My advice to Senator Al Franken

Congressional Quarterly just interviewed me about Al Franken becoming a Senator tomorrow.

Here's part of what I said:

My advice to comedian Franken is to remember that while he may be the funniest one at the club (and he is, I love Al Franken), he'll never be as funny as the chair of his committee. Especially if he wants to get the last laugh.

I've also had colleagues complain to me when I've spoken on the floor or in committee, "Jason, I heard what you had to say, and I was very disappointed. You weren't funny."

Click here for the full story.

Farm-to-Plate Gains National Spotlight!

Vermont leads the way, yet again. The national spotlight will soon fall on the new “Farm-to-Plate” initiative, which aims to strengthen the “Buy Local” movement in Vermont.

Several hundred politicians, funders, and policy experts around the country will be learning about this successful legislation through a national webinar.

Click HERE to join the webinar on Monday, June 29, 2009 at noon EST, or log onto https://rwjf.webex.com/rwjf/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=576340765.

Co-authors of this legislation, Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) and Rep. Christopher Bray (D-New Haven) will share how we developed their program which leverages federal stimulus funds designed to create new jobs in Vermont, and also all of the many players who were involved in this effort.

If you don't have internet, you can also call into the webinar (you just won't get to see our fabulous PowerPoint presentation) at 866-469-3239, and enter access code 576-340-765#. If you use this method, the conference organizers at the Robert Wood Foundation request that you email them (or me and I'll pass it along), your contact information so that they can keep tabs on who's interested in this information.

Press Release -- Rep. Lorber & Rep. Bray

Vermont’s Farm-to-Plate Law Lands National Spotlight

Rep. Lorber & Rep. Bray to be Featured

Vermont leads the way, yet again. The national spotlight will soon fall on the new “Farm-to-Plate” initiative, which aims to strengthen the “Buy Local” movement in Vermont.

Several hundred politicians, funders, and policy experts around the country will be listening to two Vermont State Representatives on Monday, June 29 through a national webinar. The principal architects of Vermont’s new law, Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) and Rep. Christopher Bray (D-New Haven) will share insights of how they developed their program, which leverages federal stimulus funds designed to create new jobs in Vermont.

“Farm-to-Plate is a prime example of how to stimulate the economy in a socially responsible way,” said Lorber, who serves on the VT House Commerce & Economic Development Committee. “We designed Farm-to-Plate to not only spur the Buy Local movement and create jobs, but also to strengthen the environment and Vermont’s farms and working landscape.”

“While Vermont is a strong agricultural state, we still purchase 97% of our food from out of state at an annual cost of $2.6 billion,” said Bray, who serves on the VT House Agriculture Committee. “As we rebuild our food system, we will not only keep more food dollars in Vermont and strengthen our farm economy, but because these dollars circulate locally, we will also strengthen our entire rural economy.”

The Farm-to-Plate Initiative will bolster Vermont’s local food system by quantifying market potential and pin-pointing critical bottlenecks, especially infrastructure needs and distribution systems. The Strategic Food System Plan, which will be one of the main deliverables from this initiative during its first year, will help determine where future investments should be made, thereby producing more jobs and agricultural economic activity.

“Buying whole local foods also delivers health benefits,” continued Bray. “In the long run, the economic value of the health benefits to Vermonters may exceed the agricultural value.”

The webinar is being coordinated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “Leadership for Healthy Communities.” This program focuses on increasing access to healthy foods and spurring economic investment.

The one-hour June 29, 2009 webinar at noon is open to all. See posting above for connection details.

To craft and pass the Farm-to-Plate bill into law, Lorber and Bray worked with their respective committees, dozens of legislators, and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Rural Vermont, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and other regional and state food groups throughout Vermont.

# # #

Get out & push!

On June 2, 2009, history was made.

It was the first time that the governor of the state of Vermont ever vetoed a budget. It was quite a disappointment. Negotiations broke down, and a compromise couldn't be reached.

But I joined with more than 2/3 of the House and Senate in over-riding the Governor's veto.

The way I see it, we're all in the family car, out of gas, and we must make it up the hill. Everyone pushes, even Grandma. That's what the budget we passed does.

Some opponents of this approach say that Buddy, the strongest person in the car, shouldn't be asked to help, because he might defect to New Hampshire.

I say that the rule is, "Less whining, more pushing."

VT #1 in Insurance (again)

Vermont was named the #1 state for insurance, for the second year in a row, according to a report from the Heartland Institute.

Sexy stuff, right?

Well, yes, if you think lower taxes are sexy. Insurance companies are a big industry in Vermont, especially in captive markets (that's basically companies who self-insure). And that means big tax revenues for Vermont (which means lower taxes for the rest of Vermonters). We all win.

Which is why we passed legislation this year that bolsters the insurance industry. That's another way that the Legislature is making Vermont better for business.

Save VT's Car Dealers!

Vermont car dealers need help. Ten failed this year, and only 88 remain.

I'm working with my committee on a bill that will protect them from the Big Manufacturers.

The bill is S.51 and it looks likely to pass next week. Keep your fingers crossed...!


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Update: May 8 -- the bill passed two days ago and was sent to the Governor for his signature (which is widely expected). Below are links to two articles on the subject:

Free Press: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090508/BUSINESS/905080303/Bill+would+aid+Vermont+auto+dealers

Times Argus:
http://www.timesargus.com/article/20090506/NEWS/905069997/1002/NEWS01

What about the kids, when parents are arrested?

It wasn't planned.  

But when I testified last week in the House of Representatives about a bill protecting children when their parents are arrested, a voice from the back of room spoke up.  It was an 18-year-old Girl Scout, who happened to be there to visit the State House on an unrelated matter.

She asked, "Do you want to hear from the voice of a child?"  

The Chairwoman of the committee was surprised, but invited her to speak.  And so she did, saying that she hadn't planned to tell her story for the first time in public, no less here to the Legislature.

Bravely, with great force and candor, she articlulated clearly the toll it took upon her when her father had been arrested when she was seven years old.  Her testimony was not only very moving, it was indicative of how widespread this issue is.  For thousands like her, I believe that we must improve our policies.

Please read the article below, which includes this note:

"In Winooski last year, according to Graham, police arrested a woman while her 14-year-old child was at school. The boy returned to an empty house, where he subsisted alone for more than two weeks before school officials began to ask questions."

http://www.timesargus.com/article/RH/20090419/NEWS03/904190377/0/NEWS02

Marriage Equality

On Tuesday, April 7, Vermont became the first state in the nation to create marriage equality for gay men and lesbians, by an act of the Legislature.

We did this by over-riding the Governor's veto, with 100 votes in the House.

Stan Baker, a gay rights pioneer and friend, shares a victory hug here with me moments after passage.

He asked me, "How are you feeling?"

My answer, "Equal."

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Building Vermont's Economy

We can’t depend only on Washington and the federal stimulus package to see our way through this recession. Vermont is going to see its way through this storm. We will do that by working together creating jobs in the short-term, and building our infrastructure for long-term growth.

I've also been working on an economic development omnibus bill with my committee that creates new ways to strengthen our economy, along with investments in low-income entrepreneurs, renewed investment in the green economy, and strategies on how Vermont can get the most out of President Obama's Federal Stimulus Program.

Today, we passed a tentative bill out of our committee, knowing that much more work is needed before final passage.

Don't Blagojevich Me

I haven't been sleeping well. I'm worried about this guy: Blagojevich. And it's not just his hairdo.

We all know the adage: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Well in Illinois, the governor has the absolute power to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. And we all know how that one turned out, now don't we.

In Vermont, the governor has the absolute power to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. And I believe we need to change that.

I authored a bill to do just that -- give the power back to the voters.

See the Burlington Free Press article on the subject:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090227/NEWS03/902270309

Farm-to-Plate

Vermonters import over $2 billion worth of food every year. We should be buying much more locally. If we could grab just 10% of that imported food source, we'd create thousands of Vermont jobs.

This isn't just about supporting agriculture in Vermont. It's about jobs, and commerce.

So it's only fitting that as a member of the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee, I teamed up with Representative Christopher Bray from the House Agriculture comittee. We co-authored a bill that will create more local businesses for Vermont farmers, food processors, distributors, storage suppliers, and much more.

Called the Farm-to-Plate bill, it has the full support of two great non-profit organizations: Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and Rural Vermont.

See the news articles here:

Fox TV News: http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=9852326


WCAX, Channel 3: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=9852218&nav=menu183_2


WPTZ, Channel 5: http://www.wptz.com/money/18727322/detail.html

Marriage Equality for All

Marriage Equality will be a hot topic in March.

