March 24, 2023

>> LANDMARK LEGISLATION THAT GUARANTEES PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFITS ADVANCING IN MONTPELIER.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS ALSO APPROVING GUN REFORMS TO TRY TO REDUCE VERMONT'S HIGHER THAN AVERAGE SUICIDE RATE.

>> DELAYING FOR A YEAR HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL DIE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED?

EVEN ONE LIFE WOULD BE TOO MANY TO JUSTIFY A DELAY.

>> WE'LL CATCH UP ON THE MANY DEVELOPMENTS AT THE STATE HOUSE PLUS MORE ASYLUM SEEKERS ENTERED VERMONT FROM CANADA, THE BORDER PATROL DROPPING THEM OFF.

A BIG POLICY CHANGE.

>> AND THE PUSH TO ALLOW ALL VERMONTERS TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT AUTOMATICALLY.

AHEAD ON "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

HERE'S MODERATOR STEWART LEDBETTER.

>> WELCOME, EVERYONE.

I'M STEWART LEDBETTER.

THANK YOU FORIN'ING HERE.

IT'S FRIDAY, THE 24th OF "MARCH" 20RBGS 23.

WE HAVE AN ALL REMOTE SHOW THIS WEEK.

WE'RE JOINED FROM MONTPELIER BY CALVIN CUTLER.

HE COVERS POLITICS FOR WCAX.

ANNE WALLACE ALLEN IS WITH US.

SHE COVERS BUSINESS FOR SEVEN DAYS.

AND HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN JOINS US, CORRESPONDENT FOR VERMONT PUBLIC.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL BACK HERE.

IT'S ALMOST BACK TO THE FUTURE BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKED OUT THIS FRIDAY BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY BUSY TIME AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN MONTPELIER, WHICH IS WHERE WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU, CALVIN.

THE HOUSE GIVING FINAL APPROVAL TO A BILL THAT HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS, A 12 WEEK PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE BENEFIT, AN INSURANCE BENEFIT THAT WOULD BE FUND THROUGH A NEW PAYROL TAX.

WE'LL PUT THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE SCREEN AND BUZZ THROUGH IT FOR YOU.

IT PROVIDES 12 WEEKS OF LEAVE FROM WORK AT 90% PAY WITH PROTECTION FOR YOUR JOB.

ELIGIBLE LEAVE WOULD INCLUDE SERIES EMPLOY YEE HEALTH CONDITIONS, FAMILY CARE, CARE FOR A CHILD, SAFE LEAVE AND BEREAVEMENT.

FUNDED BY THAT NEW HALF PERCENT PAYROLL TAX STARTING IN 2025.

IT WOULD LAUNCH ONE YEAR LATER AND EMPLOYERS PROVIDING COMPARABLE BENEFITS WOULD BE ABLE TO OPT OUT.

CALVIN, THIS SAILED THROUGH, BUT NOT BY A MARGIN SO COMFORTABLE THAT IF IT COMES BACK AND IT COMES TO THAT THAT THE GOVERNOR'S VETO WOULD BE PROTECTED.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE DEBATED LONG INTO THE NIGHT ON THURSDAY NIGHT, TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WEIGHING THE PROS AND THE CONS.

MANY DEMOCRATS FOR YEARS HAVE SEEN THIS AS A CORE FUNDAMENTAL WAY TO GROW AND SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE, BUT SOME REPUBLICANS AND THE GOVERNOR ON FRIDAY AS WELL PUT OUT A STATEMENT OUTLINING SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT NUMBER ONE THE BUREAUCRACY AND SOME OF THE POSITIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT THAT THIS POLICY WOULD CREATE.

IT'S ABOUT 65 NEW POSITIONS IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

AND THEY ALSO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT I.T.

AS WELL.

THIS IS A VERY BIG SPENDING PRIORITY FOR HOUSE LAWMAKERS, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SENATE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR CHILD CARE PROPOSAL AS WELL WHICH ALSO HAS SOME BIG CHANGES WHICH ALSO MIRROR SOME OF THE HOUSE'S PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF PAID LEAVE, A PARENTAL LEAVE PROPOSAL KICKED AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW.

IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE A REALLY FASCINATING SECOND HALF OF THE SESSION, REALLY, WHERE WE HAVE THESE TWO PRIORITIES WHICH WILL BE -- >> CALVIN IS FROZEN.

WE HOPE TO GET HIM BACK.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEW SPENDING WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHILD CARE, THE ESTIMATE WAS $115 MILLION OR SOMETHING, CHILD CARE WHICH WILL BE EVEN MORE COSTLY.

YOU WONDER CAN WE DO BOTH IN A SINGLE YEAR.

>> I THINK THAT PROPONENTS ARE SAYING CAN WE AFFORD NOT TO BECAUSE THERE ARE -- THESE ARE FROM ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRISES FACING THE STATE NOW IS THE WORKER SHORTAGE AND THESE ARE BOTH EFFORTS TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO JOBS AND OUT OF THEIR CARE TAKING RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO YEAH, IT'S A VERY, VERY HEAVY LIFT.

WE HAVE GOTTEN USED TO TALKING IN MULTIMILLIONS OF DOLLARS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THERE ARE MANY WHO SAY THAT BOTH CANNOT BE DONE THIS YEAR FOR SURE.

>> HOWARD, DO YOU SENSE A CLAMOR AND IF YOU DO DO YOU THINK ONE OR THE OTHER OF THESE TWO PRIORITIES SORT OF RISES TO THE TOP?

>> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE.

LIKE CALVIN SAID THE HOUSE DEBATED LATE LAST NIGHT.

ALL OUR EMAILS THIS MORNING FROM THE GOVERNOR HE'S NOT INTERESTED AT ALL IN TALKING ABOUT THE PAID LEAVE.

IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE THERE WAS SUPPORT TO OVERRIDE A VETO SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE HAMMERED OUT WITH THIS.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS IT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AS IT LOOKS NOW, BUT IF IT GETS THROUGH THE HOUSE WE'LL SEE WHAT THE SENATE DOES WITH IT.

>> THE GOVERNOR LET THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT BILL GO THROUGH.

THAT WAS A HUGE BILL, $300 MILLION, 50 MILLION MORE THAN SCOTT WANTED.

SO THERE IS A CUMULATIVE EFFECT HERE.

I THINK WE HAVE CALVIN BACK.

IS THERE -- IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE, IF DEMOCRATS HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER OF THESE BIG PRIORITIES DOES ONE RISE TO THE TOP?

>> FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

WHAT THE SENATE IS TRYING TO DO IS STRIKE THAT HAPPY BALANCE BETWEEN THE CHILD CARE COMPONENTS TO THE BILL AND THE PARENTAL LEAVE COMPONENTS.

SO THEY ARE HOPING AT LEAST ON ITS FACE THAT THAT CAN GAIN SUPPORT FROM HOUSE LAWMAKERS TOO.

BUT IN TERMS MUCH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEEDS AND WHAT LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE HOUSE HEARD FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS, I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY WHICH ONE RISES TO THE TOP.

CERTAINLY THE CHILD CARE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDER STRAIN FOR MANY YEARS NOW.

SO THAT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO DURING THE PANDEMIC THE NEED FOR PAID LEAVE AND WAEUPL REPLACEMENT FOR ILLNESS AND ABSENCE HAS ALSO BEEN A BIG PRIORITY TOO.

I THINK THOSE ARE TWO COMPETING FACTORS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOUGH, AS HOWARD SAID WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THESE POLICIES LAND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

ULTIMATELY, IT WILL I THINK GET DOWN TO THE NEGOTIATIONS IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR SOME OF THESE BILLS LATER IN THE SESSION.

ALSO JUST HOW SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM BARUTH AND HOUSE SPEAKER JOE KARINSKI WORK TOGETHER.

