Our Accomplishments
In the government affairs business, it is often said that it is 10 times harder to enact a bill than it is to block one. While our clients engage us for a variety of missions, we are proud to be among the most successful affirmative agenda movers in Montpelier.
We have innovated solutions, led their enactment, and guided their implementation. Much of this work in Vermont has broken important ground on the national level.
Here are some examples:
Consumer Affairs
Responsible mandatory auto insurance minimum coverage limits
Strict liability for Social Hosts furnishing alcohol to minors
Licensing of Hearing Aid Dispensers
Minimum standards for Long Term Care insurance
Minimum Standards for Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Protections against excessive billing of Medicare Patients
Tenant protections against condo conversions
Tenant protections against mobile home park conversions
Pre-paid funeral contract full disclosure and first in nation default fund
Consumer Intervenor status in Medicomp rate setting
Establishment of the Office of Public guardianship
Telephone lifeline subsidy program
Commercial Affairs
Comprehensive Modernization of Cooperative Financial Services Law Supporting Credit Unions
Modernization of cable television line extension policies
Community, Conservation and Growth
Sustained and expanding state investment in permanently affordable housing development
Sustained and expanding state investment in conservation of farms, forests, natural areas, historic properties and community gathering spaces
Sustained and expanding state investment in regional planning
Downtown and Village Center redevelopment programs and incentives
Growth Center development program and incentives
Agricultural soils development and conservation regulatory improvements
Creation of Gubernatorial Development Cabinet
Allowance of accessory apartments as conditional use in all residential zones statewide
State regulation of clear cut logging
Requiring new construction to be made adaptable (Life Span Homes)
Equal Justice
Constitutional Amendment against Age Discrimination
Disability Access Laws
Elder Hate Crimes
Age Discrimination in Employment
Right to counsel in guardianship proceedings
Relief from Abuse Orders
Community rating for Medigap policies
Energy Policy
$26M Clean Energy Fund
Renewable Energy Development Incentives and Regulatory Improvements
Sustained Oversight and Advancement of Low Income Heating Assistance
Comprehensive Energy Planning Implementation and Oversight
Health Care
HMO consumers' right to appeal health care denials to an independent panel of doctors
Establishment of the Health Care Consumer Ombudsman
Mental Health Parity
Hospital Patients' Bill of Rights
Nursing Home Patients Bill of Rights
Counter detailing in pharmacy marketing
Minimum staff ratios in Nursing homes
Immunity from state arrest for medical use of marijuana
Innovative opiate addiction treatment programs
Act 160 - Home and community based long-term care as an alternative to institutionalization
Ground-breaking pharmacy cost assistance programs for low-income elders
Living Will legislation
Modernizing Durable Power of Attorneys for Health Care
Establishment of state commission on Alzheimers
Tobacco Control
Workplace Smoking Ban
Clean Indoor Air Act
Youth Access Restrictions
More than $30M of Tobacco Control Appropriations
Workers' Rights
Nation-Leading Family and Parental Leave Rights
Restrictions against unjust workplace drug testing
Over a dozen victories protecting injured or unemployed workers rights to fair compensation
Short-term Family leave
Prevailing Wage for State building trade contracts
Job security and reinstatement rights for workers' compensation claimants
Strong governance over employee-leasing companies |