I fully expect that it will pass in the Senate and the House, too.

As a co-sponsor of the bill (and as someone who will happily upgrade my civil union certificate to a marriage certificate with the wonderful man I've shared 10 years with), the vote will not come soon enough.

PS. Happy Valentine's Day

Vermont 3.0

How do you create hi tech jobs in Vermont?

You build the infrastructure, meaning you invest in high quality education, a well qualified work force, and you focus on "sticky businesses," meaning business that are particularly well suited to being in Vermont.

That was according to the five CEOs from Vermont tech companies that testified in a packed crowd in the State House today.

See and hear their discussion by clicking here:

http://www.vermont3.com/2009/02/vermont-30-legislative-forum-roundup-and-video.html

Time to Bond Now

Mom is thrilled.

Since I was assigned to the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee, she says, "Finally, your MBA from Stanford will be put to good use!"

While I'll stay involved in the prison reform legislation that I've helped write the past four years, and continue to push for more prison reform -- including supporting children of incarcerated parents -- my primary focus turns to Vermont jobs and limiting, if not reversing, the challenges of the recession in Vermont.

We must halt the slow-down in our economy with new jobs and a stimulus plan. House Speaker Shap Smith proposed a key piece of that plan on Jan. 7.

I wrote an editorial about it, including several reasons why the timing is ideal now to issue more state bonds.

You can read it here:


http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090118/FEATURES15/901180307/-1/RSS10

Governor Proposes Harmful Cuts

When times get tough, we need to stick together. As the State of Vermont faces an enormous budget crisis (like the rest of the nation) we need to remember our commitment to the most vulnerable Vermonters.

Do you think it's time to dip into the Rainy Day Fund? Or should we go ahead and make real cuts right now that will have multiplier effects to our economy and that may have long-lasting damaging effects, and will likely immediately work to raise college tuition, hurt working Vermonters, and cut vital services to children, the elderly, the poor, and so many of our environmental, forestry, and other vital projects.

Lorber Named 2008 Public Official of the Year

REP. LORBER NAMED PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
BY VERMONT SOCIAL WORKERS

Lorber, Other Award Winners to be Honored at Annual Conference

Oct. 22, 2008 -- Montpelier, VT -- Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) was named 2008 Public Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers -- Vermont Chapter (NASW-VT), for his work on behalf of children whose parents are sent to prison.

In addition to Lorber's award, NASW-VT also recognized Ellen Fein, a licensed clinical social worker in Montpelier, as Social Worker of the Year, and Mark Hage, with the Vermont Education Association, as Public Citizen of the Year for his leadership and the work of the Vermont Campaign for Healthcare Security and Education Fund in expanding access to state-supported health insurance programs for all Vermonters.

"In these troubling economic times, the role and perspective of social workers are increasingly important," said Rilla Murray, executive director of the NASW-VT. "We particularly appreciate of the leadership of Rep. Jason Lorber, Ellen Fein, and Mark Hage and the Vermont Campaign. Each has supported the values of the social work profession, served the cause of social justice and provided inspiration to others in meeting challenges.”

"When parents are sent to jail, we have a moral responsibility to minimize the harm done to their children," said Lorber. "Those kids need to know that they did nothing wrong. We need to know that, too. And we need to take action."

Lorber worked closely with Director of Kids-A-Part Tara Graham, Rep. Sandy Hass (P-Rochester), and other key legislators on bills dubbed "Remember the Children" legislation. Lorber's leadership was critical in passing a new law in 2008 that requires the Vermont Department of Corrections to investigate how many thousands of Vermont children are affected by their parents' incarceration, and calls upon several agencies to recommend safeguards and improvements.

It Passed!

Legislation that I’ve been working on for the past three years became law this month.

It’s a prison reform measure that will save millions of dollars for Vermonters, improve community safety, and avert us from sending hundreds of inmates out of state (and our dollars with them).

It's been heralded as one of the defining pieces of legislation for the year. As it should be, especially given the context of Vermont's crime and prison outlook.

Vermont has a low and declining rate of crime, yet we continue to lock up more and more people, many for non-violent offenses. Despite the countless studies that demonstrate more cost-effective ways to deal with crime, Vermont government still needlessly spends tens of millions of dollars in added costs each year. But that’s going to start changing in a dramatic way. The new law, called Justice Reinvestment, will provide more alternatives to incarceration than we currently have by investing in drug and alcohol treatment programs, transitional housing, and community-based solutions.

It aims to reduce recidivism -- known as repeat customers to the prison system -- and is estimated to save, in reduced prison costs alone, $50-to-$200 million dollars over ten years. That’s some long-term planning and benefits that are well overdo. Justice Reinvestment seed money will come from the reorganization ofour prisons. The savings produced from Justice Reinvestment plus the prison reorganization savings will fuel not only further investments inalternatives to incarceration, it will provide tens of millions ofdollars left over to benefit tax-payers.

The key to the success of this effort stemmed from how we approached it from the get-go. Knowing that there were potential political landmines, we started out by involving not only all three political parties in Vermont, but also by involving all three branches of government --judicial, executive, and legislative. That’s extremely unusual inVermont. The end-result was a comprehensive bill that had overwhelming support.

Investing in alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders will not only save us millions, it will also make our communities safer.

Nuclear Decommissioning

Today the House passed S.373. I was proud to vote for this bill, which is a vote to protect Vermonters in the event that the Vermont Yankee nuclear will be decommissioned.

Now, it's up to the Governor to act.

The Gay Tax

Oh, hadn't you heard of the Gay Tax? It's one of the casualities of not having marriage equality for gay men and lesbians. To hear a commentary about the Gay Tax that I aired, click here:

Vermont Public Radio

Fresh Milk in Vermont

The House of Representatives will vote this week on H.616, a bill I co-sponsored that would allow unpateurized milk to flow more freely in Vermont.

If passed, this law will milk the trend toward buying local, foster more neighborly contact, help Vermont's small farms, and preserve a great way of life here in Vermont.

Plus, it will make cows happier (well, at least they'll be selling their milk for more).

More Education for Offenders

It’s not just a coincidence. Over 90% of young male adults who are in prison have no high school education. Here in Vermont, we’re currently doing something about that and thanks to pending legislation (H.135), we may soon be doing even more.

First, some background. Did you know that the Community High School of Vermont (CHSVT) is the state’s largest high school? Last year CHSVT became the nation’s first prison-based school to become accredited. That was a big deal. But it’s a bigger deal that offenders who get an education have lower recidivism levels. That's why we need more educational programming in our prisons.

Our committee hopes to pass a bill that mandates education for incarcerated men and women without a high school diploma until their 26th birthday (current law says up to their 23rd birthday). For those housed in Vermont prisons, they'll be required to attend CHSVT. For Vermont's inmates who are housed in other states (due to overcrowding), they'll be required to attend classes if such classes are offered (which aren't as good as schooling in Vermont, but it's still much better than no schooling).

The cost for all of this? Either nothing or a negligible amount, says the Department of Corrections (DOC), because we’ve already got the staff – adding the students is free or practically free. With more education, DOC believes that these offenders will be more successful reintegrating into society and getting jobs, and we’ll all benefit from that.

Remember the Children

What happens to a child when Dad or Mom is incarcerated? Do children get to see their parents? What if the parents are sent out-of-state to serve their time? Who cares for the children? Who pays for the care of the children? And what rights do the children have?

Those were some of the questions that were asked last fall at an overflowing conference in Vermont that focused on the needs of children of incarcerated parents.

This week, I'll be presenting three bills that I've authored, one on my own, and two with Rep. Sandy Haas (P-Rochester). Those bills H.734, H.735, and H.736, together with S.253 from Senators Miller, Condos, and Snelling are being called the "Remember the Children" legislation.

Remember the Children legislation calls upon key governmental agencies to focus on the needs of children when parents are arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned. One of the bills calls for a Children's Bill of Rights. The goal is to spark a discussion and find solutions that address the needs of these unintended victims of crime.

Click here for a news article that today discussed this important issue.

Hemp

I was proud to be a co-sponsor of the Hemp bill, H.267, which just passed the House of Representatives last week with tri-partisan support.

Now before you get too excited, please realize that this bill does not legalize marijuana. That's a common misconception. Instead, it calls for allowing production of industrial hemp.

