Governor Peter Shumlin's plan to finance a major expansion of child care programs is sharply dividing Vermont's early childhood community. There's nearly unanimous support for the proposal to increase funding for child care subsidies. But there's disagreement over how to pay for the initiative.

Vermont became the first state on Monday to publish the rates it would charge people who don't currently have health insurance to get coverage - a key step toward establishing the health exchanges that are central to the federal health care law known as Obamacare. Health officials said Monday the rates are comparable to current commercial rates.

Governor Peter Shumlin discusses the budget and tax proposals being considered by the Legislature.

For the first time this legislative session, the full Vermont Senate will debate renewable energy on Tuesday. In Montpelier, though, some lawmakers' hopes of passing meaningful climate change legislation that might reduce greenhouse gas emissions have already collided with the state's fiscal reality.

A key House committee has given preliminary approval to a tax package that would raise roughly $26 million, putting it on a collision course with the governor because it includes provisions he opposes.

Lawmakers reconvene for the second half of the legislative session on Tuesday. And, despite budget woes and federal cuts, some of them are hoping to stay focused on a goal set at the beginning of the session: fighting climate change and promoting energy efficiency at the same time.

Gov. Peter Shumlin said on Wednesday the state shouldn't collect $6 million that the auditor's office says several towns owe to the state education fund.

Governor Peter Shumlin says he may have to re-evaluate his opposition to any tax increases if the federal sequestration process continues for any length of time.

Critics of Governor Peter Shumlin's plans for a single payer health system charge his administration studied how to pay for it, but then halted the work. The group Vermonters for Health Care Freedom alleges the administration looked at a financing plan based on new taxes but then stopped because of political concerns.

Each January, the governor delivers a speech to the Legislature that outlines the spending priorities for the state, and what taxes are necessary to support that plan. VPR brings you Governor Peter Shumlin's "budget address" live from the Statehouse. Listen Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. on VPR and at VPR.net.

Governor Peter Shumlin says Vermont should not enact stronger gun laws on its own. He says gun laws should be set nationally, not state-by-state.

A re-election is a natural time for staff changes in any administration. But it was a wistful Governor Shumlin who announced that some of his closest aides will be leaving.

It was widely reported last week that Governor Peter Shumlin walked out of a press conference because he was upset about reporter's questions regarding a private land deal. And that deal apparently got more complicated this week.

Pete Hirschfeld, Bureau Chief for the Vermont Press Bureau, explains what was in the recently-released campaign finance reports.

Our reporters’ roundtable discusses the top issues facing the state, including who knew what and when about FEMA funding for the State Office Complex, and the latest developments in the Attorney General’s race.

Governor Peter Shumlin says Vermont employers are looking for workers. So he's kicked off a new campaign to encourage young people to return home to fill those jobs. 

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is embarking on a series of highway construction and repair projects that are part of the biggest transportation spending plan in state history.

Governor Peter Shumlin says the state's economy is headed in the right direction as the unemployment rate declines and the business climate improves.

Governor Peter Shumlin's administration wants the state to get 90 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2050.

Governor Peter Shumlin has outlined plans to replace the antiquated Vermont state hospital in Waterbury with a regional system of care for the mentally ill. Shumlin's plans call for a new 15-bed hospital in Berlin, as well as the expansion of existing facilities in Brattleboro and Rutland.

The state's unemployment rate is down to 5.6 percent from lower than 6 percent last year. Governor Peter Shumlin says state revenues of taxes and fees have also begun to pick up and are at the level they were at when the recession began.

Governor Peter Shumlin says the state will reimburse towns for some of the property tax payments they expect to lose because of flood damage. The governor says the plan is designed to make sure that homeowners and business owners can apply to towns for tax relief.

Governor Peter Shumlin discusses the latest damage estimates from Tropical Storm Irene and we listen back to the voices in the news this week.

As governors from across the country meet this weekend in Utah, Governor Peter Shumlin says he hopes they can "bring some rational thoughts" to the debate in Washington over raising the country's debt ceiling. Shumlin says a failure to reach a compromise will hurt essential programs  and could throw the country back into a recession.

Governor Peter Shumlin wants the Obama administration to help California set tough greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and trucks.