United Professions AFT VT was the largest contingent at the May 1^st Healthcare is a Human Right march and rally. Thousands of Vermonters  converged on the statehouse on May 1st in a demonstration to show that Vermont should be the first state to demand  healthcare as a human right.

Legislative Update  

Health Care Reform S.88 was passed out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Originally, S.88 was a bill that laid out a plan for a single payer system. The bill, as passed out of committee, is essentially a summer study bill that will produce 3 options for health care reform, which will be developed by an expert. The bill calls for a 5-person board who would choose, and work with, the expert who would develop the options - 1 appointed by tthe Speaker, 1 appointed by the President Pro Tem, 2 appointed by the Governor, and 1 appointed by the other 4 board members. The composition of this board is of great concern to the advocates, as it is heavily weighted towards the Governor, who has not been a supporter of true health care reform. The bill is currently in the Senate Appropriations committee (as there is an appropriation required). Politics are running rampant, given that 3 of the gubernatorial candidates are senators - they are all jockeying for position on this bill.

Read more for an update from our lobbyists on what's been happening at the statehouse with Health Care Reform, Higher Education, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing.