WVTK Local & State News January 20, 2011

An international health care consultant says Vermont could provide every resident with health insurance, upgrade outdated hospitals and still save money if would just adopt a single-payer health care system. A Harvard health care economist was hired by the state Legislature to come up with three designs for a new health care system. He says getting one entity - either a government agency or a private company hired by government - to process claims would save $2.1 billion in health spending by 2025. He's calling for reform of the medical malpractice system, a payroll tax to finance the system and other streamlining of the health care system.

A Brandon man charged with a beating in Leicester was ordered jailed without bail Monday. Brayton Gillett pleaded innocent in Rutland criminal court to a felony charge of aggravated assault for allegedly beating Nathan Dearing of Whiting who was brought to Porter Hospital in Middlebury Friday afternoon. Addison County State’s Attorney David Fenster asked that Gillett be held without bail because of the violent nature of the alleged crime and Gillett’s history of contempt of court charges for failures to attend court hearings.

The Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford is getting some new tools. Sen. Bernie Sanders presented the academy with a $200,000 grant for technology improvements on campus. Right now, the academy does not have wireless Internet and is only able to offer laptops to officers after graduation. These funds will provide every officer in training with a computer and update their Internet infrastructure for everyone on site.

Expanding Giorgetti Park’s facilities is once again on the city ballot. The Rutland Board of Aldermen voted this week to send a bond to the voters for building an addition to the recreation center. The motion included a provision using $400,000 from the Giorgetti trust fund to reduce the project cost from $4.3 million. The expanded facility would replace the outdated Dana Center.

Vermont's U.S. Coast Guard station in Burlington has a new tool for ice rescues on Lake Champlain. Last year Vermont's U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy helped the station secure a $260,000 ice rescue boat that can cross easily from ice to water and back again. Coast Guard officials say the airboat will extend for the first time the station's winter reach to the entire lake.

Vermont state Auditor tom Salmon says he might challenge U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders next year. Salmon is a Republican who switched to the GOP in 2009 from the Democratic Party. Salmon says he will announce his decision on whether to challenge Sanders by March 5.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says she plans to introduce federal legislation to permanently move trucks between 80,000 and 100,000 pounds off Maine and Vermont's secondary roads and onto federal interstate highways. Collins says she and Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont will introduce the bill next week.

Republican senators in Albany are rolling out a series of new bills. The majority party is proposing a tax credit for employers who hire New Yorkers with extra incentives for hiring unemployed workers. A second bill would cap state spending growth at 2 percent a year. A third bill would require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature, instead of a simple majority, on any bill that would raise taxes.

A new political group aims to make an impact here in the North Country. They'll start by holding a coordinated protest of last year's Supreme Court decision regarding Citizens United and the Federal Election Commission. The Progressive Coalition of Northern New York formed following a January 7th meeting in Beekmantown, during which citizens from Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties gathered to establish an organization promoting political reform in the North Country and beyond. Demonstrations are planned in Saranac Lake, Malone, and Plattsburgh starting at 4 PM Friday.

Time Warner Cable has repaired a problem with its digital-phone service that affected customers statewide in New York. Time Warner said yesterday that the problem was resolved late Tuesday night. According to the Essex County 911 Coordinator, part of the problem may have been with the new Time Warner 911 database.

Franklin County is being urged to pursue a 3-to-4-percent occupancy tax on guest accommodations and earmark the funds to promote tourism. The Franklin County Chamber Alliance says Franklin County is one of only a handful of New York counties that do not charge hotel and motel guests a small fee for each night they stay. Essex County and Clinton County each charge a 3-percent occupancy tax.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is celebrating a major milestone. The group exceeded the $3.5 million fundraising goal it set for its 75th anniversary. The money will create an endowment that the VSO says will ensure a strong future. Musicians stage hundreds of events a year, including statewide tours and educational programs for Vermont kids.

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ infamous December filibuster against the tax cut deal made between Washington officials will hit bookstores mid-February. An e-book edition will be available starting January 28. On December 10, Sanders delivered an eight and half hour speech on the Senate floor railing against the extension of Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans.

It's a big day for Boston Red Sox fans. The Red Sox World Series trophies from their 2004 and 2007 wins will be at the University Mall in South Burlington from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today. On top of that, people can try out to sing the National Anthem at Fenway Park. The two winners of the "Sing Your Way to Fenway" contest will qualify to compete for the special gig.