Industrial hemp is not marijuana. In fact, you'd have to smoke several HUNDRED pounds of hemp to get a buzz.

The bill we passed simply says that farmers should be allowed to benefit from the production of hemp, once the Federal Government gives the go-ahead.

Will the Feds do that? My crystal ball is agnostic on that one. But the more states that standup to paranoia and misunderstanding, the more likely it will happen.

So, we took that first step forward. And perhaps once again, Vermont will lead the country.

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year!

I have many resolutions this year, including spending more time with Max (who’s now 19-months old), making more movies, doing more standup comedy, and finding time (somehow!) to ski at least a few days this winter.

Politically, I’m working on many issues. And one of my big legislative resolutions is to pass a bill that accomplishes three things: (1) make Vermont communities safer, (2) save taxpayer dollars (particularly on prison expenses), and (3) encourage alternatives to incarceration for many of our locked up Vermonters. Doing all three at once will be the jackpot, not only because of making such measures politically successful, but also because all three goals go hand-in-hand.

What many people don't realize is that putting more people in jail doesn't necessarily make us safer. That's partly because most of the people in prison get out. The vast majority only serve a year or two. And more than half of them end up back in prison within three years of getting released.

What we do not need is repeat "customers" for our prisons. Instead, let's find a way to get to the root causes of why so many of them continually commit crimes. For many of them, it's related to an alcohol or drug addiction that they have.

New laws and community programs will save us all money in the long run, and will make Vermont a better, safer, and more humane place to live.

Last week was the first one for the Legislature, which runs Jan. to May, give or take a couple of weeks. Campaign finance reform and renewable energy are among many hot issues to watch out for.

Viva Espresso Visit

Join myself and Rep. Rachel Weston on Tues., Dec. 18 from 3-4 p.m. at Viva Espresso, a neighborhood café at 197 N. Winooski Ave., as we discuss our plans for the coming legislative session. This continues our ongoing informal meetings with our neighbors and constituents. If you can't make this one, hopefully you can make one in the coming months.

The legislature meets again on Jan. 8 and will end in mid-May, give or take a couple of weeks.

Verizon Sale?

Below is a copy of an open letter sent to the Vermont Public Service Board:

******************************************************************************************

December 9, 2007

Vermont Public Service Board
112 State Street (Chittenden Bank Building)

Drawer 20

Montpelier, VT 05620-2701

re: Proposed Sale of Verizon to FairPoint

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to you about the current proposed sale of Verizon to FairPoint. I am very concerned that the Vermont Department of Public Service, the Maine Public Advocate, the New Hampshire Consumer Advocate, the staff of the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission and the AARP have all recommended that state regulators deny the transaction as proposed because it places consumers and communities at significant risk. I am also very concerned about the potential job losses to hard working Vermonters.

As the Vermont Public Service Board nears the end of its regulatory review of the proposed sale of Verizon's operations to FairPoint, I urge you to ensure that Vermonters are protected adequately and that all of the critical concerns that have been voiced be addressed.

Sincerely,

Jason P. Lorber

Vermont State Representative

Green Mountain Care

Did you hear the news? Vermont is number one in the nation when it comes to healthcare, according to the United Health Foundation.

They cite a high vaccination rate, lower smoking rate, lower obseity rate, and a higher percentage of Vermonters with healthcare coverage than most other states.

Our challenge is to continue our work on ensuring that ALL Vermonters have healthcare coverage and that costs are lowered for each of us. A step in that direction is the new Green Mountain Care, subsidized in part by State Government. If you are one of the 65,000 uninsured Vermonters, Green Mountain Care may be for you. Check it out by visiting http://www.greenmountaincare.org/ or call 800-260-8427.

General Update

Happy Halloween.

As many of you already know, the Vermont Legislature meets as an entirety only from January to May, give or take a few weeks. But there’s a lot of legislative activity during the remaining months.

Over the summer and now fall, I’ve been to many meetings, spoken with constituents, researched bills, and been to prison (as part of research, really). Here’s a sampling of what I’ve been up to:

My visit to the Community Health Center on Riverside Avenue was informative. It’s amazing how they’ve grown over the years, now with state-of-the-art equipment, offering tremendous services to low-income and some middle-income families and individuals.

The Labor Day rally was fun to march in, and my one-year-old Max enjoyed it too, including the ice cream and burgers afterwards. He didn’t get as much out of hearing Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch, and many union representatives speak as I did. Hot topics discussed included raising the minimum wage and ensuring that all Vermonters and Americans have healthcare, and the outrageous human and financial costs of the Iraq war to Americans and Vermonters.

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Saving Vermont taxpayers tens of millions of dollars while making society safer is the goal of one of my biggest legislative efforts. I’m continuing to hear testimony work toward that end.

I’ve also sat down with business leaders from Burlington and Chittenden County to hear what issues are on their mind: rising health care costs, the challenge of increasing sales, finding qualified job applicants, containing overall costs, among other issues.

I’ve also been involved in several other issues and work, including the Vermont State Hospital and caring for Vermonters with mental health challenges, children of incarcerated parents, global warming and environmentally visionary legislation, racial profiling, and fairer taxes for low-income and middle-income Vermonters, among others. There's lots to do before the next Legislative session begins on January 8. Stay tuned....

Pork-Free Grants for Non-Profits

I usually don’t like pork. Some pork is okay, like bacon. But just plain old pork, or even ham – it’s just not to my taste.

In the legislative realm, pork takes on a whole different meaning. Legislative pork means doling out government dollars for pet projects of individual legislators. While what’s pork to some is money well-spent to others, much is left open to debate. That’s why it’s good to separate government spending from political interests as much as possible. How to do that of course is the big challenge.

I am proud to say that three years ago, my first year as a Citizen Legislator, we passed into law what many of us called “The Pork Reduction Act.” What the bill did was shift the doling out of about a million dollars of capital funds from the legislators (myself included) to a nonpartisan committee of individuals in charge of “Building Communities Grants.”

Today, those results are yielding better government and stronger communities. Do you know of a worthy nonprofit who needs to install new heating systems, bathrooms, or finish other long-lasting projects? If so, there are several options for grants available to them:

Click here: http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/news_and_links.htm and then click on "BGS Grants" (due Oct. 1), or

Click here: http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/Default.aspx?tabid=217 (due Oct. 15), or

Click here: http://www.historicvermont.org/ for barns and historic sites (due Oct. 2).

They could get up to $25,000 for filling out a few pieces of paper. And they don’t have to lobby any politicians either. How’s that for kosher?

"The Simpsons" in Vermont

The Simpsons in Springfield, Vermont.

Springfield, Vermont took the national headlines today when it was chosen to be the home of "The Simpsons," yes, the TV Cartoon. I voted for it and told my friends to vote for it (but only several hundred of my closest ones).

In anticipation of that, I was actually in Springfield, a mere 119 miles south of Burlington. I didn't get to eat donuts (Homer would be displeased). But I did get to go to prison. It was part of my role on the Vermont Corrections Oversight Committee, where we focus on improving Vermont's prisons and jails. I spoke with a couple of inmates who pleaded for more support for mental health counciling, while they praised the service and support they received there. I've now been to 5 of Vermont's 9 correctional facilities, and will continue my visits, research, and legislation to reform our prison system.

Why So Many Black Vermonters Behind Bars?

Why are there so many black Vermonters imprisoned? And why are we so afraid to discuss this question?

Just asking the question raises the hackles of many. And for good reason – because asking the question means that we’re talking about race. But here in Vermont, one of the whitest states in the nation, we’re hardly immune from racism. It’s virtually impossible to have a justice system that’s blind to race. It’s time we named and addressed the inequities in our systems.

To that end, I attended a meeting on May 23rd with community leaders on issues of race, incarceration, and racial profiling. Present were about 50 people, a third of whom were African-Americans, recent immigrants from Africa, and other people of color. My hat goes off to Chittenden County State’s Attorney TJ Donovan who convened the meeting and community advocate Hal Colston who brought the issue to TJ’s attention.

We discussed how blacks are arrested and incarcerated at rates many times that of whites in Vermont, and that the state lacks basic data or systems to track what critics call rampant racial profiling. I’m pleased that Rep. Kurt Wright (R-Burlington), publicly offered to work with me on drafting legislation to address these concerns, and I’ve already had discussions with Mr. Colston, the executive director of the Human Rights Commission, and the head of Vermont’s ACLU, and several others on how best to proceed. The ball is rolling, and I’m heartened that community-based groups of people of color plan to take the lead on this matter, with participation from law enforcement, Corrections staff, and other key stakeholders.

