New Chairman: Rachel Pagano

Rachel Pagano replaced John Kelinhans as Chairman of the Vermont College Republicans in February. Before becoming state chairman she was the vice-chairman of the Vermont College Republicans and the president of the Middlebury College Republicans.  She is very excited to continue the great work John Kleinhans has done over the last two years and to get to know as many Vermont Republicans as possible. Please contact her (rachelhpagano@gmail.com) if there is anything she can help you with.

Chairman John Kleinhans featured on The DC Writeup.com

THE DC WRITEUP
Posted on 28 July 2009 by John Kleinhans

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Thomas Frieden, has proposed a new tax on a staple of the average Americans diet: soda.

Many in the Obama administration believe the tax will decrease the obesity rate while raising money to help fight the federal deficit. A federal tax on soda would raise the price of the average container of soda by two or three cents.

More overweight people drink soda then that of skinny people, so it would appear that Frieden has the right intentions. Trouble is, there’s no real reason to target soda. Americans are known to head for ice cream trucks, bars, burger joints, Shoney’s, fast food restaurants, and even the cookie jar when no one’s looking. Why single out 140-calorie sodas, especially since anyone with a modicum of self-control can opt for a diet version of their favorite drink?

The other major problem with the plan is that the enormous cost of smoking has proven that high costs won’t deter people from harming themselves. Smokers spend approximately a zillion dollars a year to destroy their lungs and take the edge off. Are we to believe an extra three cents will prevent people from popping open a soda, especially since the delicious fuzzy beverages have far fewer harmful effects?

This is yet another tax to add to the list that the Obama administration is racking up, one that will increase the price of a common good. Still, it’s only a few cents. Now that’s change we can believe in.

John Kleinhans is the chairman of the Vermont College Republicans.

Vermont CRs at the YRNFC

!From July 8th until the 12th, four Vermont College Republicans made the trip to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Young Republican National Convention. John Kleinhans, Rachel Pagano, Tyler Kittleman and Amber Hartman all made the trip to Indy. They were able to meet Rep. Mike Pence, Rep. Aaron Shock, and many more leaders in the Republican Party. Stay tuned for detailed stories from each of these young leaders in the Republican Party

Vermont Republican Party Internship Program

The Vermont Republican Party has announced a brand new internship program that will take place in the Spring 2010 semester. The program will be designed to have college students as legislative aides for the Senate and House of Representatives. This will give them a chance to experience government at a first hand basis. Please contact John Kleinhans at j.whitman.kleinhans@gmail.com for more information or visit the internships page to apply online. Applications will be due November 1st.

Year End Update

It feels like yesterday that Tyler Kittleman and myself attended the CR meeting at Champlain College where we were elected to our current position. So much has happened since then, so let me bring everyone up to speed. With the help of the VT GOP and many other great people throughout the state of Vermont, the CRs are now in full force.

Last week, I was nominated as the College Republican of the Year. I am one of 12 finalists out of 186 nominations. This is an honor to the Vermont CRs and to the level we have transformed our organization to.

We had a very successful spring convention where over 40 people attended. I would like to thank the Dutch Mill and the Shelburne Town Committee for their great work.

Our legislative breakfast brought students from UVM and Lyndon State College to the capitol where they were able to meet with Governor Jim Douglas and many other great representatives from the GOP.

These are only a few of the things we have done in the last couple months. Please stay tuned for more!