BRATTLEBORO-Seems like yesterday we were going to the polls to elect the governor of Vermont. A two-year term - so inefficient, but here we are.
Thank goodness that Gov. Scott is still willing to take the job. Where would we be without him? I tremble.
This year's alternative seems to want to conduct an economic experiment using Vermont for the trial. Pretty scary. Once again the targets are the hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying members of the community (HWLATPs). You know, the cash cows. We can milk them for all they're worth and hand it over to … anyone is not one of the above.
Stick it to the landlords who are on the hook to provide free housing to those who are not one of HWLATP's. Run the fuel businesses out of town and hope that some kind of alternative magically appears. ("What, Vermont has outlawed fuel oil and it hasn't made one iota of difference to climate change?") Whatever, Vermont leads the way. (Half the country can't find Vermont on the map - the other half checked on Bernie.)
This voter is 100% behind great schools and well-compensated teachers. However, this is Vermont, not Texas. I notice whenever a Texas school is in the news how spectacularly beautiful they are. The total Vermont budget is about $9 billion with $2.5 billion going to the K-12s. Texas spends about $9 billion on public education (possibly considerably more from a trust fund that pumps $5 billion into public schools annually).
I went to a Texas-style school back in the '60s. We had an Olympic-size pool, boys and girls gyms, college-grade labs, etc. Why can't every high school in Vermont have the same? Gov. Scott recognizes that the state cannot spend the entire $9 billion budget on the "best possible schools" - this isn't Texas. Facing the reality of the situation, compromises need to be made.
If the state makes it uncomfortable for businesses to conduct business here, they won't be here. California made it uncomfortable for Tesla, and Tesla packed up and moved to Texas. Gov. Scott has kept an eye on the business environment in the state and has worked hard to keep and attract business. Make this state uncomfortable for business, and the economy will collapse. It is his job to veto things that are bad for Vermont.
And then there's just plain old politics. I am amazed that some writers think that Gov. Scott be should be screaming and yelling at members of the administration. The state is very fortunate to have a Republican governor that actually has political skills. Vermont needs to be looking out for Vermont. This state in not in a position to play heavy with the Federal government. I hate to use this quote, but quite frankly, we don't have the cards.
There are other issues, of course: The enabling of drug addiction. (Note that I went to high school in the '60s - you can walk away.) "Incarceration doesn't work." (Maybe all of the HWLATPs can adopt a convicted felon.) Tax the ultra wealthy. (They own multiple homes - they will just change their primary residence.) Bring more primary care providers to Vermont. (So we can tax them!)
Vermont needs the wisdom, experience, and skills that Gov. Scott uniquely has. "Two more years!"
Dan Jeffries
Brattleboro
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