Next step: the Citizens for Social Justice will be meeting on June 20 at noon at the Fletcher Free Library in downtown Burlington. I'll be attending to discuss this issue further. You're invited.

7 Leg. Highlights of 2007

The Vermont legislature is wrapped up for another year. Rather than run down the several hundred votes we took, I'll just highlight seven from this year:

1. Thinking Big on Prison Reform
2. Fighting Global Warming
3. Education Spending (and killing the Governor's Caps)
4. Protecting Transgender Vermonters
5. Taking a Stand Against the Iraq War, and for Impeachment
6. e-Vermont
7. More Local Chicken Dinners (seriously)

Thinking Big on Prison Reform

Bold success may be around the corner for prison reform in Vermont. I'm talking about (a) making society safer, while (b) reducing the number of people incarcerated, and (c) freeing up our taxpayer dollars. Can it be done? I say YES, but only if we approach it in a non-partisan, non-political way. Impossible you say? Then I plan to prove your pessimism wrong. To back up my assertion is the fact that there is agreement from all three branches of government to address these goals. After much work behind the scenes, we assembled a meeting of our Republican Governor, Democratic leaders House Speaker Gaye Symington and Senate Leader Peter Shumlin, and Chief Justice Paul Reiber of the Vermont Supreme Court, along with 60 of their closest friends (myself included). This summer we will be meeting with the Justice Center of the Council of State Governments to create a plan achieve these three goals. The Justice Center found success in other states around the country, and now we've enlisted their help here in Vermont. This could be huge, and I'll continue to work closely on this project.

Fighting Global Warming

Mixed results here. First, we passed a strong forward-thinking bill to not only begin to address climate change / global warming, but also create jobs and save the Vermonters on their energy costs. Big kudos go to my district mate Rep. Rachel Weston for her work on this plan. The only catch? It's not free -- it requires an investment. To pay for it, we increased the fee akin to a property tax so that Vermont's nuclear energy company pays the same rate that wind turbines must pay. Fair's fair. The Governor threatens a veto on this bill, without offering an alternative funding source. What does it mean when people say that they're against global warming, but when push comes to shove, they're against funding the effort? Please let the Governor know your thoughts by calling him at 800-649-6825 or 802 828-3333. Urge him to sign this critical and inventive legislation. Or join VPIRG (www.vpirg.org).

Education Spending (and killing the Governor's Caps)

We passed an education spending reform bill that first and foremost kills the Governor's proposal to cap spending. I believe that those caps would have been terribly detrimental to Vermont's children, including here in Burlington. Instead, we passed a bill that puts into motion several critical studies so that we can get the information needed to address some of the cost drivers for education. With more knowledge, we can make better decisions. Plus, the studies should yield results before we enact a new system of voting in certain towns. That system will then put pressure on school boards who spend more than the statewide average to address their spending. This new system of voting will not affect Burlington, since our school district spends less than the statewide average.

Protecting Transgender Vermonters

By a whopping vote in the House of 118-28, we passed a bill outlawing discrimination based on gender identity, protecting Vermont's transgender communities. I worked hard on successfully signing up more than half of the House's Representatives to sponsor this bill. We ended up compromising slightly with the Governor on this bill (remember he vetoed a similar bill last year!), but frankly, the changes are minimal. This is a new law that we can all be proud of, and frankly, it's long overdue.

Taking a Stand Against the Iraq War, and for Impeachment

We didn't spend a lot of time making a statement on the national scene, but we had our voices heard. The Vermont legislature voted to tell Washington that we want our troops to come home starting now. We also had a debate on presidential impeachment, which I supported, but which didn't pass. Nevertheless, the debate on these contentious issues were respectful.

e-Vermont

Look for better internet coverage throughout the state, due to a tri-partisan bill that will help the more rural parts of our state. Who says Vermont doesn't mean business?!

More Local Chicken Dinners (seriously)

Rubber chicken jokes aside (for now), we passed bills promoting locally grown food, including teaching children more about agriculture, nutrition, and buying dinner close to home. The law also allows restaurants to serve locally grown chickens, bypassing certain meat inspection criteria. Sound risky? Well, it's no fowl move. According to the farmers, their procedures are a lot safer than some you'd see at a slaughter house. Vermont joins a flock of many other states in this movement. Cluck, cluck, cluck.

If you have questions about any specific bill or issue, or suggestions for next year, please let me know. We're back in session from January to May, give or take a couple of weeks. But even though it's summer, the political duties continue -- right now I'm working on a bill to address the concern over racial profiling (there was an article about it in yesterday's Burlington Free Press). More to come.

Best,
Jason

PS. This summer, besides continuing my work on prison reform, which includes meetings in Montpelier and elsewhere, I'll be performing my standup comedy, appearing in a play, making several films, and of course, spending lots of quality family time with Nat and Max (who is one year old as of today).

New Sex Offender Registry

Vermont has some of the most effective, tough, and sane laws on sex offenders in the nation. Below is an advance shortened press release from the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence:

VERMONT NETWORK

APPLAUDS LEGISLATURE’S WORK

ON NEW SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY BILL

May 18, 2007 -- The Vermont legislature last week passed a law that will expand Vermont’s sex offender registry requirements for high-risk, untreated perpetrators of sexual violence who are currently incarcerated.

“Vermont has some of the best laws in the country to deal with the epidemic of sexual violence. These laws have been carefully and thoughtfully crafted to protect the safety and rights of victims, to enhance the safety of our communities, and to reflect national best practices in treating and supervising those who commit crimes of sexual violence,” stated Karen Tronsgard-Scott, director of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Vermont crime statistics indicate that more than 97% of crimes of sexual violence reported to Vermont law enforcement in 2005 were committed by someone known to the victim. Much attention nationally has been focused on aggressive campaigns supporting very lengthy mandatory minimum sentences and extensive residency restrictions for sex offenders. These public policy approaches fail to consider the true nature of sexual violence in our communities, and can in fact backfire and result in less accountability for those who commit these heinous crimes.

Lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for crimes of sexual violence in Vermont would likely result in more acquittals for perpetrators of sexual violence. The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence opposes lengthy mandatory minimum sentences, stating: “Long mandatory minimum sentences can have a number of negative consequences that serve to decrease, rather than increase, public safety. For example, lengthy mandatory minimum sentences sometimes result in prosecutors not filing charges or filing charges for a lesser crime than a sex offense, as well as increased plea bargains down to a lesser crime. Similarly, judges or juries may be less inclined to convict a defendant on a sex offense because of the mandatory minimum sentence.... All of these possible negative consequences can result in fewer sex offenders being prosecuted and/or tracked….” (www.naesv.org)

Vermont passed several new provisions in the past two years that deal sensibly and comprehensively with the issue of sexual violence.

See www.vtnetwork.org for the full press release and more details.

Correcting Corrections -- Community High School of Vermont

Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) interviews Bob Lucenti and others about the Community High School of Vermont, the state's largest high school and the nation's first and only high school dedicated to schooling inmates and former inmates that has received national accredidation.

Click Here to See This TV Episode

Jay Leno vs. Jason Lorber

Seven Days had an interesting spin on my hosting the TV show "Correcting Corrections." They uh..."compared me" to Jay Leno. Check out the first sentence in this article: here.

Correcting Corrections: Community Partners

Guests for Correcting Corrections, a TV show dedicated to improving Vermont's Correctional System of prisons and jails:

- Rita Whalen McCaffrey, Dismas of Vermont

- Cara Gleason, Northern Lights

- Hal Colston, NeighborKeepers

This show's guests spoke about reducing crime by providing former inmates and some of the marginalized citizens of our society with support and job skills to make them productive members of society.

To hear an audio version of this show, click here:

http://www2.cctv.org/rss/index.php?id=580

Fighting Global Warming

I love the snow. I'm always sad when it melts. I just hope that it comes back next year, and the year after. But there is always that threat of global warming.

We can't do anything about it, can we? Well certainly not with that attitude (I think I just aged 30 years having said that).

Here in Vermont, important progress is being made on our short-term goal of creating Vermont jobs that address climate change, which will hopefully lead us to our long-term vision of stopping global warming.

The House Natural Resources Committee (where my seat-mate Rep. Rachel Weston is leading the good fight) just last week passed a bill called the Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act (personally, I think it could have used a snappier name, but it's fairly descriptive). The bill still has a lot of maneuvering before it can pass the whole House of Representatives, but I wanted to give you a heads up on this important legislation.

