Michael Bielawski - Watchdog.org

A Seton Hall 2005 graduate, Michael has been writing freelance articles for various publications in and around New York City, Seoul in South Korea, upstate NY and Vermont for ten years. He currently is a staff writer at the Hardwick Gazette keeping track of rising school budgets and other rural Vermont issues. He likes best to write about health, economics, and geopolitics generally looking for angles not seen in mainstream media. At home he's very busy looking after two little boys and during free time loves to watch Stanley Kubrick films off Netflix.

Vermont Lt. Gov. candidates debate health care, guns, carbon taxes

By   /  July 25, 2016  /  Economy, Energy and Environment, Governor, Health Care, Jobs + Growth, News, Politics & Elections, Vermont  /  No Comments

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As candidates for Vermont’s next lieutenant governor met to debate hot issues, Democrats called for gun control, carbon taxes and universal government health care, while the sole Republican stood opposed to all three.

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Former state auditor Randy Brock challenges Democrats on ‘free’ college

By   /  July 22, 2016  /  Economy, Education, Governor, News, Politics & Elections, Taxes, Vermont  /  No Comments

Photo courtesy of Randy Brock

Vermont’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates are promising free college in return for votes, but a former state auditor and candidate for lieutenant governor says the numbers don’t add up.

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Europe’s wind energy failures a bad omen for Vermont

By   /  July 19, 2016  /  Energy and Environment, News, Power Abuse, Vermont  /  No Comments

WHIRLWIND OF SUBSIDIES: The heavily subsidized wind-energy industry could find itself becalmed if Congress doesn't extend a "temporary" tax-credit program by year end.

As Vermont continues its quest to source 90 percent of energy from renewables by 2050, fresh problems with Europe’s alternative energy sector may spell trouble for wind energy in the Green Mountain State.

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Galbraith’s $15 minimum wage proposal met with skepticism in Vermont

By   /  July 15, 2016  /  Labor, News, Vermont  /  No Comments

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Vermont gubernatorial candidate Peter Galbraith is making a $15 minimum wage a centerpiece of his campaign, but Republican opponents and one local economics professor say the wage could hurt Vermont’s economy.

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VA medical center in Vermont gives update after wait time controversy

By   /  July 13, 2016  /  Health Care, Issues, News, Vermont  /  No Comments

Photo by Michael Bielawski

VA Medical Center Director Alfred Montoya held a town hall meeting to announce that the center is on the right track after a scandal rocked veterans hospitals around the nation.

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Vermont AG candidates address Sorrell’s snub of public records law

By   /  July 11, 2016  /  First Amendment, Free Speech, News, Open Records, Politics & Elections, Power Abuse, Vermont  /  No Comments

AP photo

A lawsuit against Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell over a refusal to deliver public records has prompted different reactions from the two candidates seeking to replace him.

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