Rep. Galfetti: Affordable Heat Act just a regressive carbon tax

This commentary is by state Rep. Gina Galfetti, R-Barre Town. She represents the Washington/Orange District.

There was no sun in Mudville, as the mighty Governor Phil Scott had struck out. After a herculean effort by the opposition to stop the implementation of S.5, the (Un) Affordable Heat Act, Scott’s veto was overridden. With members of the majority whipped into line to follow the herd, the few rational voices of dissent were not loud enough to be heard. But more importantly, the people of Vermont were ignored by their duly elected representatives. The people had been counted as scared sheep whose shepherds know better. This is a sorrowful harbinger of what is to come with the current composition of Vermont’s legislature. One man stands in the way to protect the people, and like a quarterback with no line, he is exposed to the whims of the super majority.

state of Vermont

Rep. Gina Galfetti, R-Barre Town

The (Un) Affordable Heat Act was slammed down the throats of the membership and the people. While it is touted as a study, rulemaking and implementation powers have already been granted to the Public Utilities Commission, and mark my words, without a change in Montpelier there will be no turning back. The P.U.C has been granted extraordinary powers with no legislative oversight scheduled until 2025, at which time the ball will have moved so far down the field that turning things around will be very difficult. And at the end of the day, those who will suffer most are the elderly, the poor, and those on fixed incomes who cannot afford to convert to expensive new technologies. Nor will they see the alleged savings predicted in a 30-year model.

And let’s face it folks, the passage of S.5 launches Vermonters down the road to a regressive CARBON TAX. That, after all, is what we are really studying here, and S.5’s passage means we are now merely working out the details. We are forcing Vermonters who are already struggling with inflation, a housing, a workforce shortage, and rising taxes to give more in the name of climate mitigation. Climate change is very real, and man has contributed to it in a major way. However, until we can go after the major world polluters like China and India, is it necessary to break the backs of already overburdened Vermonters? The grid is not ready, the workforce to install the technologies is strapped, and the environmental impacts will amount to nothing, as folks of both sides of the aisle have admitted on the record multiple times. So I ask: Why do we need to tax Vermonters when we are already making great strides naturally, until the market will bear it and the grid can handle it?

But take note: The bill was cleverly designed so that most of the sticker shock does not take effect until after next year’s elections! So when one of your legislators who supported this bill and is running for reelection asks you whether you have been adversely affected by this law, don’t be fooled — the shoes start dropping in 2025!!

Folks in the State house cried and cheered with the override of Scott Veto. But what they did not do was listen to their constituents. While I am a new rep, I was told by every experienced member in the House that they had never seen the outpouring of communication from the people to the legislature asking them to vote no. There were a number of contentious issues this session, but S.5. was like no other. Those in power were able to justify their abuse of power by claiming the many intelligent people of Vermont had been tricked and that they knew better what was good for the people. Well, I seek to remind the legislature that their one and only job is to represent the people who have chosen them to serve. Period. In the case of S.5. those who voted for it essentially claimed that the people were too stupid to know what is good for them. That to me smacks of the arrogance that the super majority has become drunk on. The ultra left is in control, and the voices of moderation are being ignored. Moderation on both sides of the aisle were ignored, and the people were ignored.

The bottom line is that we need balance in Montpelier. No voice should be blotted out by another, and only balance can do this. Only this will become the crucible of the peoples’ will that puts forth the most solid and well thought out legislation. The best law making comes from enlightened and respectful discourse between two or more sides; it does not come from might and force, as any who have lived in a dictatorship knows all too well.

So I will leave you with this: Vote for balance, vote for change, and vote to support our Governor, as he is all that stands between us and the rising tide.

Images courtesy of Public domain and state of Vermont

8 thoughts on “Rep. Galfetti: Affordable Heat Act just a regressive carbon tax

  1. We won’t forget these 2023 Legislative highlights either: depopulation, transhumanism, vilification of men, weaponized lawfare, destroying families, erasing women, castrating/mutilating children, destroying women’s sports, destroying civil rights, exposing children to adult sexual content, lifelong big phama dependence, shield laws, and election rigging. All in all, a job well done for the criminal syndicate.

  2. Now the Vermont Senators and Representatives own this bill and Not Governor Scott.
    Remember when it comes time to vote.
    Choose wisely! Your vote counts!

  3. Yup punishment for using Natural Fuels, just like they tax smokes, alcohol, your the new group they want to reform into the sheep fold. Of course they don’t mind having all that tax money so just keep smoking drinking and driving your lithium free auto.

  4. Gina is right, this regressive carbon tax was shoved down our throats by elected officials who completely ignored their constituents. Someone needs to make sure that these people who are supposed to represent us are not reelected.

  5. The concerning thing with all of these fees and taxes levied by this legislature is that most will get re-elected. Unfortunately for them, I will be a resident of Tennessee by the time they take affect.

  6. Our so called democratic legislators are so happy to put this new unaffordable tax on the people of Vermont.
    I really hope everyone sees this as another green agenda to check off the box.
    Vermont has become the 2nd most taxed state in the US.
    Thanks Gina, hope more people read this

    • I agree with Gena. I know I will not vote for my resentatives next vote as they went along with the pact. Not with true with voting for the people of Vermont. Keep up the good work Gov. Scott.

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