Vermont Politics & News
The Daily Signal reports on Vermont politics with coverage of state government, environmental regulations, rural concerns, and conservative responses to progressive governance in the Green Mountain State.
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Vermont Christian School Fights Sports Ban for Affirming That ‘Boys Are Boys and Girls Are Girls’
In the fight over allowing biological males in women’s sports, a Christian school in Vermont finds itself in court—again. Last year, Mid Vermont Christian School accused the Vermont Principals’ Association, the “governing body for high school sports and activities for the state’s 300 public and private secondary schools,” and Vermont state officials of religious discrimination for…Sarah Holliday -
MASK OFF: Vermont Foster Care Rule Reveals the Left’s Terrifying New State Religion
Imagine opening your home and your heart to orphans and other children who need shelter, only to find the government demanding that you stop, not because you’d be a threat to the kids, but because you don’t believe the state religion. That’s not a hypothetical—it actually happened in Vermont, to two Christian families who foster…Tyler O’Neil -
EXCLUSIVE: Vermont Blocked Christian Families From Fostering Over Gender Ideology, Lawsuit Alleges
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A new lawsuit alleges that Vermont blocked two families from fostering children, despite the state’s foster care system crisis, because the families held traditional, religious views on gender and sexuality. Brian and Kaitlyn Wuoti and Michael and Rebecca Gantt accused the Vermont Department for Children and Families of mandating an “ideological…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Vermont Law Bans Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers From Counseling Women
A new law in Vermont may end up shutting down pro-life pregnancy centers, banning them from offering non-medical services and providing post-abortion counseling, as well as subjecting them to steep fines if the state deems their advertising “misleads” women into thinking they provide or promote abortions. Two Vermont faith-based pregnancy centers have filed a lawsuit…Nicole Russell -
Vermont Settles With Family Over Biologically Male, Trans Student in ‘Resounding Victory for Freedom of Speech’
A Vermont school district punished a father and his daughter for speaking out against a biological male in the girls’ locker room. Now, The Daily Signal has learned, the district has settled with the Allen family in what its legal team is hailing as a “resounding victory.” That settlement requires that the Vermont School Boards…Mary Margaret Olohan -
EXCLUSIVE: Vermont Family Accuses School District of Retaliating Against Them for Pushing Back Against Biological Male in Girls’ Locker Room
A Vermont school district punished both 14-year-old Blake Allen and her father for stating that a biologically male student who identifies as a transgender girl is male. Now the Allens are suing the school district—and accusing it of retaliating against their family for speaking out. Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, Travis and Jessica Allen…Mary Margaret Olohan -
‘I Will Take This as Retaliation’: Another Vermont Father Says School District Is Punishing Him for Speaking Out Against Biological Male in Girls’ Locker Room
Another Vermont parent has told The Daily Signal that he believes the school district is punishing him for speaking out against a biological male using the girls’ locker room. John Helfant is one of the volunteer coaches of the Randolph Union High School girls’ varsity soccer team, he said in a Wednesday phone interview. He…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Vermont School District Suspends Father of Girl Who Pushed Back Against Biological Male in Her Locker Room
A Vermont school district under fire for allowing a biologically male student to use the girls’ locker room has suspended a father from his position as soccer coach for using male pronouns to refer to the trans-identifying student. Travis Allen has been suspended without pay from his job as the Randolph Union Middle School girls…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Vermont High School Under Fire as Girls, Parents Push Back Against Biologically Male Trans Student Using Female Locker Room
Two Vermont high school girls did what few of their peers have dared: When a biological boy who identifies as a transgender girl entered their locker room, they asked that student to leave. The Randolph, Vermont-based Randolph Union High School told the community in a Sept. 23 email that it is “launching a harassment investigation”…Mary Margaret Olohan -
Noncitizen Voting in Vermont Part of Democrats’ ‘Long Game’
