September 30, 2026 Guest host Rachel Burgin talks about land-use laws, proposed rules by the VT Department of Health, and NY's new civil service law

Vermont House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy joins the show to recap the 2026 Vermont legislative session and discuss why affordability remained such a major issue. The conversation will cover property taxes, education spending, health care costs, and legislation Republicans proposed to address rising costs.

Shella Alcabes, Deputy Head of Litigation, Freedom Foundation discusses the Freedom Foundation’s federal lawsuit challenging New York’s newly enacted Section 216 civil service law. She will explain why the organization halted its New York outreach, how the law could affect efforts to educate public employees about their union membership rights, and why the case could have broader First Amendment implications beyond New York.

Sofia Hamilton, Health Care Policy Analyst, AFP will talk about the new proposed rules by the VT Department of Health to essentially eliminate the birthing center law passed in 2025. The discussion will examine what is driving health care costs, how mandates and regulations can affect premiums and consumer choice, and policy reforms that could give patients more options, greater control, and more affordable coverage.  and Vermont State Representative Rob North, Addison-3 discusses what happened during the 2026 legislative session on education, housing, land use, and environmental policy—and why major affordability concerns remain unresolved. North represents Addison-3 and serves on the House Committee on Environment and the Joint Legislative Environmental Oversight Committee.