The Bernie Buzz

There is no question that these are difficult and dangerous times for the United States and the world. The problems we face are complicated and severe. But, if we work together and maintain our faith in democracy, they can be solved.

It is that time of year again. On Thursday, October 15, Medicare’s Open Enrollment season begins and will remain open through December 7. Open enrollment season is the time of year when people with Medicare can make changes to their plan.

Crop Cash gives Vermonters who receive 3SquaresVT/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits extra money to spend at participating farmers markets on local fruits, vegetables and herbs. It doubles your food benefits — for every $1 in 3SquaresVT funds you spend, you get $1 in Crop Cash to spend at the market, up to $20. Crop Cash Plus matches another $1, up to $10, on any 3SquaresVT eligible item, which expands the options to include foods such as meat, dairy and bread.

Assistance is available to help eligible Vermonters afford their heating and electric bills and weatherize their homes. There is also assistance available to repair and replace furnaces and fuel tanks. My office has put together some information about available programs and services. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of these programs and help spread the word in your communities. Nobody in Vermont should go cold in the winter.

I held a town hall with Senator Peter Welch this week to hear from Vermonters about your concerns and to answer your questions. More than 30,000 Vermonters joined by phone, and tens of thousands more from Vermont and across the country tuned in online. This was the highest number of Vermonters we have ever had listening in for a telephone town hall meeting.

I have long fought for trade policies that benefit American workers. And while targeted tariffs can be a powerful tool to stop corporations from outsourcing American jobs, Trump’s reckless, unilateral and most likely illegal move to impose a new fifty percent tariff on some $20 billion worth of Canadian goods is bad for Vermonters.