John McClaughry, Myers Mermel and Wendy Wilton write 40+ commentaries a year discussing the most pressing public policy issues in Vermont. These are published online and in newspapers throughout the state, including VT Digger, the Caledonian Record, the Rutland Herald, the St. Albans Messenger, the Bennington Banner, Vermont Biz, TrueNorthReports, Times Argus, the Eagle Times and Vermont Daily. If you see an EAI commentary in your local newspaper, shoot us an email! And if you don't see our commentaries in your local papers, let your newspaper editors know.

Commentary: The Debate Over Income Inequality

The evil of “Inequality” has always been a rallying point for advocates of socialism. In 2013 the publication of Capital in the Twenty First Century by French economist Thomas Piketty stimulated a new wave of debate. The title was a takeoff from Karl Marx’s seminal Capital, published in three volumes between 1867 and 1894.

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Commentary: Don’t Be Fooled by “Global Average Temperature”

Last week was a banner week for climate crisis headlines. Washington Post: “The world is hotter than it’s been in thousands of years.” AP: “For the third time this week, Earth sets unofficial heat record.” Politico: “Scientists are freaking out about surging temperatures.”    

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Commentary: The “Bypass Scott” Strategy in Action

The legislature’s enactment of the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act is another troubling example of how massive changes in Vermont are being engineered these days, whether the democratically elected governor likes it or not.

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Commentary: Putting Aside the Science

In this era dominated by aggressive steps to deal with “climate change”, it’s worth inquiring into what the climate activists are working to install in our public school system, presumably to lead their pupils into supporting a long list of policies on the climate change agenda.

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Commentary: The Possibly “Historic” Veto Session

The word “historic” is seriously overused these days, too often to describe events more curious than momentous. A case can be made, however, for the events taking place this week in the “veto session”, in which the supermajority Democratic legislature confronts a popular Republican governor. Consider this combination of facts.

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Commentary: Putting Aside the Science

In this era dominated by aggressive steps to deal with “climate change”, it’s worth inquiring into what the climate activists are working to install in our public school system, presumably to lead their pupils into supporting a long list of policies on the climate change agenda.

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Commentary: EAI Lifetime Achievement Award : A Tribute To John McClaughry

From left to right, Mr. Chris DeMuth, Mr. John McClaughry, Mr. Jack McMullen, and Mr. Myers Mermel “The following tribute was delivered by Mr. Chris Demuth at the Ethan Allen Institute 30th Anniversary Dinner at Burlington, Vermont, on May 31, 2023. At dinner, Mr. John McClaughry was presented with the Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his public policy work in service of Vermont and her people.

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Commentary: The Climate-Conscious Transportation Game

The red hot policy issue in the state right now is S.5, the (un)Affordable Heat bill passed by the Democratic supermajority in the House and Senate. Gov. Scott vetoed it last Thursday.

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Commentary: Holding Down Legislative Expenses

One interest group fared extraordinarily well during the just-completed legislative session. That’s the interest group comprised of Representatives and Senators. Unlike other interest groups, who have to lobby legislators for the benefits they want, the legislators themselves get to vote on their own benefits. This was an opportunity not to be missed.

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Commentary: Report from the ISO Consumer Liaison Group Meeting

Report from the ISO Consumer Liaison Group Meeting

by Rob Roper

The Ethan Allen Institute (EAI) sent Rob Roper to the recent ISO meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to learn more about regional energy plans, particularly as they anticipate the potential passage of S. 5, the Affordable Heat Act.

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