Noncitizens will be able to vote in two Vermont cities as part of a growing national trend, unless lawsuits prevent new laws from taking effect. The cities of Montpelier, with about 7,375 residents, and Winooski, with about 7,335, both will allow noncitizens to vote in local elections for offices such as mayor, city council, and…Fred Lucas -
Vermont Hospital Violated Nurse’s Conscience Rights on Abortion, HHS Says
The University of Vermont Medical Center forced a nurse to participate in an abortion, despite her objections, in violation of federal law protecting conscience rights, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday. The hospital denied the allegation. HHS cited provisions of 42 U.S.C. 300a-7, known as the “Church amendments,” named for then-Sen….Fred Lucas -
Vermont Poised to Let Kids, Not Parents, Make Gender Decisions
Most schools can’t give a child an aspirin without getting a parent’s OK. But in Vermont, kids are about to get a whole lot more than Tylenol. Under a new rule, they’ll be able to get entirely new bodies—in some cases, without ever calling home. If you thought the war on parents’ rights was bad…Tony Perkins -
Vermont Lawmakers Leave Law-Abiding Young Adults Defenseless
Law-abiding young adults living in Vermont will soon find it much more difficult to defend themselves and their families after state lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting the sale of any firearm to individuals under 21, unless he or she completes a nearly 15-hour hunter safety course with little practical bearing on personal self-defense. The bill…Amy Swearer -
Group Sues Vermont AG for Withholding Emails About Climate Crusade Against Oil Groups
Vermont is refusing to comply with a court order forcing officials to release communications about the state’s supposed involvement in a climate inquisition against fossil fuel groups, a conservative legal group said Monday. Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan denied conservative group E&E Legal’s request for communication between former Attorney General William Sorrell and New York…Chris White -
Democrat State Senator: Gun Background Checks Unnecessary in Vermont
An influential Democratic state senator says he’s unlikely to support a bill requiring background checks on gun purchases because he believes the checks are unnecessary and unconstitutional in Vermont. “I need to be convinced that Vermont needs a background check. I doubt it’s necessary,” state Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, told Vermont Watchdog. The statement echoes comments…Bruce Parker -
Vermont Lawmaker Who Asked Tough Questions About Single-Payer Health Care Kicked Off Health Committee
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont’s newly re-elected House speaker Shap Smith spoke of hope and opportunity in his address to the 73rd biennial Legislature Wednesday. But among the speaker’s first acts was to remove a whistleblower and outspoken critic of single-payer health care from a powerful health committee. State Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, was noticeably absent…Bruce Parker -
Vermont State Senator Touts Universal Coverage Plan
MONTPELIER, Vt.—An outgoing Vermont state senator says the health care plan he formulated is the only one left standing after Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin ditched his single-payer agenda in December. Peter Galbraith, a two-term state senator and former U.S. ambassador, spent the past legislative session working to provide Vermonters with universal health care. Despite his…Bruce Parker -
Vermont Lawmakers Question Credibility of Health Care Plan Relying on Gruber Research
Vermont lawmakers say they’re skeptical of Gov. Peter Shumlin’s forthcoming single-payer financing plan because it relies on economic modeling provided by Jonathan Gruber. As Shumlin gets ready to present a health-care financing plan to the legislature in January, key lawmakers who will decide its fate are saying Gruber’s explosive video confessions severely damage the proposal….Bruce Parker -
Vermont Halts Payments to Obamacare Architect Jonathan Gruber
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont’s state government has stopped payment on the contract of Jonathan Gruber following a series of video statements showing the Obamacare architect repeatedly insulting voters and intentionally misleading the public in the crafting of the Affordable Care Act. On Wednesday, Lawrence Miller, chief of health care reform for the Gov. Peter Shumlin…Bruce Parker -
Vermont Schools Ban Brownies, Replace Them With Kale
It’s a best-seller at bake sales, a king of American confections, even a mandatory munchie of marijuana users. But the iconic chocolate brownie, that perfect blend of cake and cookie, is banned in Vermont schools. In its place are new hoped-for kid favorites such as fruit shish kabob, kale and even gluten-free paleo lemon bars….Bruce Parker