IN 2019 I BELIEVE IT WAS SENATOR TIM A *URB IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE SPEAKER MITZI JOHNSON THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION AND BOTH PARTIES WALKED AWAY FROM THE TABLE BACK THEN WITHOUT COMING TO A DEAL ON PAID LEAVE OR ON MINIMUM WAGE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF LAWMAKERS CERTAINLY THAT WANT TO ADVANCE THESE TWO BIG PRIORITIES BUT THEY WANT TO AVOID SOME SORT OF A COLLAPSE IN NEGOTIATIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE HAVE TO SEE.

AGAIN, AS HOWARD MENTIONED, THE GOVERNOR ALL ALONG IS SAYING WE HAVE A VOLUNTARY OPTION THAT WON'T COST TAXPAYERS MONEY.

BOTH FOR PAID LEAVE AND ALSO FOR CHILD CARE.

HE HAS HIS OWN PROPOSALS.

THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE BACKDROP ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW BEST TO SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE.

>> WELL, THE PAID LEAVE BILL WILL NOW MOVE TO THE SENATE, WHICH AS YOU SAY HAS ITS OWN IDEAS.

CAN WE AFFORD IT?

WELL, THE NEW JOBS DATA OUT THIS FRIDAY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SUGGESTS THAT FOR ALL THE TALK OF RECESSION, THE STATE REMAINS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

UNEMPLOYMENT TICKED UP A TENTH OF A PERCENT.

EXCUSE ME, DOWN A TENTH OF A PERCENT IN THE LAST MONTH TO A MONTHLY RATE OF 2.8%, WELL PLOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, BUT REALLY MORE SIGNIFICANTLY THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYED VERMONTERS WAS UP SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THE MONTH AND THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, THAT IS THE KEY, THE PERCENT OF WORKING AGE FOLKS WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO WORK AND INTERESTED IN WORKING ALSO UP .2 FOR A MONTH.

THERE'S NO AGREEMENT -- DISAGREEMENT THAT HOUSING IS THE OVERARCHING THEME OF THIS SESSION, AND ALL EYES ON THE SENATE NEXT WEEK WHEN THE BIG OMNIBUS HOUSING BILL LANDS ON THE FLOOR.

IT'S CALLED SENATE BILL 100.

THE BILL THAT EMERGED FROM THE SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE INCLUDED SORT OF A SERIES OF COMPROMISES SPENDING MORE ON HOUSING, BUT ALSO IMPOSING LOCAL PERMITTING CHANGES.

SOME REFORMS TO ACT 250 TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING TO ACCELERATE THE PRODUCTION OF NEW HOUSING IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE.

THIS IS WHAT THE HEAD OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TOWNS REPRESENTING ALL OF VERMONT'S 246 COMMUNITIES HAD TO SAY AT THE PRESS BRIEFING WITH REPORTERS THIS WEEK.

>> WE NEED TO ELIMINATE ACT 250 JURISDICTION IN DESIGNATED AREAS.

TWO YEARS AGO THIS WAS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL ITS AND DEVELOPERS.

WE WANT TO FACILITATE GROWTH WERE WE WANT GROWTH.

PRETTY SIMPLE CONCEPT.

TWO WE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNITS BUILT BEFORE ACT 250 IS TRIGGERED TO 24.

DID YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK MOST KNOW THERE'S A THING CALLED THE 5510 RULE WHICH YOU CAN'T BUILD TEN HOUSES WITHIN FIVE YEARS WITHIN FIVE MILES OF EACH OTHER.

>> THEY SUGGESTED 24 UNITS.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT.

>> THERE WERE NO SHORTAGE OF HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY SUGGESTED WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE 40,000 NEW UNITS OF HOUSING TO BEGIN TO CHIP AWAY AT THIS SEVERITY OF THIS CRISIS THAT HAS SENT RENTS AND HOME PRICES THROUGH THE ROOF.