While this House bill aims to create more in-state, renewable electric sources (and jobs), the Senate is working on making power more efficient. The plan is that the two bills will be married into one major Climate Change Action Bill (again, they didn't consult me on the naming of the bills).

Here's some highlights of the House bill:

● Creating a clear goal: 25 by 25. That means that by the year 2025, Vermont will produce 25% of its energy consumed via renewable energy sources from Vermont’s farms and forests.

● Revising commercial building energy standards so that our buildings are built to the highest efficient standards possible.

● Investigating the use of smart electric meters, which tell consumers the best (and cheapest) time of day to consume energy.

● Creating a plan for wind developers that establishes a clear and predictable tax policy for newly built renewable power generation plants.

● Requiring all utilities to offer voluntarily green pricing options, or the ability to contribute to the clean energy fund.

● Creating a solar tax credit.


Remember, those are just some of the highlights.

Patient Choice / Death with Dignity

Governor Madeleine Kunin (right) in an ad supporting patient choice and Death with Dignity.
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One bill of many that I support is H.44. It is focused on patient choice and control at the end of life. Some have called this issue Death with Dignity, and some have even termed it Life with Dignity. In any case, H.44 was passed by the House Human Services Committee and I believe that it will eventually move the full House for a vote.

Last month I saw hundreds (yes hundreds) of supporters and opponents of the bill fill the State House. They stayed for hours to give their testimony, and what I heard was people speaking passionately from their hearts. I was deeply moved. They spoke about how the bill give terminally ill, mentally competent Vermonters who have been diagnosed with less than six months to live, the option to request prescription medication, which, if taken, would hasten the dying process.

The bill has many safeguards in place to ensure that this process is responsible and will not lead to the problems that many opponents articulated. The bill stipulates that only a patient who is a Vermont resident can initiate a request for the prescription, and the request must be both written and verbal and reiterated after a 15-day waiting period. The request may be rescinded at any time. Two witnesses must attest that the patient is acting voluntarily and not being coerced. A patient’s doctor must determine that the patient is competent, within six months of death and under no external pressure to make the request. A second doctor must verify the patient’s diagnosis, prognosis and competency and attest that the patient is acting voluntarily and not being coerced. If either physician believes the patient suffers from a psychological condition or depression, the patient must be referred for counseling. The bill was patterned after the Oregon patient-directed dying law that was passed in 1997, but the Vermont bill has more stringent safeguards in place.

If it passes into law, we will not only be one of two states to provide this important options to patients, but we will also continue a nationwide dialogue on this vital issue.As always, I welcome your thoughts on this and other issues.

TV Show -- Correcting Corrections

Pictured here is T.J. Donovan, Chittenden County State's Attorney, and the first guest to be interviewed on "Correcting Corrections."

***********************************************************

I've launched a new television show. It’s called “Correcting Corrections,” which focuses on…you guessed it, fixing the problems we have in Vermont with Vermont’s system of prisons and jails, called the Department of Corrections.

The biggest problem in Corrections is that we have unsustainable growth in our budget and seemingly unstoppable growth of our prison population, without a clear connection to making society safer.

Did you see the news report on the front page of the Free Press, or in the Rutland Herald? They reported on the national study that came out saying that Vermont’s growth rate for incarcerated people is expected to be the 5th fastest in the nation, growing by a THIRD in just five years. The study also clearly stated that there is NO proven connection between incarceration rates and making society safer.

Unfortunately, there isn’t yet consensus in the statehouse, or in the general populace that we need to worry about what I believe is an over-spending on Corrections with limited positive results, and certainly negative side-effects.

To solve this problem, I believe that we need more discussion. Thus, the birth of the TV show, which I'm hosting. The first episode has aired already on Channel 17, with repeat performances today at 11:58 AM and 4:06 PM.

Click here to listen to the episode.

I must warn you, the half-hour show is virtually joke-free. But it is packed with substance.

My first guest is Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan who speaks on a variety of topics, including alternatives to incarceration, focusing our energies on the most violent crimes, and identifying ways that he can make changes in Corrections from his post.

I’m planning on having future guests representing victim’s groups, community advocates, the Department of Corrections, the judiciary, and many other groups. My belief is that we must engage stakeholders from all aspects of society that impact Corrections. Only then will we have effective prison reform.

And we need it.

Legislature Focused on Max Lorber-Lew (and other Vermont children)

The legislative session began yesterday. After being on break since last May, we're back at work. In her inaugural speech, House Speaker Gaye Symington said that legislators should be focused on what we can do to make Vermont a better place for our children and grandchildren.

My seven-month-old Max agreed. And people took notice. He was on the news last night. Plus, today's Burlington Free Press featured him smack dab on the cover of their newspaper, and an adorable photo, too, doncha think? That's him above with me, and Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas on the right, with Rep. Tim Jerman and Rep. Joey Donovan in front of us.

All cuteness aside, I couldn't agree more with the Speaker's vision. One of the bills I'll be working on will be an issue I championed last session: reforming Corrections for the long-haul. The key question is, "What can we do to make Vermont safer while reducing the increasingly overwhelming costs from our prison system?"

While I'll be updating you frequently on my continued Corrections work, there are many other issues that we need to confront: creating universal health care, building more affordable housing, protecting our environmental, stopping global warming, offering death with dignity, keeping abortion safe and legal, fighting for equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians, ending discrimination, making taxes more fair, and a myriad of other issues.

What issue(s) are most important to you? If you haven't yet chimed in, please post your priorities here, or email me your thoughts.

Breaking New Ground -- Northern Lights

(Pictured above, five of us breaking new ground at a new half-way house for women on Cherry Street in Burlington, including a former inmate, AHS Secretary Cindy LaWare, myself, Tiffany Bluemle from Vermont Works for Women, and Mayor Bob Kiss.)
***********************************************************************


Before my second term as State Legislator begins, I'm pleased to announce that one of my legislative projects from my first term hit a landmark. I'm referring to the groundbreaknig of Northern Lights last month in Burlington.

As part of my research last session, I discussed how one of the many problems we face as a state is that about 100 inmates are still imprisoned even after having served their time. Why? For many it's because there's nowhere for them to go.

One solution that I successfully fought for with many others was the creation of a new half-house for women with a twist. It's called Northern Lights, and the twist is that the released women will have 24-hour support to help them find jobs, stay clean off drugs, raise their children well, and get the moral support they need to be productive members of society.

I was honored to join a former inmate, Vermont AHS Commissioner Cindy LaWare, Tiffany Bluemle from Vermont Works for Women, and Mayor Bob Kiss. I spoke about how Corrections in Vermont is in need of major help. Most offenders going to our prisons and jails aren't being reformed. While other states have successfully reduced their recidivism rates, Vermont's remains over 50%. And that's the case despite the fact that we're increasingly spending millions more on Corrections each year. In fact, Corrections has grown from 4% of our budget to 10% in just 15 years. We need a new approach. Northern Lights is a step in that direction.

This coming session, I hope to continue pushing for this new path. We must ensure that we have prison beds available for violent repeat offenders, and find less costly and effective alternatives for many others who can be reformed. That will make our state safer and more financially sound.

2006 Election Victory!

We did it! Not only did Democrats yield a landslide victory nationwide, but also here in my district. Thank you to my neighbors for re-electing me, and also electing Rachel Weston, my running mate. Voters responded to the completely positive campaign focused on the issues by giving Rachel and me 65% of the vote. Here are the final results:

Jason P. Lorber 1705 (33%)
Rachel Weston 1676 (32%)
Heather Riemer 1021 (20%)
Kathy Valloch 808 (16%)

This was a grassroots campaign. Rachel and I knocked on more than 3,000 doors, and registered over 500 people to vote (phew!). But the election was a group victory. Thank you to everyone who was part of the campaign through volunteering, donating, hosting a lawn sign, and/or (most importantly) voting!

I specifically want to thank my partner Nat for keeping me grounded, providing much needed and appreciated love and support, and also giving strategic campaign advice.

And what a joy it was to run with now Rep-elect. Rachel Weston. I spoke to Rachel at least an hour daily, not counting our time together working with volunteers, knocking on doors, designing campaign materials, preparing for debates and generally keeping each other sane (with varying degrees of success).

Lydia Morin and James Turitto were amazing interns for our coordinated campaign. They helped not only in day-to-day activities, but also with strategic insights, including boosting involvement among students.

