Good evening,
TJ and I have been out exploring new to us trails in Dover and were fortunate enough to spend a few days on vacation with all three of our kids, our son-in-law and two beloved grand puppies. I hope you have been able to enjoy time with your family and friends during this beautiful early summer!
The Vermont primary election is coming up on August 9th. I’ve included links below to help with registering and requesting an absentee ballot. You can vote in person and by mail in both the primary and in the general election. Remember that the primary elections are to reduce the number of candidates running from a party down to one for the November General Election.
This year there are three democrats and three Republicans running for the U.S. Congress seat and four Democrats and two Republicans running for Lieutenant Governor. Often times, a lot of people skip voting in the primary election, and only the party faithful vote. Everyone can vote – even independents who don’t belong to a party. When you vote in the primary, you choose either the democratic, republican or progressive ballot (you can only choose one) and vote. Anyone can choose any ballot: democrats can choose the republican ballot and independents can choose the progressive ballot.
One thing you will not find on any primary ballot: independent candidates – like me. Independent candidates automatically proceed to the November General Election ballot. For voters in Dover, Wardsboro, Jamaica, Stratton and Somerset, there are no candidates listed for State Representative – but I am running! Over the years I have been asked about this and if people can write my name in for State Representative for on the primary ballot. You can write my name in – but it is not necessary. What happens when voters write my name in during the primary, is I may win the nomination to run as a Democrat or Republican – I have won each in past years. Then I have to decide if I will accept that nomination and run as a partisan instead of as an independent. I have always declined to run with as a partisan and will be running as an independent in the 2022 November General Election.
Below are updates and news from the state government including a number of different climate adaptation items on renewables, emissions reduction rules and efficiency and transportation incentives.
New License Plates for Decorated Veterans
Vermont is now offering two new license plates to honor Vermont veterans who received the Air Medal and the Bronze Star for their service to our country.
The Office of Veterans Affairs worked with DMV on graphics of the Air Medal and Bronze Star to create the new license plate designs. Vermonters who have been awarded either medal qualify for the license plate and must first submit an application to the OVA before the DMV can issue the plate.
The DMV offers a variety of license plates for veterans, with a total of 8,485 currently in use on Vermont vehicles. For more information, visit the DMV website at https://dmv.vermont.gov/military/military-license-plates.
State input on energy programs requested, car emissions rule, weatherization and car charging incentives
- State seeks public input on broad array of climate-focused energy policies: In light of recommendations set forth by the state’s Climate Action Plan and the 2022 Comprehensive Energy Plan, officials are asking the public how to move forward with policies related to the state’s renewable energy standard, which dictates the amount of renewable energy utilities need to include in their portfolios. Comments on the first phase of the process are due to the Public Service Department on Aug. 5 via email at PSD.REPrograms@vermont.gov. To see the department’s full request for input, click here. https://vtdigger.org/2022/07/10/state-seeks-public-input-on-broad-array-of-climate-focused-energy-policies/
- State pushes forward with California car emissions rule, but that won’t close the 2030 emissions gap https://vtdigger.org/2022/07/04/state-pushes-forward-with-california-car-emissions-rule-but-that-wont-close-the-2030-emissions-gap/
- Big incentive increase to help weatherize more Vermont homes https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/news-blog/news/big-incentive-increase-to-help-weatherize-more-vermont-homes
- Multiunit Dwelling Electric Vehicle Charging Grant Program
Vermont 2023 Hospital Budget Review
Background: Annually by October 1, the Green Mountain Care Board has the responsibility to review and establish budgets for Vermont’s 14 community hospitals. In its review, the Board considers local health care needs and resources, utilization and quality data, hospital administrative costs, and other data, as well as presentations from hospitals and comments from members of the public.
Timeline and Opportunities for Public Engagement:
- Guidance: On March 31, the Board issued Hospital Budget Guidance for the upcoming hospital budget review.
- Hospital Budgets Due: On July 1, Hospital Budgets were due to the GMCB.
- Budget Submissions for each hospital can be found on the Individual Hospital Documents page.
- While the Board’s staff analysis is not complete, the weighted average for change in Net Patient Care Revenue/Fixed Prospective Payments requests is a 10.1% increase and a 10.7% increase in change in charge.
- “Change in charge” reflects average changes to hospitals’ chargemasters (list prices), which impacts the prices private insurance plans and self-pay patients pay for services.
- Hospital Budget Hearings: Weeks of August 15 and 22 on MWF beginning at 8:30 AM. Further details will be available in August on theGMCB Board Meeting Information page.
- Public Comment: The Board is accepting public comment on an ongoing basis from July 13 until Aug 30, 2022.
- Public Deliberation: In September, the Board will publicly deliberate to approve, modify, or deny budgets by September 15.
- Budget Orders: By October 1, the budget orders will be delivered to hospitals. October 1 also marks the start of the hospitals’ fiscal year.
Summary of all of the bills passed by the Vermont General Assembly in the past session
Meet candidates for statewide office
This Wednesday July 27th from 8-9 am, Vermont Attorney General Candidate Rory Thibault and Rep. Laura Sibilia will meet with voters in Dover at the Dover Park bandstand. The Attorney General is Vermont’s top law enforcement officer, and the person leading defense of our citizens and state policies. All are welcome to join!
Other candidates running for Attorney General are Progressive Elijah Bergman, Democrat Charity Clark and Republican H. Brooke Paige
Many thanks to Windham County Senate candidate Nader Hashim who joined me at the Wardsboro Library last Thursday to talk with voters.
Next week I will be submitting my petitions to run in 2022. Running to represent two new towns (Jamaica and Stratton) that I have not previously represented means volunteer and financial support are needed and appreciated even more then usual. Those wishing to support my campaign can request signs and make contributions on my blog site, or mail to: Laura Sibilia for VT, PO Box 2052, West Dover, VT 05356.
Kind regards,
Rep. Laura Sibilia Dover, Readsboro, Searsburg, Somerset, Stamford, Wardsboro, Whitingham
running for election in 2022 to represent Dover, Somerset, Stratton, Jamaica and Wardsboro
Vermont State Representative Laura Sibilia 