwent an impeachment process. In May, a seven-member special committee for the House of Representatives began investigating whether to impeach two elected officials. The process has proved complex and raised questions about accountability. Chair of the special committee, Martin LaLonde, and Vice-Chair Michael Mc...

September 8, 2023 (prerecorded 9/7): State Auditor Doug Hoffer discusses his office's findings on the state's dam inspection program and the state Department of Labor's slow response to COVID-19 UI overpayments.  The Auditor Office's Dam Safety Report: https://auditor.vermont.gov/sites/auditor/files/documents/Final%20Report%20DEC%20Dam%20Safety%20Program.pdf Doug Hoffer's memo to the VDOL: ht...

September 1, 2023: Wow! It's September. Where did the summer go? This week, we will hear from the last governor in our series: Philip Hoff. Hoff is known as the first Democratic governor elected in Vermont since 1853. He is also known for expanding several of the state's services during his tenure. In 1964, he established the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, now known as the Vermont C...

August 25, 2023 (prerecorded 8/24): In this episode, we'll hear the January 1941 inaugural address of former Gov. William H. Wills. While serving as governor, Wills oversaw minimum wage legislation for teachers and enacted emergency wartime powers for the state.  Read the full speech here: https://sos.vermont.gov/media/s0bj1emk/wills1941.pdf

August 18, 2023 (prerecorded 8/10): On this week's show we hear from our political ancestor Gov. John E. Weeks. So far, this is our favorite speech we've read in this series. Weeks lead the charge to pave Vermont's highways as well as helped the state recover from the flood of 1927.  Read the full speech: https://sos.vermont.gov/media/posnwasb/weeks1929.pdf Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker...

August 11, 2023 (prerecorded 8/8): We continue hearing from our political ancestors this week with the 1862 inaugural address of Governor Frederick Holbrook. During his lifetime, Holbrook served as a Captain in a Connecticut militia, a farmer, a Vermont State Senator, and finally, Governor during the Civil War.  Read the full speech: https://sos.vermont.gov/media/v2gl1h43/holbrook1862.pdf The...

August 4, 2023: We've been thinking a lot about transitions lately and inheritances. As modern Vermonters we have passively inherited VT from our forbearers AND are actively creating the future Vermont. So, let's hear from some of our political ancestors. On today's show, we'll read two speeches from Vermont's first governor, Thomas Chittenden. To read Chittenden's 1779 speech here: https://s...

REBROADCAST JULY 28, 2023 May 27, 2022 (prerecorded 5/19): Vermont's tourism economy. Yep, we're poking at it again. According to the state, Vermont welcomes more than 13 million visitors every year. This $3 billion industry supports 30,000 jobs. But how does this industry shape Vermont's jobs, incomes, policy, and personal identity? Journalist Anne Wallace Allen of SevenDays joins the conversatio...

July 21, 2023: People are cleaning their basements and rebuilding after the floods earlier this month. This is the hard part... insurance forms, finding contractors, and navigating state programs. Yet, this next phase of the recovery is essential. The decisions we make now may determine what happens in the next crisis.  Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

July 14, 2023: Earlier this week, heavy rains led to flooding across multiple towns in Vermont. Several towns in Rep. Laura Sibilia's district were hit. In this episodes she discusses climate change and that rebuilding what is, may no longer work. Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

February 3, 2023: The budget process has begun in the State House. The House passed the Budget Adjustment Bill today. Gov. Phil Scott outlined his $8.37B budget last month. Lawmakers will soon present their version. But will either budget meet people's needs? And what happened to "The People's Budget"? Amy Schollenberger of the political strategy firm, Action Circles joins the conversation. Theme...

Hello Beautiful People! Emilie Kornheiser and I are away this week. Please enjoy this rebroadcast of our conversation on civil discourse with Professor Meg Mott. February 26, 2021 (rebroadcast 6/30/23): Self described Constitution Wrangler Meg Mott is holding a series of events around civil debate. So why does debate matter? Why does Vermont need to practice these skills?

"What we're trying to do with the Vermont Futures Project is trying to dispel the zero-sum myth. As if you can only choose the environment or the economy of equity, when really a throng future for Vermont includes all of those things." - Kevin Chu May 19, 2023 (prerecorded 5/15): Kevin Chu, executive director of the Vermont Futures Project, shares with us a vision for an equitable, sustainable, an...

March 31, 2023 (prerecorded 3/27): Rep. Kathleen James joins today's show to discuss S.5, the Affordable Heat Act. The act is designed to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions created by heating homes while improving conditions for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Concerns have been raised in OpEds in multiple news outlets about whether the act can achieve both goals. Follow S.5's progre...

"For the storms in our own lives we'll have this public system in place that we've funded together so we're ready for that [storm]," - Emilie Kornheiser March 24, 2023 (prerecorded 3/20): Today, we circle back to H.66, the Paid Family and Medical Insurance bill. If passed, the insurance program would provide people with up to 12 weeks of leave to care for themselves or family members. Emilie fills...

“People are perfectly willing to invest in what they see as a functioning government doing good things. “ - John Walters March 17, 2023 (prerecorded 3/13): John Walters of The Vermont Political Observer is back to chat Town Meeting. What did communities vote on this year? To read John Walters' blog: https://thevpo.org   Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net/

March 10, 2023 (prerecorded 2019): An episode from the before times! We're taking this week off to focus on Town Meeting and local elections. We hope you enjoy this replay of our interview with Susan Clark, co-author of 'Slow Democracy.' Here is the text from the original broadcast: Why do we need direct democracy? This is one of many questions host Olga Peters and contributor Emilie Kornheiser as...

March 3, 2023 (prerecorded 2/27): The Legislature is considering a bill to legalize and regulate online sports betting. According to recent reports, approximately 140,000 Vermonters have accessed (or tried to) sports betting sites in other states where betting is legal. But, opponents have raised concerns about a potential increase in gambling addictions. Rep. Mike McCarthy joins today's conversat...

February 24, 2023 (prerecorded 2/20): Yes, we are talking about housing again. Unfortunately, folks in Vermont are struggling to find housing, so it's a topic that needs constant attention. And here's a fun twist: it seems the hunt is on for a SINGLE solution that with solve ALL of Vermont's housing problems. Maura Collins of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) helps us pick apart the housin...

February 17, 2023 (pre-recorded 2/13): Last week the House passed a shield law to further protect people exercising their reproductive liberties and the health care providers that support them. Rep. Martin LaLonde joins today's discussion on shield laws.  Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

February 10, 2023 (prerecorded 2/8): A recent report by the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission showed that nearly half the homicides in Vermont are related to domestic violence. Attorney General Charity Clark and Karen Trongard-Scott, executive director of the Vermont Network, join today's show to discuss the report and recommendations.  Read the commission's report here: https://ag...

"There's more of a likelihood of a rainy day happening if we're not taking care of our people - because that's the crisis that's looking. It's not a lack of money that's looming." Amy Schollenberger February 3, 2023: The budget process has begun in the State House. The House passed the Budget Adjustment Bill today. Gov. Phil Scott outlined his $8.37B budget last month. Lawmakers will soon present...