This commentary is by Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont GOP.
This week House Democrats are putting together their budget, and you could say they are really going out on a limb. The extreme imbalance in the legislature has led the entire caucus of Democrats reaching further and further away for the central functions of government to pursue novelty when what Vermonters truly want is reliability in these uncertain times.
Governor Scott laid out a budget plan that took advantage of the current surplus and put it to good use. His plan was to use this one-time money, which may not be there next year, to take advantage of some one-time opportunities we have to draw down federal funds at a 3-to-1 rate to repair our roads and bridges and improve our infrastructure.
Paul Dame, chairman of the Vermont GOP
Instead of starting with the fundamentals of infrastructure maintenance, House Democrats are going out on a limb to partially fund a new paid leave experiment that is genuinely half baked, well maybe only one-third-baked. This new crop of far-left activists-turned-legislators are more attentive to “sending a message” and chasing shiny new policy proposals instead of performing the simple and necessary functions of government.
First their plan is unnecessary. Gov. Scott has already begun implementing a paid leave plan that is voluntary, affordable and flexible. It would allow employees to opt-in if they want it, it wouldn’t cost taxpayers anything because the costs would be born by the employees who receive the benefit, and it would be more flexible because it would include self-employed people as well.
Secondly their plan is underfunded. The proposal by Democrats is expected to cost over $100 Million, and yet barely one third of that is in the budget. This means that despite Vermont’s long tradition of passing a budget that balances, any reasonable person should expect us to be over $60 Million short just 4 or 5 months after we pass the budget. But the reality is that it could be even further underfunded if people file claims at a higher rate than expected.
Thirdly the plan is unwise. Compared to the Governor’s transportation plan, we would spend a dollar and get roughly three dollars (or more) of value thanks to matching federal funds, and we would build a road which would benefit nearly every Vermonter for years to come. With the paid leave plan, we would spend a dollar, and then be required to spend 2 more dollars (or more) later, and every year after that be on the hook for more money that we can accurately calculate right now. And what we get in return is fewer people working. The other reason this tradeoff is unwise right now is that with two major bank failures in the past month, it is hard to make a credible case that our state revenues will be higher next year. But even if they are, all of the economic indicators suggest that the wise thing to do is to plan for a recession but hope we’re wrong. If we do end up in a job-cutting recession the paid leave program will be of little use to those newly unemployed workers who are no longer eligible.
If we follow House Democrats, Vermonters could get left behind. Other states are following the lead of their Republican Governors and are taking advantage of the unique opportunity to draw down these federal funds and finally rebuild aged transportation infrastructure. Is Vermont going to get left behind while other states like Alabama are already locking in improvements that will directly serve their people instead of a political agenda? Democrats are extending the graveyard of abandoned ideas from Single Payer, the All-payer model, Green Mountain Secure Retirement and other failed plans. If they continue going out on a limb to provide their version of the paid leave plan, will this be the next in the series of failures?
House Republicans take seriously the commitment we have to Vermont taxpayers. There are a lot of things that we may like to have, but we have to start with those things that are necessary. That is our chief responsibility. Some employers already offer a generous paid leave program, and the Governor is already rolling out a new program to bring in more people. But the one thing our state government must do, which Vermonters and their employers can not do for themselves, is maintain the infrastructure we need to move people around our state so that they can work, shop and educate themselves for the future. Vermont Republicans want to keep State Government’s focus on the basic and provide good value for taxpayers. We know it’s not flashy — but it’s essential. That how we reflect our Vermont Values as Republicans.
At this juncture, it is no longer about politics. We are far beyond the right v left scripted talking points handed down from the Masters. We are in a war. As Rome burns, political talking heads are secretly gathering up their ill-gotten gains and heading toward their bunkers. Many people know we are in dire straits. Even those who don’t speak up, feel it in the pit of their stomachs and grow more concerned each passing day. My mother always told me, many times, the blood will run in the streets. As she survived the Depression, witnessed many decades of debauchery and theivery play out here and abroad, the prophecy is coming to fruition. The flextion point is met and now is the time of decision. We either fight the principality set out to destroy humanity or let it overtake and destroy. Until then, the gut punches will continue in haste.