HERE WAS THE GOVERNOR'S TAKE WHEN ADDRESSING THE SENATE.

>> WE NEED TO PUT OWL THE ALSO ON THE TABLE AND WORK TOGETHER APPEARED DO IT THIS SESSION.

THIS ISN'T A PARTISAN ISSUE.

MANY DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS AND REPUBLICANS AGREE WE NEED TO MAKE SMART REFORM TO HELP PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED HOUSING THEY CAN AFFORD.

>> BUT ANNE, ENVIRONMENTALISTS ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY COMMITTEE ARE PUSHING BACK AND THERE IS WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SENATE IS LIKELY TO DO?

ARE YOU HEARING IS ONE ARGUMENT WINNING THE DAY?

WILL THERE BE ACT 250 REFORM AND LOCAL PERMITTING REFORM WHEN THE VOTES ARE CAST TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY TOO EARLY TO SAY BUT FOR SURE THIS CONSIDERING ABOUT HOUSING, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, RIGHT NOW HAVE COME DOWN TO THAT 1055 RULE THAT BRADY MENTIONED.

THERE'S AN AMENDMENT TO S.100 THAT -- S.100 TOOK AIM AS YOU SAID AT LOCAL PLANNING AND ZONING AND STATE ACT 250 LAND USE RULE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEEN THE SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE ZERO IN ON ACT 250 AND COME TO SOMETHING OF A BARGAIN WITH THE AUTHOR OF S.100, ONE OF THEM SENATOR HINSDALE, WHAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO LET HAPPEN WITH ACT 250 AND MAYBE CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT, INCREASE THE 10, 5, 5 RULE TO -- TEN UNITS EVERY 25 YEARS TO 25 UNITS EVERY FIVE YEARS BEFORE GETTING AN ACT 250 PERMIT WOULD BE REQUIRED OF THE DEVELOPER.

SO TIME WILL TELL WHETHER THE FULL SENATE WOULD BE WILLING TO SEE THAT PATH, BUT EVEN IF IT GETS THROUGH THE SENATE THIS WEEK THERE'S NO GUARANTEE IT'S GOING TO HAVE A FRIENDLY RECEPTIN IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK WE'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS, THE MINUTIAE OF ACT 250 AND WHAT IT WOULD ALLOW.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OVER IN THE SENATE.

>> CALVIN, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

>> EAH, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE SIMILAR READ.

IT IS A LITTLE TOO SOON.

THIS COALITION THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SESSION THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT BEHIND THIS BILL.

THE GOVERNOR AND TED BRADY AND OTHERS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS COALITION WAS STARTING TO CRACK AT THE SEAMS.

I ASKED WHAT CHANGED?

WHY DID THIS FALL APART?

WHY IS THIS OFF THE RAILS?

BRADY SAID ESSENTIALLY THAT LAWMAKERS TOUCHED THE THIRD RAIL.

THAT IS ACT 250 IN VERMONT POLITICS.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A REALLY FASCINATING DEBATE PLAY OUT ON THE FLOOR IN THE SENATE NEXT WEEK, BUT I THINK ANNE IS RIGHT, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CERTAINLY THE RURAL CAUCUS AS WELL, WHICH IS A VERY INFLUENTIAL GROUP IN THE HOUSE.

THEY WILL CERTAINLY HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS AND VISIONS OF HOW ACT 250 SHOULD WORK AND WHAT SOME OF THESE RULES SHOULD LOOK LIKE, ESPECIALLY THAT 25, 5, 5.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FASCINATING.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.

HOWARD, THERE WAS NEWS THIS FRIDAY OF A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE THAT WILL PLEASE SEVERAL THOUSAND UNITED HEALTH CARE HEALTH INSURANCE CUSTOMERS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THEIR ACCESS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS SEVERED THIS UPCOMING WEEK, BUT IT'S JUST TEMPORARY.

>> YES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF BUBBLING AROUND FOR HALF A YEAR, A YEAR, NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED HEALTH CARE AND UVM HEALTH NETWORK.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN UGLY BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.

THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS SAYING THAT UVM HEALTH NETWORK IS DEMANDING DOUBLE DIGIT RATE INCREASES.

UVM SAYS THIS INSURANCE COMPANY IS REAPING MILLIONS, BILLIONS FROM THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WHILE UVM IS LOSING MILLIONS A YEAR TRYING TO CONTEND WITH OUR BROKEN NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

SO THE CONTRACT WITH UNITED HEALTH CARE WAS SUPPOSED EXPIRE APRIL 1st.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN AN AGREEMENT, SMALL A, UNITED HEALTH CARE HAS AGREED TO LET THESE FOLKS AS YOU SAID ABOUT 2600 PEOPLE OR SO IN THE STATE, THEY CAN REMAIN ON IT THROUGH THE CALENDAR YEAR.

BUT IN THE PRESS RELEASE UVM SENT OUT TODAY OR YESTERDAY, TODAY I THINK, THEY SAID THIS IS PROBABLY THE END OF THE LINE, THAT ALL THOSE FOLKS SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER COMPANY.

IT DOESN'T SOUPED LIKE THESE TWO SIDES WILL COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

SO ALL OF THOSE FOLKS ON UNITED HEALTH CARE SHOULD START SHOPPING AROUND.

>> THE PRESIDENT IS IN CANADA'S CAPITAL THIS FRIDAY ARRIVING IN OTTAWA ON THURSDAY EVENING WITH THE FIRST LADY.

GREETED BY PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU AND HIS WIFE.

THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST TRIP TO OUR NORTHERN NEIGHBOR IN HIS PRESIDENCY.

HE ADDRESSED PARLIAMENT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

AND THE TWO LEADERS ANNOUNCED A BREAKTHROUGH THAT WILL AMEND A TREATY AFFECTING ASYLUM SEEKERS.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR THOSE SEEKING TO ENTER QUEBEC, YOU'LL NOTE THROUGH A PLACE THAT'S BECOME RATHER INTPA FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, IN CHAMPLAIN, NEW YORK.

AS WELL WE ARE SEEING MIGRANTS CROSSING INTO VERMONT FROM QUEBEC AND THEY ARE PICKED UP BY U.S. BORDER PATROL.

THEY ARE SHOWING UP IN PLACES LIKE ST. JOHNSBURY, DROPPED OFF BY FEDERAL AGENTS, AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN PROCESSED.

THE STATEMENT FROM U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ABOUT THIS INDICATES THAT THOSE MIGRANTS ENTERED THE STATE ILLEGALLY.

THEY WERE RELEASED ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE AFTER PROCEEDING AS WE SAID.

MIGRANTS ARE RELEASED FOR SEVERAL REASONS THE CPBSP-DZ SAID, INCLUDING OVER ALL VOLUME OF MIGRANTS ENCOUNTERED AND LACK OF AVAILABLE DETENTION SPACE.

THIS IS REFERRED TO AS SAFE COMMUNITY RELEASE.

THE WELCOME CENTER IN ST. JOHNSBURY IDENTIFIED AS AN SC R LOCATION DUE TO THE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND AVAILABILITY OF RURAL TRANSPORT TO MONTPELIER AND TO OTHER AREAS WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

WELL, THIS HAS OF COURSE RECEIVED SOME NOTICE IN ST. J., IT FIRST CAME TO LIGHT IN MEDIA REPORTS A FEW DAYS AGO THAT CAME FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

>> A FAMILY OR TWO HAS BEEN DROPPED OFF IN OUR AREA AND WE'RE SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO GET TO A DESTINATION IN NEW YORK.

BORDER PATROL HAD DROPPED THEM OFF HERE.

HUMAN BEINGS.

THEY HAVE NEEDS AS EVERYBODY DOES.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MEET KNOWS NEEDS.

>> MOST WHOFRB HAS COME HAS HAD SOME SKILL THAT THEY CAN OFFER.

