Independence Day
Today's News
Senator Sanders
Gas Prices Sen. Bernie Sanders is pushing for a federal investigation into high gas prices in the Burlington area, where pump prices are 20 cents to 30 cents higher than the national average and 7 cents higher than the state average, WPTZ-TV,WCAX-TV, Fox 44, Vermont Public Radio and the Times Argus reported. LINK, LINK,LINK, LINK, VIDEO, VIDEO
F-35 The Air Force said Tuesday there were no scoring errors in its evaluation of Burlington's suitability for the F-35 fighter jet. The Pentagon statement followed a request Monday by the Vermont congressional delegation, the Burlington Free Press reported. Sen. Sanders, who lives near the Air National Guard base, called concerns about noise "absolutely legitimate" but told WPTZ-TV he hopes the new jets will be based in Vermont. LINK, LINK
F-35 Controversy surrounding the decision to base the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Vermont could give a South Carolina base another shot at landing the futuristic fighters, The (Columbia, S.C.) State reported. LINK
The Fed In a report on the retirement of Rep. Ron Paul, a Wall Street Journal blog noted that he teamed up with Sen. Sanders to push for more transparency from the central bank. Sanders, the Journal added, has continued on his own mission to dismantle conflicts of interest on the boards of Fed regional banks. LINK
Dental Crisis Voices for Vermont's Children, a statewide consumer group raising public awareness of the need for better access to affordable dental care, gave Kiah Morris a Courage Award for helping to expand dental care for expectant mothers. She was a panelist at a town meeting sponsored by Sen. Sanders and her story was printed in his report on the Dental Crisis in America, the Bennington Banner reported. LINK
Citizens United "Sen. Sanders proposes a constitutional amendment to make it clear corporations don't have all the rights of individuals, including unfettered political spending rights. Right on, Bernie! We should all support this amendment if we want our nation to remain a democracy rather than become an oligarchy," Charles R. Putney concluded in a column published by the Bennington Banner. LINK
Paramedics A bill to extend federal benefits to the families of emergency medical technicians killed or disabled in the line of duty who work for nonprofit or volunteer ambulance services was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Jim Finger, the Vermont Ambulance Association president, praised Sens. Leahy and Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch, theRutland Herald reported. LINK
Food Labels The powerful biotech lobby informs how politicians vote, according Patty Lovera, the assistant director of Food and Water Watch. She was quoted in a National Catholic Reporter article on the Sen. Sanders' amendment to let states require food products to label whether they contain genetically engineered ingredients. LINK
Republican Ideology "The greatest ideological battle in decades was fought over a law that solidifies the position of private health-insurance companies," but because of their "burning hatred" of President Obama Republicans reacted as though we were all just herded onto collective farms ... "The next Democratic presidential nominee could be Bernie Sanders or Joe Lieberman, and his ideas would be met with precisely the same response," Paul Waldman wrote in The American Prospect. LINK
Fire Destroys Liberty Union Founder's Home A fire on Monday night destroyed the 1850s West Brattleboro home of Peter and Dorris Diamondstone. The Rutland Herald said he is "a well-known political gadfly and perennial candidate for statewide office for the left-leaning Liberty Union political party, which he helped found in 1970 and worked with a then-little-known politician called Bernie Sanders." LINK
Gay Rights Sen. Sanders is on a list of the "11 Best Senators for Gay Rights" compiled by ThinkProgress.org, the Seattle Post Intelligencer blogged. LINK
World
Physics Holy Grail A team of scientists in Geneva at the world's biggest atom smasher said Wednesday it found strong evidence of a new subatomic particle that looks like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape, The New York Times reported. LINK
Pakistan Opens Supply Lines Pakistan agreed to reopen NATO supply routes to Afghanistan after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized for 24 Pakistan soldiers killed in an American airstrike in November, The New York Times reported. LINK
National
Health Care A growing number of Republican state leaders are revolting against the major Medicaid expansion called for under President Obama's health-care overhaul. The Supreme Court opened the door Thursday when it ruled that the federal government cannot punish states that refuse to adopt the measure's more generous eligibility rules for Medicaid, The Washington Post reported. LINK
HIV Testing The FDA approved the first over-the-counter HIV test, AP reported. The test is targeted to those who wouldn't normally get tested. LINK
Vermont
Smart Meters Amid concerns from some Vermonters about the health effects of smart meters, thousands of residents are telling the state's largest electric utility thanks but no thanks when it comes to having the wireless digital devices installed on their businesses or homes. State government and utility officials say they're unconcerned, the Times Argus reported.
Taser Death In the aftermath of a state trooper killing a Thetford, Vt., man with a Taser, the Vermont Department of Mental Health and Vermont State Police agreed to work together to improve responses to persons in mental health crisis, AP reported. LINK
Health Grant The U.S Department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $5 million for Vermont health care and public health preparedness, MarketWatch reported. LINK
Call Leahy The Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale is pleading for Sen. Patrick Leahy to help nine Indonesian refugees seeking asylum holed up in the Highland Park, N.J., church where the Vermont native is the pastor and where federal agents lie in wait in the parking lot outside, the Times Argusreported.
Call Batman Sen. Patrick Leahy is in a scene in the next Batman movie, 'The Dark Knight Rises,' which will get its first public showing in Vermont. Leahy told AP he learned recently that he will appear in a scene with Christian Bale, who plays Batman, and Morgan Freeman.The movie will be screened July 15 in Williston ahead of the movie's July 20 U.S. premiere.