My campaign also relied on the support of dozens of others, including elected officials and candidates who joined me knocking on doors, and also volunteers who wrote letters to the editor, posted lawn signs, helped with data entry, and went door-to-door with Rachel and myself (and often on their own) distributing our brochures and literature.

Thank you to Rep. John Patrick Tracy; newly elected Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Peter Welch, and Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan; gubernatorial candidate Scudder Parker and Lt. Governor candidate Matt Dunne; Rep. Mark Larson; Gail, Arshad, Jake, Geoff, David, Sharon, Alan, Kristina, Caleb, Maggie, Louis, Brennan, Molly, Christopher, Alex, Liam, Scott, Eddy, Patrick, Erik, Jody, Lynn, and Mary.

And also, thank yous to fellow comedians Martha Tormey, John Wilson, Lisa Nagle, Matt Wohl, and Matt Saltus for performing with me at campaign rallies, blurring the line once again between politics and comedy.

With the election now behind us, I'm focusing all my energies on the biggest task at-hand: spending more time with Max (who is now 5-1/2 months old -- he just learned to roll over)!

Thank you again. I am truly honored.

I remain committed to representing all of our neighbors, working across party lines, and making Vermont an even better place. Please contact me with your concerns, questions, and comments.

Highlights of Accomplishments

It’s been an honor serving as a Citizen Legislator. I’ve voted on more than 200 bills, but rather than bore you with details, I’ll highlight four accomplishments:

1. Raising the Minimum Wage: when legislative leaders told me that we were six votes shy of raising the minimum wage by 25 cents an hour, I went to work. I met one-on-one with several dozen legislators, arguing the merits of the raise, until I could find those six extra votes. The net result: success. Now if the U.S. Congress could just do the same.

2. Banning Discrimination: everyone should live without discrimination, including transgendered Vermonters. I spoke individually with 100 of my House peers (across all party lines) about a bill that would have banned such discrimination. Bottom line: the bill passed overwhelmingly, including 18% of Republicans. But, the Governor vetoed it. I’ll continue to work on this cause if re-elected.

3. Securing More Funds for Battered Women: I serve on the House Institutions & Corrections Committee. That's where we create budgets for who gets which money for spending on government buildings and other long-term capital expenditures. One of the items up for debate was how much money we should spend on battered women's shelters. The Governor recommended $25,000, which was much less than the domestic violence agencies asked for. While I was shot down by my committee when I advocated for $100,000, my second recommendation for $50,000 was accepted, which is what the battered women's shelters received.

4. Addressing Prison Reform: I went to prison – willingly. Why? To find out the real problems in our Corrections System. Then I successfully championed legislation that sets a new direction for Corrections. Now, some women offenders will be released to a half-way house and be given the care and nurturing from nonprofit agencies to help them find a job, stay off drugs, care for their kids, and return to society productively. This may turn into a model for more successes.

VDB on JPL

Know what the best political blog is in Vermont? No, it's not this one. Not by a long shot. According to the Daisy's -- which is a contest sponsored by Seven Days -- the 2006 Best Vermont Blog is Philip Baruth's Vermont Daily Briefing.

And according to VDB, I'm watchable. Check out "Ones to Watch, 2006 Edition: Jason Lorber" here.

Keep Vermont Green

It’s a fact: Vermont is gorgeous. But it’s not by accident.

Yes, we have wonderful rolling hills and impressive mountains. Lake Champlain blesses our state, along with the many beautiful stands of maple trees. But we also take care of our land. The fact that we don’t have billboards adds to our pristine quality.

So I was naturally disappointed to learn that the Governor opposed federal legislation that would have expanded the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and extended stronger environmental protections to areas within the forest.

We need to safeguard Vermont’s natural gifts. That happens with proper environmental regulation, as well as controlling pollution through energy efficiency and alternative, sustainable, clean energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass.

If our country continues to depend on energy sources that damage our environment, we all suffer. Here in Vermont, we have an opportunity to lead the way to a better world. We can enact an aggressive energy policy that promotes energy independence and produces good paying jobs. We must invest in wind power and help break our addiction to dangerous and unclean forms of energy.

I believe that most Vermonters believe in clean, renewable energy and in protecting our environment. That’s why I support not only a forward-looking energy policy, but also legislation that helps our farmers be good stewards of their land while minimizing pollution, and safeguards our landscape from uncontrolled sprawl and unneeded commercial development.

Vermont is not a blue or red state, we’re a green state. Let’s keep it that way.

Grassroots Democracy

I love the fact that I know most of my neighbors. One neighbor and her adorable 3-year-old daughter often come over to our house to look at our baby Max (who’s now four months old), or I go over there for soup, or she lends me her lawn mower, or sometimes we just bump into each other on the street and talk about the neighborhood, or the weather, or the cutest things our kids just did.

Another neighbor two houses down just had a birthday party for their little girl that my family attended, along with dozens of other neighbors.

And I’ll never forget that when we moved into our house, our next-door neighbors to our left greeted us with a loaf of bread, hearty handshakes and warm smiles.

The neighborly atmosphere makes it welcoming for me as I walk through the neighborhood, passing out fliers about what we accomplished in the last two years in the Legislature. I enjoy meeting people on their front porches and hearing their concerns.

Sometimes, I’ll bring Max along. That’s also great because then I get tips from my neighbors about childcare resources, or information about activities for newborns, or stories about when their kids were small.

Meeting my neighbors isn’t just fun, it’s part of my job as a State Representative. I can’t represent the needs of the Old North End without knowing what’s on folks’ minds. I admit it’s a lot of work to knock on thousands of doors throughout Burlington, but it’s important to get out there and meet my neighbors.

When Max is with me, I know that he can’t possibly understand what’s going on. But still it gives me a kick that I’ll be able to tell him, when he’s older, that he was a part of grassroots democracy, Vermont-style.

Minimum Wage Leadership in Vermont

Why can't we be more like Vermont? That's pretty much the gist of what scores of U.S. Senators and Congressmembers across the nation have been saying the last couple of weeks, particularly when it comes to the minimum wage.

Last year, Vermont was one of the proud states to raise our minimum wage to $7.25, and then add in a cost-of-living increase automatically in future years.

The federal minimum wage is just $5.15 an hour. I don't care where you live, but that's not enough to make a living. In fact, Vermont's own Livable Wage Campaign (www.vtlivablewage.org) estimates that a full-time worker needs to earn between $10 and $13 an hour (and that's if you have no kids).

The federal minimum wage was last increased to $5.15 an hour eight years ago. Eight years ago, gas cost $1.25 a gallon. Prices change. So should wages. The $5.15 wage is the lowest in more than 50 years, after factoring in inflation.

So earlier this month, the U.S. Congress considered raising the minimum wage to $7.25. Good idea? Well, kind of. See, the Republicans threw in a kicker -- they added an amendment that would have given $800 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest 8,100 Americans. So while the poorest workers would get $2/hour more for working, the richest Americans would get an average of about $1,000,000 each for being rich. One Senator noted that had the bill passed, Paris Hilton and her family would have received $250 million. Hmph.

Here in Vermont, some of my Republican colleagues argued that the government gives hand-outs to those earning very little, so why bother giving them raises? That's the wrong approach, in my opinion. People working full-time should be able to support themselves, without government assistance.

I was proud to play a role behind the scenes to raise the minimum wage here in Vermont, helping keep Vermont one of the leaders when it comes to minimum wages. It's not just our maple syrup, ski slopes, cheese, rolling hills, and environmental excellence. Add minimum wage leadership to the long list of things that make Vermont the envy of the rest of the USA.

Affordability -- for whom?

There’s a new buzzword that some politicians are floating: affordability. But take note whose wallets they’re really talking about. New laws and proposals in Washington and Montpelier are actually making things tougher for most Vermonters.

Last week, I spoke with a couple who live down the street from me. They’re senior citizens who don’t have healthcare. Why not? They can’t afford it. Last Legislative Session, I fought hard for affordable healthcare, which was opposed by the Governor and most House Republicans. We finally passed some reforms, but we have lots of work ahead of us.

Another obvious money issue is taxes. President Bush continues to push for big tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, to be paid for by…guess who? The rest of us. We pay with increased debt and the short-changing of funds for roads, schools, healthcare, and keeping our society safe.

Likewise last March in Montpelier, most of the House Republicans voted for a proposal that would have resulted in higher taxes. Yes, you heard me right. It would have meant higher property taxes for middle-income Vermonters while giving bigger tax breaks to second-home owners who don’t even live in Vermont. Luckily that amendment failed because of a protest among Democrats and Progressives.