THEY WANT TO WORK.

THEY WANT TO BE EMPLOYED, THEY WANT TO FEEL SAFE, TO BE IN A COMMUNITY TRYING TO GET THINGS ORGANIZE SOD THAT NOBODY IS LEFT STANDING IN THE DARK AND COLD OUTSIDE THE CENTER.

>> THOUGHTS FROM THE ST. J.

POLICE CHIEF JIM PAGE AND LIBBY HILLHOUSE FROM THE ASSISTANCE NETWORK.

THE NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU NOTWITHSTANDING AND YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON THIS SPIKE, THIS SURGE IN NORTHERN BORDER CROSSINGS.

>> THERE'S BEEN A HUGE SPIKE OF TRYING TO GET INTO THE U.S. AND GETTING INTO THE U.S.

ILLEGALLY BEING PICKED UP BY THE BORDER PATROL.

IN MANY CASES THEY HAVE SOMEONE WAITING FOR THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE, PART OF AN ORGANIZED JOURNEY.

THEY POP IN A CAR AN ARE DRIVEN TO NEW YORK STATE OR NEW YORK CITY.

BUT IN THE CASE OF THESE TWO FAMILIES THAT WERE RECENTLY TAKEN TO ST. JOHNSBURY THEY DID NOT HAVE SOMEBODY WAITING FOR THEM AND THEY ENDED UP BEING AIDED BY SOCIAL SERVICES.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER JENNIFER MORRISON TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE.

IT'S ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S SURPRISING TO ME HOW MANY HAVE BEEN COMING OVER THE BORDER THAT I HAVE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE BOREDDER WHO HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY AND HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN AFFECT THE BOO THIS.

AFFECTED BY THIS.

ONE DEER HUNTER TOLD ME THAT BUT WE HAVE HAD SURPRISINGLY LITTLE IMPACT FROM THE SURGE IN IN-MIGRATION BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF ORGANIZED TRIPS WHERE SOMEONE WAS THERE TO TAKE THEM WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO, TO A BIGGER CITY.

TIME WILL TELL IF WE SEE MORE PEOPLE DROPPED OFF AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS AIDING THEM.

JENNIFER MORRISON SAID THAT'S SOMETHING SHE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT COMING UP WITH A SYSTEM FOR HELPING THEM OR A MORE COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR HANDLING THIS.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, WE WILL BE WATCHING PARTICULARLY TO SEE WHAT THIS NEW AGREEMENT WORKED OUT THIS FRIDAY NIGHT DO.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE WITHIN CANADA TO ALLOW A CHANGE IN THE TREATY SO THAT CANADIANS COULD TURN AWAY ASYLUM SEEKERS SEEKING TO ENTER THEIR COUNTRY.

WE'LL BE WATCHING.

HOWARD, YOU HAD SOME REPORTING THIS WEEK ABOUT THE ONGOING EFFORT TO CORRECT THE MAP OF VERMONT AND THE SCOPE OF ADDRESSES THAT REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY AVAILABLE BROADBAND AS MUCH AS NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY HANGING IN THE BALANCE IF WE GET THIS RIGHT OR IF WE GET THIS WRONG.

>> YEAH, IT'S NOT GOING VERY WELL FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS A BIG CHUNK OF $42 BILLION THAT CONGRESS AUTHORIZED FOR BROADBAND BUILDOUT.

THEY WERE ESPECIALLY TARGETING RURAL UNDERSERVED AREAS.

THEY ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS ABOUT THE SPENDING BASED ON THIS MAP, AS YOU SAID.

WHEN VERMONT OFFICIALS SAW THE MAP IT WAS WILDLY ACCURATE.

A LOT OF THE LARGER INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PROVIDING THE INFORMATION TO THE FCC, SO THEY SAY SURE, WE'RE PUTTING SERVICE INTO THIS AREA, BUT DOWN ON THE GROUND BECAUSE OF TOPOGRAPHY, BECAUSE OF THE VAI VERMONT IS IT JUST IS NOT LIKE THAT ON THE GROUND.

