The Vermont Report: Sept. 1
The Governor’s Health Care Forums
Governor Jim Douglas’ first of six Health Care Forums took place in Bennington on August, 22nd. FreedomWorks members were in attendance, and took the opportunity to speak up with concerns about the dangers of waiting lines in a government-run system, and to offer up ideas for common sense solutions.
FreedomWorks State Director, Rob Roper, pointed out to the crowd of 150 that replacing insurance premiums with a government imposed tax, as Democrat-led plans call for, would place businesses and individuals in an extremely dangerous position. “If you can’t pay your taxes, the government has the power to shut down your business, seize your property or put you in jail. Is that really a position that small businesses who either can’t pay, or are having trouble paying their premiums as it is, want to put themselves in,” asked Roper. He went on to urge Governor Douglas to explore allowing Vermonters to buy cheaper health insurance available across state lines, and to incorporate Health Savings Accounts into any future reforms.
The “Keystone Docs”
Meanwhile, as the Governor was gathering input from Vermonters at no cost to the taxpayers, the Democrat-led Health Care Commission has been floundering, despite a budget of nearly $800,000. The panel has so far been unable to even hire a director to oversee its operations.
Consistent logistical and political fumbling by Rep. Gaye Symington (D-Jericho), Peter Welch (D-Widsor), Jim Leddy (D-Chittenden), and John Tracy (D-Chittenden) are making these four look more and more like the “Keystone Docs” of health care reform.
“Sugarcoating” the News
Media bias can be a very subtle thing at times. Scanning the headlines, this one caught my eye as wacky enough to pass around for some uncomfortable laughs: “Vt. law firm, sugarmaker win round in landmark climate suit” by David Gram, a reporter for the Associated Press. Gram wrote:
| A Sharon maple syrup producer and a Burlington law firm have won a key initial round in a lawsuit that environmental groups say marks the first time a federal court has allowed someone to sue over alleged harm from global climate change…. Arthur and Anne Berndt, who operate a 16,000-tree sugaring operation they call Maverick Farm, joined the environmental groups Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and other plaintiffs in suing two federal agencies for work that the plaintiffs said promotes global warming.” . |
Now, referring to someone a Vermont maple sugar producer carries with it certain images and evokes some specific emotional assumptions on the part of the reader – down to earth, a real-old-time Vermonter, a farmer hard at work on the land….
Well, here’s the full story regarding Farmer Berndt. He is, for starters, the biggest single Vermont contributor to political campaigns (100% Democrat, according to Follow the Money & other related websites).
New Hampshire is Mocking Us
It’s hard enough living with the knowledge that Vermont’s tax policies are for the most part a foolish collection of painful, debilitating, self inflicted wounds. But listening to beneficiaries of our economic masochism laugh at us outright really stings. This from the New Hampshire Union Leader (Aug. 22):
| [T]he St. Johnsbury, Vt., Select Board released a study showing that Caledonia County, Vt., right across the river from New Hampshire, loses roughly $36 million a year in retail sales to this state. Score another victory for the New Hampshire Advantage…. Throw in the absence of a sales tax in New Hampshire, and you have a whopper of a shopper magnet…. Total retail sales in [Caledonia] county actually have fallen two-thirds since 1958. Retail sales in Grafton County [NH] more than doubled in the same time period. Keep it up, Vermont! At this rate, we won’t need towns like Killington to secede. We’ll get all their money through retail sales. |
Ouch! But this illustrates how and why tax CUTS are an important tool for raising revenue. Cutting taxes historically increases tax revenue. And in Vermont’s case, making our tax code competitive is necessary for spurring economic activity, creating more sales taxes, income taxes, and jobs.
The recent surprise budget surplus Vermont enjoyed (and used to temporarily bail out our Medicaid deficit) came about as a direct results of tax CUTS at the federal level.
The Power of Advertising
FreedomWorks full page ad in the August 17 edition of the Vermont Times has succeeded in bringing Rep. George Cross (D-Winooski) and Senators Don Collins (D-Franklin) and Jim Condos (D-Chittenden) out into the light on the public school preschool issue. The trio made a joint appearance on Charlie & Ernie (WVMT, 620 AM) to make their case on early ed – and to register their outrage with FreedomWorks.
Sen. Condos has an op-ed in the August 31 edition of the Vermont Times, much of which is PRINTED IN ALL CAPS TO DENOTE SCREAMING!
Without getting into the petty sniping, the basic gist of their claims is that expanding the responsibility of the public schools to include managing and operating preschool programs for 3 & 4 year olds won’t raise anybody’s property taxes. And, anyone who doesn’t believe children’s best interests are served by getting them into a one-size-fits all monopoly system at the earliest possible moment in their young lives is “attacking” children.
Their first point is obvious nonsense.
Save the Date – FreedomFest Coming Oct. 15th.
The Ethan Allen Institute and FreedomWorks-Vermont are putting together a full-day event to take place on Saturday, Oct 15th at the Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. The keynote speaker will be Stephen Moore, founder of the Club for Growth and member of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board.
Presentations will include, “Successful Grass Roots Organization” by FreedomWorks Grassroots Manager, Brendan Steinhauser, author of The Conservative Revolution: How To Win The Battle for College Campuses. And “Impact: Crafting Messages that Work” by FreedomWorks-Vermont State Director, Rob Roper, formerly an award winning copywriter at Young & Rubicam Advertising.
This event will be a fun and informative. A great way to meet likeminded individuals, network, and plan for the future.
To register or for more information, Please Contact: John McClaughry of the Ethan Allan Institute (eai@ethanallen.org, 802-695-1448), or Rob Roper (rroper@freedomworks.org, 802-999-8145).
Notes and Events
9/7 – The Governor’s Forum on Health Care, Lyndonville
9/15 – 7:10 – 8:00 am Rob Roper vs. Sen. Jim Condos on Charlie & Ernie (AM 620 WVMT, Burlington)
Look for: Rob Roper’s article on Education Reform in the latest edition of Livin’.
Please Contact:
Your likeminded friends and neighbors. Forward them this edition of the Vermont Report, and encourage them to join FredomWorks’ growing email list by signing up at www.freedomworks.org/processor/signup.php or by contacting State Director, Rob Roper directly at rroper@freedomworks.org or 802-999-8145.
Related Content
FreedomWorks Letter to Congress in Support of the Fiscal Commision Act (H.R. 5779)
FreedomWorks Letter to Congress in Support of Fiscal Commision Act (H.R. 5779)