The discussion of healthcare and taxes as affordability issues leads me to this thought: when certain politicians speak about affordability, ask them, “Affordable for whom?”

Sen. Ed Flanagan on Healthcare

All Vermonters deserve affordable healthcare coverage.

That point was made even more pointedly, and poignantly by Senator Ed Flanagan on May 5, 2006 when Ed returned to the Vermont State House after months of hospitalization following a car crash that almost took his life.

His speech on the floor of the Senate chamber was powerful, and the standing ovation he received in the Senate and later in the House was enveloping and heartfelt.

I've reprinted his remarks on the floor of the Vermont Senate:


Mr. President, it's good to be back. You're looking at someone who is grateful to be alive, recovering, and with all of you. I am a living testament to the hard work and dedication of the doctors, nurses, and staff at Fletcher Allen in Vermont and Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York.

I was told, but remember nothing, about what happened five months ago. My car tumbled down a steep hill and ended upside-down in a ravine. I was trapped. I remained there for 18 hours until Jimmy Bisson noticed my car and called police. They quickly came and emergency medical steps were taken, which saved my life. The temperatures which hovered just above freezing slowed my metabolism which was crucial to my surviving. I have no memory of the next six weeks. I started the long and painful journey to consciousness.

With the help of many of you, I slowly realized the challenge of recovering and regaining myself. You engaged me in the work of my two committees -- Health and Welfare and Judiciary -- that speeded up my recovery. Now, I'm working hard on fully getting back to my public service for Vermonters. The effects of the accident, like my work here in the Senate, are still challenges to confront. Working with many of you on the personal and political fronts, I look ahead to the future with every increasing confidence.

I'm humbled by my insights about the vulnerability of every Vermonter and the need for comprehensive health insurance. I can't imagine where I'd be without the sustained intensive rehab therapy that my insurance makes possible. I can't imagine how working Vermont families can stay afloat after an uninsured wage-earner sustains a serious injury or illness.

This is the challenge that we cannot duck. I salute the efforts of this body to meet this challenge.

This Senator from Chittenden County stands before you with a deepened appreciation of human life. My experience speaks to the profoundly high stakes of providing adequate health insurance for all Vermonters.

Thank you to my partner, Isaac Lustgarten, who has been loyal and supportive throughout this ordeal, my family and friends, the Fletcher Allen staff, my colleagues here, and the countless Vermonters who continue to send me encouragement and support. The devotion has been moving. I am proud to be part of a community that has shown such love and support which is typical of Vermont values.

Mr. President, I'm eager to continue working for Vermonters who are all part of a community that was there for me when I was in need.

Peter Yarrow Inspired Me

Peter Yarrow inspired me last month. It was March 26, 2006, a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Peter Yarrow – also known simply as Peter, from the folk-singing trio of Peter, Paul, & Mary – made a special appearance singing alongside Counterpoint, including my partner Nat, at St. Michael’s College. Peter was there to continue what he’s done for so many decades, sparking people to raise their voices in song for the sake of freedom. Singing wasn’t meant to be a spectator sport – the entire audience joined in chorus, including Congressman Bernie Sanders and Governor Madeleine Kunin.

We applauded spiritedly when Peter roared that it was patriotic to question authority, even when it’s against your president who’s leading the country in war. I found it difficult to sing “This Land is Your Land,” “Have You Been to Jail for Justice,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” and many other songs with a big lump in my throat.

The event harkened back to when Americans had a song to sing all over this land. People felt the power to change society, and rose to their feet in protest (or sat down in disobedience) for civil rights, women’s rights, and peace. Last Sunday, I felt proud to know that while times have changed, I’m fighting for social justice here in Vermont.


Transitional Housing for Women & Men

"How many times must a man look up, before he can see the sky?"

One of my biggest projects this year has been advocating for transitional housing for women and men, so that they can return to society from prison and lead productive lives. As I mentioned in a recent email update, more than $400,000 was secured from the House for start-up funds. Additional funds were passed by the House for ongoing operations.

But we got some bad news, when the Senate voted down the start-up funds. It was quite a disappointment, but all is not lost. We’re still pushing forward. Over the next couple of weeks, a conference committee made up of Representative and Senators will hash out the details. Likewise, Senate approval for the ongoing operations budget is possible.

That we have come this far is a wonderful achievement, and something that many of my experienced peers said “wouldn’t happen.” Still, going the full distance is going to be a big challenge. Nevertheless, I am guardedly optimistic.


Abenaki Recognition

"How many years must a people exist, before they’re allowed to be free?"

Tomorrow we in the House will be debating whether we should recognize Abenaki and Native American people who reside in Vermont as a minority population. Concerns in the past that recognition of the Abenaki could lead to gambling on reservations were often cited as a reason to oppose this simple recognition. However, recent federal rulings make it virtually impossible that the Abenaki will gain federal recognition. Regardless, for me, recognition is a paramount question of respect. I will be voting yes, and I am hopeful that this will pass.


Healthcare for All Vermonters

"How many times can a man turn his head, pretending he just doesn’t see?"

Today, new data was publicized showing that 10,000 more Vermonters lack insurance compared to just five years ago. As Vermonters suffer, where is the leadership from the Governor, who vetoed the Green Mountain Healthcare Plan? In a country as powerful as ours, it’s outrageous that we don’t have universal healthcare coverage. Virtually all of the industrialized countries have such a system. It’s time for all American and Vermonters to have this basic right of healthcare.


That’s a brief update for now. And while I won’t sing out (I’ll spare you), I’ll continue to work hard on these and other issues. I’ll also urge you to continue to stay involved, however you wish, in having your voice heard. Please consider writing a letter to the editor about what matters to you. Or let me know your concerns, and hopefully I can help.

Invest in Society, Not Prisons

Invest in Society, Not Prisons
as printed in the Burlington Free Press on Feb. 27, 2006


I went to prison four times. Willingly. It was part of my ongoing research on Vermont’s prisons and jails, an area that I focus on in the Vermont House of Representatives.

The way I see it, the best way to learn about the correctional system is to listen to people who spend their days in the field. So I interviewed 53 correctional officers, parole officers, inmates, victims' advocates, and managers in the Department of Corrections (DOC). And I got an earful. One of the common themes I heard was that correctional officers felt that they were too swamped trying to meet day-to-day needs that the correctional aspect of their work was sidelined.

Those I interviewed agree on what the main problem is: There are too many people in our jails and prisons for our correctional system to handle.

Over the last ten years, while crime rates have dropped, prison rates in Vermont have doubled. Experts widely agree that there is no cause and effect relationship between the two. Instead – according to repeated testimony by inmates, correctional officers, probation officers, community advocates, and DOC staff – prisons and jails have become an alternative to community care. Drug addicts? Send them to jail. Mental health problems? Send them to jail. High school drop-outs? They’ll end up in jail.

So who is in prison? A disproportionate number people with mental health, drug, and alcohol problems, and victims of trauma and abuse. Not receiving the treatment and care they needed when they lived in our Vermont towns, they wound up in prison, an environment that usually worsens their problems.

Their problems have become our problems. In just 15 years, spending on corrections has ballooned from four percent of our state’s budget to ten percent. That leaves fewer dollars for education, mental health, substance abuse prevention, foster care, and other programs that would reduce the number of crimes and associated prison costs.

Fifteen years ago, for every dollar we spent on corrections, we spent two dollars on higher education. Now, for each corrections dollar, higher education gets 80 cents.

What happened to our priorities? Why have we let prisons grow so big? Why have we spent so few dollars on the programs that we know strengthen society? Why aren’t we providing alternatives to the kind of behavior that we know leads to crime?

We need prisons to protect society from violent repeat-offenders. But we know that prison is not a cure-all for society’s ills. We can and must end our costly addiction to incarceration, which leads to prison overcrowding. Instead, we should invest in programs that not only help the most vulnerable in our society, but will also ultimately protect us from crime.

Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) is author of “53 Voices on Corrections in Vermont,” which can be found online at www.friendsofjason.org.

Vermonters Oppose Pres. Bush's Illegal Spying

Stop Illegal Spying on Vermonters, Say VT Legislators

Montpelier, VT – January 31, 2006 – Over 100 Vermont legislators today called on President Bush to stop spying on Americans without a warrant. In a letter signed by 104 members and sent to the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, a tri-partisan coalition of legislators declared their opposition to the federal government’s domestic counterterrorism spying program. Signers include include Speaker Symington, Senate President Peter Welch, and five Republicans.