I SPOKE TO A GUY IN OR WELL.

HE CAN'T STREAM A MOVIE WHEN HIS ELDER MOTHER IS ON A ZOOM CALL.

ON THE MAP IT SAYS HE'S WELL SERVED.

VERMONT COMMUNITY BROADBAND BOARD SAYS FOR EVERY MISTAKE IT'S GOING TO COST THE STATE ABOUT $5,000, ABOUT HALF OF THE CHALLENGES HAVE ALREADY BEEN WITHDRAWN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE DATA WAS COLLECTED, THE FCC IS NOT ACCEPTING IT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A FIGHT AGAIN VERMONT COMMUNITY BROADBAND BOARD ARE TRYING TOTEM PER EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE THE IFPs ARE FIGHTING IT AND THEY DON'T EXPECT A LOT OF THOSE ADDRESSES TO BE RECOGNIZED.

>> CALVIN, THE HOUSE IN MONTPELIER ON THURSDAY GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO A BILL CALLED H230.

IT AIMS TO MAKE A SERIES OF REFORMS TO HOW WE PURCHASE AND STORE OUR FIREARMS TO TRY TO GET AT VERMONT'S HIGHER THAN AVERAGE SUICIDE RATE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORT TO TRY TO DELAY THIS TO STUDY THE ISSUE A LITTLE FURTHER.

WE'LL GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

>> BY DELAYING FOR A YEAR HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL DIE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED.

EVEN ONE LIFE WOULD BE TOO MANY TO JUSTIFY A DELAY.

>> I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAKE ANY DRAMATIC CHANGES IN OUR GUN LAWS AT THIS POINT.

AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> THERE'S ALSO CALVIN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL.

>> EXACTLY, STEWART.

REALLY, THE QUESTION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ANY GUN REFORM WHETHER HERE IN VERMONT OR ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS REALLY BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IN THE ROOM, THIS WHOLE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ALL STEMMING FROM THE BRUIN DECISION FROM THE SUPREME COURT LAST YEAR.

IT REALLY ESSENTIALLY THROWS INTO DOUBT CURRENT AND PROPOSED CHANGES FOR GUN LAWS.

THIS HAS A 72 HOUR WAITING PERIOD, EXPANSION OF RED FLAG LAWS AND SAFE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS.

SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WANTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES ON IT A LITTLE BIT JUST TO SEE HOW SOME OF THE OTHER LAWSUITS IN OTHER STATES MAY ROLL OUT.

BUT DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE SAID IT MIGHT BE YEARS BEFORE WE SEE SOME OF THOSE LAWSUITS COME TO AN END.

SO VERMONT SHOULD CONTINUE FORWARD.

THAT SAID, AS YOU JUST HEARD THE GOVERNOR IS OPPOSED TO THIS APPEARED WE'LL SEE WHERE THIS ENDS UP IN THE SENATE BUT I COULD SEE HIM VETOING THIS.

HE HAS VETOED SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, SO CERTAINLY THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS FACING AN OVERRIDE VOTE NEAR THE END OF THE SESSION.

THAT SAID THERE IS THAT CONSTITUTIONALITY QUESTION.

IT'S REALLY A REALITY OF LIVING IN A MODERN DAY WITH A CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT.

>> WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE VERMONT SAVES PROGRAM THAT IS ALSO PENDING IN THE SENATE, THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT WOULD AFFECT A LOT OF VERMONT WORKERS WHO DO NOT NOW HAVE THAT OPTION AT WORK BUT WE'LL BE WATCHING.

BEFORE WE RUN OUR THANKS TO MARK DAVIS AND KATHARINE HUNTLEY FOR FILLING IN.

TO ALL OF YOU AT HOME.

I'M STEWART LEDBETTER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AHEAD.

COME BACK AND SEE US RIGHT BACK HERE NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT.