Tag Archives: Public Assets Institute

Gov. Scott’s 2019 VT budget proposal: Do the numbers add up?

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In his January budget address, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott declared that Vermont has a demographic crisis. He has proposed a range of solutions, including paying young workers $5,000 to move to the state. He also announced that he is abandoning his longstanding pledge against raising taxes and fees in order to raise funds to fight e-cigarette abuse. We talk with Stephanie Yu of the Public Assets Institute about whether the governor’s numbers add up, and explore who is thriving and struggling in Vermont today, inequality, school funding, and other issues. (January 30, 2019 broadcast)

Stephanie Yu, deputy director, Public Assets Institute

State of Working VT: As inequality deepens, Gov. Scott faces self-inflicted property tax hike

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Vermont’s economy is growing slowly, but income inequality has deepened. That’s the conclusion of the State of Working Vermont 2017 report issued by Public Assets Institute. The report shows that 1 in 9 Vermonters — including 16,000 children — live in poverty. Paul Cillo, founder and president of Public Assets Institute, discusses these issues and explains how Vermont faces record property tax hikes in 2018, a crisis resulting from Gov. Phil Scott’s actions last year. (January 10, 2018 broadcast)

Paul Cillo, founder and president, Public Assets Institute

An alternative to austerity

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Are social service cuts necessary? One Vermont, a coalition of advocacy and social service groups in Vermont, argues that proposed state budget cuts will hurt the vulnerable, and can be avoided by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and lowering tax rates for all. Three advocates make the case against austerity budgets and for a progressive alternative. (April 19, 2017 broadcast)

Stephanie Yu, One Vermont Coordinator, Public Assets Institute

Dan Hoxworth, Executive Director of Capstone Community Action

Ed Paquin, Executive Director, Disability Rights Vermont

Is Gov. Scott’s budget busted?

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Gov. Phil Scott has proposed a budget that key Vt. legislators charge is out of balance, raises property taxes, is unconstitutional, and impossible to implement. Is Gov. Scott’s first budget irreparably broken? Paul Cillo, president of Public Assets Institute and a former House majority leader, discusses the politics and dollars of the new budget, and what lies behind the new politics of resentment, nationally and locally. (February 8, 2017 broadcast)

Paul Cillo, president, Public Assets Institute

Beyond Austerity: An alternative to budget cuts; Marijuana legalization & a new app to engage citizens

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Is there an alternative to austerity? As the Vermont legislature considers over $100 million in cuts to close a budget gap, One Vermont, a group of social service advocates and businesses, proposes to balance the budget without budget cuts.

Jack Hoffman, Public Assets Institute

Andrea Cohen, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility

Karen Lafayette, Vermont Low Income Advocacy Council

Julie Tessler, Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services

GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM and TECHNOLOGY 

We talk with the founder of New Grassroots, a new web app that aims to connect legislators with concerned citizens, and advocates of marijuana legalization, who are among those trying out the new approach.

Benjamin Brown, chicken farmer, founder and CEO, NewGrassroots

Matt Simon, New England Political Director, Marijuana Policy Project

Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia, 1/30/2013

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Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia, talks about the next industrial revolution, which includes corporate transparency, human rights, stopping climate change, and fly fishing. Paul Cillo of the Public Assets Institute also joins us to talk about the state of the Vermont economy.