The legislature is considering a ban on hospital advertising as one way to control health care costs. 

Legislation that would ultimately ensure that all Vermonters have access to affordable health care will soon be debated by the Vermont Senate.

Congressman Peter Welch says the vote on a new health care reform bill could hinge on Democrats who are pushing for more restrictive language on the use of federal funds for abortion.

Congressman Peter Welch discusses the prospects for a health care bill with VPR's Bob Kinzel.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is defending a plan by Democratic leaders to use the "budget reconciliation" process to pass a health care reform bill.

Congressman Peter Welch discusses what provisions he believes need to be part of the health care reform bill and his feelings about the prospect of using budget reconciliation to get the reform bill approved.

Congressman Peter Welch is supporting efforts in the House that he says will reduce the cost of health care. And Welch says he's willing to back several Republican in a bid to reach a compromise.

If the national health care reform bill dies in the Congress, is there anything significant states can do without help from the federal government to change the system? We ask Ken Thorpe, a health policy researcher at Emory University in Atlanta.

VPR's Bob Kinzel talks with former Governor Howard Dean about the strategy he thinks Democrats should use to pass a meaningful health care reform bill.

Former Governor Howard Dean is urging Democratic Congressional leaders to move ahead with a bold health care reform bill in the coming weeks. 

Adjutant General Michael Dubie talks about the scope of the Vermont National Guard's mission in Afghanistan, how long these troops will be there and how this large deployment affects the capabilities of the Guard here in Vermont.

These were some of the voices in the news this week.

Hundreds turned out at the Statehouse on Tuesday to weigh in on what the state should do to expand access to health care. House and Senate health committees held a joint hearing to hear the public's views on the issue.

Health care reform will be debated in a public hearing tomorrow night at the Statehouse. Advocates for a ‘single payer' system are expected to turn out in big numbers - and demand a vote this year.

Several hundred people went to the Statehouse today to lobby for a single payer health care system. Legislative leaders promised they would explore the approach, but they didn't commit to having a vote on it  this year.

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch says he's hopeful that a compromise can be struck between the House and Senate health care bills.   

Congressman Peter Welch joins VPR's Steve Zind to talk about a variety of issues.

These were some of the voices in the week's news.

Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a single-payer health insurance plan today. Republicans used it as an opportunity to slow down the larger debate on the health care overhaul bill.

Governor Jim Douglas says federal legislation to overhaul the nation's health care system could hurt states like Vermont that have already launched reform efforts.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who is one of two independent members of the Senate, is telling the Democrats that he might vote against their health care reform bill if steps aren't taken to strengthen the legislation.

As part of our continuing series of candidate interviews, Chittenden Senator Doug Racine discusses his positions on health care reform, the future of Vermont Yankee and his plans to stimulate the Vermont economy.

Senator Bernie Sanders says Congress should give individual states the option to establish single payer health insurance systems.

Congressman Peter Welch says it's critical that Congress finish work on a health care bill this year, before the issue gets even more politicized.