What happened to the Conservatives in Montpelier, well they have been smothered by
the liberal machine, or just given up !!
When conservatives had a voice, the state was financially sound, then the progressives
took hold in the seventies and like cancer, they have slowly killed Vermont with feel good
policies, spending with no money with no concern for the ramification, we now have debt,
taxes and liabilities…………….Vermont is not Vermont.
We need more GOP fighters, not the let’s get along members we have, we have enough
data to show the foolishness of the left, just look at the 2023 bills they want to pass, it’s
all about the agenda.
Wake up, the money will dry up and so will the state !!
I appreciate Paul’s critique of our out of control elected officials and the continuing debates on the disappointments of our political parties. I suspect that whoever gets elected from whatever party needs to held to account for representing us.. They need to here what we want and don’t want…where we are pleased with them and where they are disappoint us. Whatever their party, their agendas, their presumptive entitlement to rule us…they’ll only actually represent us when we demand it…frequently and loudly. Perhaps we need to be email them daily with our concerns.
Wake up and smell the coffee You say this: “Republicans want to keep State Government’s focus on the basic and provide good value for taxpayers. .. That how we reflect our Vermont Values ..”
You have lofty, noble thoughts of how VT should be run…but the reality is they are just “wishful platitudes”. VT is toast. Repubs will never get any majority in either Senate or House. NO real republican conservative Gov will EVER be elected. Only a left leaning Rino will have a chance. Because it is DEMS that voted Phil Scott in, because he is no threat to their power. Phil Scott is a their puppet Eunuch!
It has take 30-40 YEARS of careful Grass Roots organizing to achieve the absolute Democrat, Liberal, Progressives power bases…and the VT voter buys it all – hook, line and sinker.. It all started in the 1970;’s when VT used to be one of the most Repub states anywhere, actually more Libertarian. Not now. Progressives and Dems had well laid, well executed plans and took 40 years to complete. They won, and they will never give it back.The VT populous is brainwashed, indoctrinated to believe any and all the CULTS tells them to believe (Climate, BLM, CRT, fossil fuel, DEI, Sex, Gender, race, Organic only, EV’s mandated – you name it)…all lead by the Cult of CLIMATE…only they will save you from certain Climate death & Extinction. YOU CANNOT CHANGE Cult brainwashed people. They happily drink all the Kool-Aid given to them…just like Jim Jones did to his “worshipers”..and in about five years the Cult will kill VT…fiscal crisis. You CAN’T spend $8 billion for 640,000 people with unfunded liabilities of over $.4.5 billion. Reality will be the last at bat, and by then it is too late.
Well you left out Make America Great Again and that the 2020 election was stolen!!
First, MAGA is about America. This thread is about VERMONT. I post about VT. Second, stolen elections? Again, I post about VERMONT. while there is some voter fraud in VT…the amount of it will not really change or affect almost all election outcomes. The only time I recall that voter fraud really made the difference was when Bernie Sanders did it in BTV to get elected Mayor. He won by 12 votes…and that win came from several hundred illegal votes (for bernie) from UVM kids ,signed up by Bernie’s Progressives)…kids living in apts off campus (never dorms)…most of whom were non resident out of state kids. THAT HAPPENED. I remember it like it was yesterday. In fact, off campus apt kids at UVM still do it to this day….BTV never checks teh accuracy of rolls.
Up, I remeber it in college, wondering why do out of state people get to vote for vermont?
Neil….”..why do out of state people get to vote for vermont?”
because that is how liberals and progressives operate. No honor or integrity…and less of morals. They don’t play fair. They operate with one goal, to win and gain power, no matter what they have to do, almost. They follow all Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals says to do.
Glad you too remember the FRAUD that Bernie did. I DO…I am a UVM grad back then as well… IMAGINE…the BTV Mayorship was HIS STEPPING STONE. And just a couple years ago PROGRESSIVES gerrymandered the whole off campus UVM apartment area…again…to encompass as MANY apts from UVM as possible. WHY? because the illegal fraud votes are easy pickings. NO ONE CHECKS….least of all the BTV City Hall. IT IS HOW they stay in power.