As Vermonters prepare to listen to the President’s State of the Union speech tonight, signers believe that Vermonters’- and all Americans’- constitutional right to privacy is in danger.

“Strong homeland security is critical, but it certainly does not require the government spying on innocent Vermonters who simply disagree with the Bush administration,” said Sen. Matt Dunne (D-Windsor), who drafted the letter and initiated the letter-signing campaign, along with Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) and Rep. Ginny Milkey (D-Brattleboro). “The administration has gone too far and it is time for Vermont to speak out against these actions.”

“We must protect our citizens and our constitution at the same time,” said Rep. Lorber. “There is no need to pit one against the other. We can do both.”

The letter notes:

“The dangers of terrorists may well require the use of covert efforts to identify and bring to justice those that wish to do us harm. However, effective public safety does not necessitate that we disregard our traditional and constitutional right of privacy that prohibits the government from searching our homes or monitoring our phone calls or e-mail messages without a court’s approval.”

Citing historical actions taken by Vermont leaders faced with similar challenges in the past, the letter references Matthew Lyons’ fight against the Sedition Acts early in the nation’s history and Sen. Ralph Flanders’ brave stand against Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

As to why the request was sent to the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Council letter continues:

“As the voice of homeland security in Vermont, you are in the strongest position to oppose, on behalf of the state of Vermont, this disregard for Vermonters' basic rights. We hope that you will do so swiftly and strongly. With your help, we believe Vermont, under the banner of "Freedom and Unity," can once again lead the charge to stop the Federal Government's flagrant disregard for our fundamental civil liberties.”
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New Corrections Report

Rep. Lorber Issues Report on Corrections in Vermont

53 Interviewees’ Voices Heard on Problems, Causes, and Recommendations

Rep. Jason P. Lorber (D-Burlington) today released a broad-based report that gives voice to those dealing with Corrections on a day-to-day basis. The 42-page report provides a vivid picture of a far-ranging set of problems in Corrections, from an insider’s perspective.

“I wanted to hear from the experts,” said Lorber. “So I listened.”

Lorber interviewed 53 stakeholders from Aug. through Dec. 2005, including four probation officers, 16 correctional officers, 12 inmates, the Commissioner of Vermont’s Department of Corrections (DOC), two former DOC commissioners, Vermont’s Attorney General and members of his staff, leaders from two domestic violence agencies, DOC’s director of women’s services, DOC’s head of victim services, the head of a nonprofit agency focusing on foster children, the Vermont State Drug Court Coordinator, and several mental health advocates.

The full report can be viewed at http://www.friendsofjason.org/, along with a 2-page summary.

The report entitled, “53 Voices on Corrections in Vermont,” extensively quotes the interviewees, but without direct attribution in order to encourage a candid and frank discussion of the issues. Lorber asked them their thoughts about Corrections’ problems, their causes, and recommendations for improvement, both short-term, and over a ten-year horizon. Lorber hopes that the report will spark more discussion about some of the state’s most vexing challenges.

Lorber presents dozens of recommendations for change suggested by the interviewees, such as:

• “[Create] more alternatives to jail, like programs in the community.” [page 8]
  
• “Make a commitment to [providing] services to victims.” [page 23]
  
• “Secure enough transitional housing for inmates who are ready to return to society.” [page 28]
  
• “Raise the age of foster care in Vermont to 23.” [page 31]
  
• “Invest in more community-based programs to treat victims of trauma and abuse, and drug addicts.” [page 39]
  
• “Ensure that…mentally disabled inmates [are protected].” [page 37]

Lorber is a freshman legislator representing Burlington’s downtown and the Old North End. He has visited four of Vermont’s nine correctional facilities, attended two statewide corrections meetings, and spent dozens of hours reviewing literature on the state of corrections nationally. This is in addition to the testimony Lorber heard while serving on the House Institutions & Corrections Committee.

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Jason on the move

This was originally written on Nov. 18, 2005

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Yes, I’m on the move. Literally. My partner Nat and I bought our first home on 231 Park Avenue (right near Manhattan Drive). We just moved in last Friday, and we’re madly unpacking boxes as we prepare to host our first Thanksgiving in our new home, when my mother-in-law, two sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and two adorable nephews come to visit us from Baltimore and Chicago. People tell me that we’re crazy to have house-guests so soon, but hey – it’s a great incentive for us to get settled quickly!

Already some of our neighbors had popped by to say greet us, which is so wonderfully Vermont.

And speaking of wonderfully Vermont, the snow on the ground today is just beautiful, our season’s first here in Burlington. I love the snow.

But before getting too accustomed to winter, let me recap you on what I’ve been up to this past summer and autumn.

It’s been a busy and productive time for me. I did a lot of standup comedy, including gigs at Higher Ground, a fundraiser for the Rutland County Democratic Caucus, and upcoming shows at the Flynn Space, 135 Pearl, and in Waterbury. I also performed in several plays, including “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, “Tying Up Sandima” by Burlington playwright Maura Campbell, and now finishing up my final weekend of “Glengarry Glen Ross” by Vermont-dwelling David Mamet. Those plays are/were performed at Burlington’s new Waterfront Theater (proudly in my district) – it’s right across the street from the Wyndham Hotel, overlooking Lake Champlain (and we’ve gotten great reviews for all three plays). Plus, I’ve had a couple of TV commercials airing, including a stint as the Tooth Fairy (with the whole costume) promoting dental care in a public service announcement.

Legislatively, I’ve been focusing my attention on Corrections (prisons and jails). In a quest to hear directly from the people most affected by Corrections, I’ve been interviewing dozens of people, including spending a day in jail up in St. Albans; meeting with nine correctional officers, representatives from several victims groups, the attorney general’s office, inmates, Department officials, and many others; and attending a statewide conference on women’s correctional issues. As I’ve interviewed people, I’ve focused on four main questions: (1) What are the problems we face, (2) What are the causes, (3) What are the short-term solutions, and (4) What are the long-term, ten-year solutions. I will be sharing writing up my findings in a report. Stay tuned.

Separately, I worked with VT Speaker of the House Gaye Symington, VT Senate Pro Tem Peter Welch, Rep. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Matt Dunne, and others on calling upon the federal government to offer federal marriage benefits to those of us with Civil Unions. Currently, people with Civil Unions are denied federal inheritance rights, social security survivor benefits, veterans’ benefits for partners and dependents of living or deceased service members, and more than 1,000 other benefits that married couples receive. We were successful in getting the word out about these injustices. You can hear the VPR radio report, or read a transcript of it, at: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/vpr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=833325.

On the healthcare front, which remains the Democrats’ top legislative priority, I’ve been actively involved, attending healthcare forums to hear what Vermonters think. What I heard is that Vermonters are frankly fed up. We must have universal healthcare coverage, and we must address the out-of-control costs. I remain committed to this cause.

I’ve been working on several other legislative matters, which I’ll update you about in future emails. The Legislature convenes again in January, and I’m looking forward to it!

Please drop me a line and give me a quick, “Hello.” Or, tell me what you’re up to and what’s on your mind.

Regards,
Jason

Bring Our Troops Home from Iraq

There are times to go to war. There are times to stay at war. And there are times to end a war.

The decision to go to war and to stay at war must rely on clear objectives. The objectives should be achievable, and a plan must be in place to succeed.

Our war in Iraq does not meet these criteria. We have no such plan because our objectives are not clear.

It is clear that Americans continue to be killed. It is clear that families with a solider in Iraq face incredible hardships. It is clear that this war is costing us billions in dollars, and thousands in lives. And it is clear that there is no end in sight.

Why are we there? Originally it was about finding weapons of mass destruction. Then it was about deposing Saddam Hussein. Then it was about fighting terrorism. Then it was about creating a constitution. Then it was about having elections. As the circumstances shift, those arguing that we stay there seem to adjust their stances in order to rationalize the continued failing policy.

Some worry that pulling out our troops will further destabilize the region. But without a clear objective, without defining what is needed to ensure stability, we will never be able to depart. I cannot envision a set of circumstance in which there will ever be enough stability to satisfy the war hawks; they certainly have not articulated what those circumstances would be.

Had we known three years ago that this war would cost us hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of U.S. lives, Americans would never have accepted the call for war. Looking forward, we must ask what additional human and financial costs America must bear for years to come.

Every day, Vermont men and women serve loyally and honorably in the United States Armed Services. I support them and their commitment to our country. It is time for us to bring them home.