There’s a lot going on! With most of the state in severe drought conditions, the usual October glory in Vermont is muted this year. I know the drought, along with the federal government shutdown and other bad news coming from the federal level, has many Vermonters are stressed. I’m writing to share some information and resources that I hope will be helpful. Keep reading for information about drought resources, the federal government shutdown, health care, school redistricting, and housing.
First though, I was horrified to read about the hateful, racist, and antisemitic remarks from Senator Sam Douglass and his wife on a national Young Republicans group-chat. Like nearly everyone in Vermont politics, I call on Douglass to immediately resign from his seat in the Vermont Senate. Unfortunately, he has not yet done the right thing and stepped down. This type of bigoted and mean-spirited behavior, that has become a signature for the national Republican Party, cannot be allowed in the Vermont Senate.
Drought Resources
The impact of the drought in Vermont has been severe, and especially farmers are struggling. The Agency of Natural Resources has created a good drought resource website, with information for farmers, homeowners, and the general public:
* General Drought Resources – comprehensive overview of resources
* Submit a Drought Report – to submit information on drought conditions
* Public Water Systems Drought Report Map – includes only systems that have reported conditions
* Assistance & Information for Farmers – water haulers, feed finder, funding resources, etc.
* Drought and Your Well – information on health safety for private wells
* Department of Environmental Conservation Drought Resources – environmental hazards information
* National Integrated Drought Information System – updates about drought conditions in the Northeast
Federal Government Shutdown
The impacts of the ongoing Republican shutdown of the federal government will continue to deepen, limiting access to federal government resources and programs, especially as Trump fires more federal employees who provide vital services to Americans. The government is supposed to serve the people. Trump and the Republican Congress have shut the federal government down as a weapon against federal workers, political rivals, and the American people. Vermont’s congressional delegation has been clear that the federal government should reopen and Congress should restore access to health care resources that were eliminated by the Republican Congress this summer, including federal support for health insurance premiums and Medicaid health programs. If you are a federal employee, the VT Department of Labor has created a website with information and resources for Vermonters who are federal employees and impacted by the shutdown.
Health Care Information
COVID Vaccinations. With the limitations the Trump Administration has put on access to vaccines, many folks are concerned, especially about access to the COVID vaccine. I have been in regular contact with the VT Department of Health about vaccines and other public health concerns. Fortunately, the Department has issued a standing order for pharmacies to administer the COVID vaccine and recommended that most people over 6 months of age get vaccinated. Pediatric offices were delayed in getting the COVID vaccines due to federal decisions, but according to the Department of Health, pediatricians should have the vaccines now.
Medicare Advantage Plans. Many constituents are concerned about Vermont health insurers discontinuing Medicare Advantage Plans. While these cancellations are hitting Vermont’s small health insurance especially hard, they are not unique to Vermont. They are part of a national trend for these types of plans which have been problematic for many years. However, if you want to try to enroll in one of the remaining Medicare Advantage plans, the enrollment period is October 15 – December 7. For a Medicare Supplement plan, Vermonters are eligible for “guaranteed issue open enrollment” in any plan in the Vermont Medicare Supplement market until March 4, 2026. If your Medicare Advantage plan has been discontinued, you will receive a notice in the mail from your insurer, which you should keep as proof of “guaranteed issue rights.” If you need help, below are a few resources. Note that the federal websites and helplines may be delayed or out-of-service due to the federal government shutdown.
* AgeWell’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program website or call 1-800-642-5119
* Vermont Legal Aid Office of the Health Care Advocate website or help line 1-800-917-7787
* Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Advantage Plans website or call 1-800-MEDICARE
* Medicare Plan Finder tool on the Medicare website or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
K-12 School District Redistricting Task Force
The School District Redistricting Task Force created under Act 73 is meeting regularly and has begun to discuss specific maps. They are holding a series of public hearings to gather feedback from local school officials and members of the public. See the Task Force website for the schedule of these hearings, as well as proposed maps, meeting materials, and recordings. The Task Force has also created a Vermont Education System Survey to gather feedback. If you have ideas, concerns, or hopes for the future of K-12 education in Vermont, I encourage you to complete the survey and/or attend a public hearing. Hearings have both remote and in-person access.
Speaking of hopes for the future of education, if you know a young person under age 25 who has demonstrated leadership abilities, has a passion for social justice, and is motivated to improve the quality of life in their community, consider nominating them for the John Lewis Youth Award, sponsored by the VT Secretary of State. Nominations are due November 14.
Housing and Community Development
There has been a housing shortage in Vermont for many years, but the surge in housing prices during the pandemic created a housing and homelessness crisis that continues to linger, despite state and local efforts to develop more housing. In an effort to spur housing development, last month Governor Scott issued a sweeping executive order that, among other things, would revert building codes back to earlier standards and modify protections of wetlands. While I appreciate that the Governor is actually trying to show leadership on housing initiatives, I am concerned that he’s doing so at the expense of environmental protections. In addition, several parts of the order circumvent legislative authority and overstep executive power, similar to what we’ve seen from Trump at the federal level. Legislative leaders are reviewing options, and I hope we can find a solution that spurs housing growth, protects the environment, and ensures the constitutional balance of powers.
In order to build more housing in the Addison District, we need to make sure our area takes better advantage of state resources. Recent analyses have revealed that Addison County has not benefited from many of the state programs as much as other counties in the state. I have been in discussions with state and local housing leaders to figure out how Addison County can better take advantage of state housing programs. One way is to get more people in our area to apply for state housing programs. So, if you own a manufactured home that needs updating, check out the Manufactured Housing Improvement and Repair Program and apply October 20 through November 3 for funding for home repair and foundation improvements. Further, non-profit, municipal, or regional organizations can apply for a Building Communities Grant for a variety of projects. Applications are due November 10.
Finally, I want to end with some good things happening in our community. It was so great to see how the community rallied around Juan De La Cruz and his family last week to accompany and support him during a meeting with ICE when he feared he may be deported. Hundreds of community members in the greater Vergennes area showed up for him, including dozens of high school students. I was so proud of how people supported a valued member of our community and his family during these frightening times. Also, check out coverage of two projects that are coming along in our area – the major expansion of the Otter Creek Child Center and the renovation of the Vergennes Opera House. I have been a big supporter of both projects, so I’m especially thrilled to see them nearing completion.
That’s all for now – email me if you need to be in touch. Thanks for reading and take care.
Photo Note: Photo of Winooski River by VTDigger.
Ruth for Vermont 