$900 Billion Pandemic Relief Deal Takes Shape
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Stimulus Negotiations Have Made ‘Major Headway,’ McConnell Says
Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, said congressional leaders are approaching agreement on a roughly $900 billion coronavirus relief package.
The Democratic leader and I worked into the evening alongside the speaker of the House and the House Republican leader. We made major headway toward hammering out a targeted pandemic relief package that would be able to pass both chambers with bipartisan majorities. We committed to continuing these urgent discussions until we have an agreement. And we agreed we will not leave town until we’ve made law. The American people need more help. It’s that simple. Further targeted relief is now months overdue. We need vaccine distribution money. We need to re-up the Paycheck Protection Program to save jobs, we need
WhistlePig Sells Minority Stake to the Owner of Ardbeg and Glenmorangie
Shoreham, Vermont-based WhistlePig Whiskey has sold a minority stake to spirits conglomerate Moët Hennessy, allowing it to expand its availability overseas.
Three years after it
Moët Hennessy has taken a minority stake in Vermont-based
WhistlePig. The financial terms weren’t disclosed. The deal will see WhistlePig’s international standing increase significantly as Moët Hennessy assumes distribution of the whiskeys outside of the U.S., with a goal of greatly expanding the brand’s presence abroad.
The move has some synergies with Moët Hennessy’s existing American whiskey distillery, Woodinville: Both it and WhistlePig were heavily influenced in their early years by legendary master distiller Dave Pickerell, who
Programs Over Profit The University of Vermont s decision to cut at least 23 programs of study due to low enrollment is troubling [Off Message: UVM Announces Plan to Eliminate More Than Two Dozen Academic Programs, December 2]. Administrators and trustees of public universities should go beyond enrollment numbers and consider how small programs support the public interest and enrich the region. For example, UVM s decision to cut the Historic Preservation master s program because it has averaged fewer than five students per year is folly: Isn t the continued preservation of Vermont s historic buildings and artifacts in the public interest? Niche programs such as geology, languages and culture also on the chopping block shouldn t be penalized for being unable to increase enrollment. Assuming that programs have value only if they can recruit more students inappropriately attaches a private corporate model to a public institution.