This commentary is by Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont GOP.

For nearly 10 years I participated in the Essex Memorial Day parade, first as a candidate, and then later as a party official, and I have to give an immense amount of credit to the Essex Republicans and Chittenden County Republicans for providing entries in the parade that have always been among the most honorable, thoughtful and stirring. Their entry has always put first the memory of our fallen soldiers.

Paul Dame, chairman of the Vermont GOP

Memorial Day is a unique holiday in that it is one in which the term “celebrate” never seems to quite fit. Wishing someone a “Happy” Memorial Day, is somewhat contrary to the purpose of taking time to remember the grave sacrifice that so many men and women have made in service of our country.

How can one repay a debt so immense as that which has cost someone their life? What can we say or do for those left behind without a son, daughter, husband or wife to show our sincere appreciation? How can a young child know that the loss of their father or mother was not forgotten or in vain? Memorial services, flag ceremonies and parades don’t even begin to scratch the surface, or put things right. But we still do them because we can, and however insufficient our attempts at gratitude may be to honor the cost born by those families, it is important to follow through and honor them where we can.

This is one reason why Vermont Republicans, led by Phil Scott have never stopped advocating for a full repeal of the Military Pension Tax. Last session, despite being outnumbered by the supermajority, we were able to make a historic movement to end the taxation of the first $10,000 in annual benefits to many of our veterans, or their families receiving survivor benefits, but the work is not done. A recent study by WalletHub shows that Vermont is still among the worst states in the country for military retirees, even after this inadequate relief. Only three states and the District of Columbia are worse than us.

But while Republicans, led by Rep. Lisa Hango and others, were working to make life easier for our veterans, the Democrat’s supermajority thought a better idea would be to make life easier for themselves. The Joint Fiscal Office estimated that to fully eliminate the military pension tax, would mean a reduction in state revenues of a mere $3 Million. But instead of giving that money back to our veterans, Democrat leaders crafted a plan to keep their money and instead voted to line their own pocketbooks with a $5 Million pay increase. All this while causing veterans, and every other Vermonter, to pay more to renew their driver’s license, register their vehicle, heat their home, pay their property tax, and collect their paycheck.

Vermont Democrats have proven this year that they are unwilling to compromise and work together. They could have taken the $5 Million and split the difference, giving the veterans their full benefits, untaxed (like most other states) and they would have still had room to give themselves a $2 Million raise or nearly a 50% bump instead of nearly doubling their pay. But it has been clear for over 20 years where the allegiance of the Democrat’s supermajority lies, and it is not with our hardworking men and women in the armed services. And this session has proved that they are completely unwilling to compromise.

Democrats continue to put themselves first, and their party’s ideological positions, ahead of the input of their electorate. It seems that the only way to ensure that our veterans will get the relief they need – the relief they have earned in nearly every other state in our nation – will be to help elect Republicans who have made some gains on this issue, and who will never give up fighting for those who fought for us, our country and our freedoms.