Manchester Journal: Opinion

Taxes, spending: that gaseous feeling

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:46:43 EDT

We had expected to render some sort of preliminary verdict on the actions of the state legislature this week, but the lawmakers are taking a little longer than expected to reach a decision on taxing and spending plans for the coming fiscal year before they adjourn.

Online education is no panacea

By William Schmick — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:40:17 EDT

Over the last decade, online enrollment in college classes has exploded. Many hope that it will ultimately help reduce the burgeoning future costs of a college education. The evidence, thus far, indicates that we have a long way to go.

Legislative Notebook

By Rep. Jeff Wilson — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:37:27 EDT

Well, we didn't quite make it to the finish line by the end of Week 17, but we got pretty close. The game-plan, as I write this on May 11, is to finish-up on Tuesday, May 14th - so when Journal readers peruse this column, the session should be wrapped-up.

Who gets access to tax returns?

By William Sayre — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:29:13 EDT

As often happens in Montpelier in the month of May, a little noticed provision in major piece of legislation, erupts in controversy, as lawmakers, with a little help from the people who would be affected by the new law, discover the unintended consequences of what the law proposes to do.

Legislative Notebook

Jeff Wilson — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:45:50 EDT

Editor's Note: with the Legislature nearing its last week of the session and major decisions looming on taxing and spending questions, we thought it advisable to post this week's "Legislative Notebook" to the Web site earlier than usual.

Well, we didn't quite make it to the finish line by the end of Week 17, but we got pretty close. The game-plan, as I write this on May 11th, is to finish-up on Tuesday, May 14th -- so when Journal readers peruse this column, the session should be wrapped-up.

Legislative Notebook

Rep. Cynthia Browning — Thu, 9 May 2013 15:35:29 EDT

This column is about S. 77 "An Act Relating to Patient Control and Choice at the End of Life," which is also known as Physician Assisted Suicide or Death with Dignity. By the time this is in the paper the fate of this legislation may have been determined. But I have heard from so many constituents on this issue that I will provide my perspective on this matter.

Where others fear to tread

William Schmick — Thu, 9 May 2013 15:29:50 EDT

In the wake of across the board government spending cuts, this month President Obama proposed a new R&D initiative aimed at mapping the brain. Critics immediately balked over the $100 million price tag, but those protests may be penny-wise but pound foolish given some of the breakthroughs government has achieved in the past.

Death with Dignity

Wed, 8 May 2013 19:42:42 EDT

Once again, the Vermont Legislature is tackling the tricky and controversial issue of "Death with Dignity," or "physician assisted suicide" as its opponents prefer to refer to it. It's one of those morally complex subjects that doesn't easily admit of a clear right-or-wrong answer, and deals with a subject most of us don't particularly care to think about much - our own mortality.

Greening Up

Wed, 8 May 2013 19:40:29 EDT

We'd like to offer a tip of the hat to the folks who organized the planting of the new trees along Main Street and in the Roundabout. The downtown are had been looking a bit bare around the edges without them. Now, it's possible to recall and look forward to the day when once again, Main Street will be a shady boulevard in the summer sun. Plus, they are already "sprucing up" - pardon the pun - the section around the two roundabouts.

Editorial Cartoon

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 12:13:08 EST

by Sandy Read

Editorial cartoon

The Manchester Journal — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:43:52 EST

Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 by Sandy Read