Local fashion show raises funds and autism awareness. Page 5
Brig. General Ripley led the charge of the Vermont Volunteers during the Civil War.
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Serving Addison and Chittenden Counties
February 13, 2010
GOP candidate eyes Leahy’s seat By Louis Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com ESSEX — Riding on the tsunami of Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown’s victory in liberal “blue state” Massachusetts, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Len Britton is eyeing Vermont, another solid “blue state,” as a possible Massachusetts redux. The term “blue and red states” appears to date back to a 1988 national election map that was published by USA Today; the color map of the United States displayed Democratic (blue) and Republican (red) states. The term was more widely adopted following the 2000 election. Pomfret resident Britton, an articulate ninth-generation Vermonter Republican, businessman, writer, and Dartmouth alumnus, welcomed a crowd of about 135 supporters last Wednesday night at an up close town hall—style meeting in Essex. Britton was clearly Len Britton surprised to see the hall overflowing with visitors. The crowd spilled out of the hall and into the vestibule. Attendees listened and fielded questions about energy policy, taxes, the anemic “Obama economy”, wasteful federal spending, the national debt, healthcare reform, and Islamic terrorism.
See BRITTON, page 12
Bernie’s bill may create 10 million solar rooftops U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate’s green jobs subcommittee, last week introduced legislation with nine cosponsors to encourage the installation of 10 million solar systems on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade.“At a time when we spend $350 billion importing oil from Saudi Arabia and other countries every year, the United States must move away from foreign oil to energy independence,” Sanders said. “A dramatic expansion of solar power is a clean and economical way to help break our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, improve our geopolitical position, and create good-paying green jobs.” At a Senate committee hearing today, Sanders questioned Energy Secretary Steven Chu about President Obama’s budget for next year. The White House requested $2.4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The requested 5 percent boost overall included a 22 percent increase for solar power. The potential for solar power also was the subject of testimony last week before Sanders’ green jobs subcommittee by Jeff Wolfe, chief executive officer of groSolar in White River Junction, Vt. Wolfe said Sanders’ bill “would help homeowners and small businesses stabilize their energy costs.” Sanders’ bill would authorize rebates which, along with other
SAFE PASSAGE—Drivers of passenger cars prepare to disembark the M.V. Cumberland at the new temporary ferry dock at the Port of Addison. The ferry service between Addison and Crown Point will continue until the new Lake Champlain Bridge is completed in 2011. Photo by Lou Varricchio
See SOLAR, page 12
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