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By Guy Page
First, this factoid from the Department of Eye-Popping Statistics: The current, 2024-25 state budget includes $500 million for various climate change initiatives across all arms of state government, Agency of Human Services Secretary Julie Moore told the press today.
Not all of that funding is derived from Vermont taxpayers. The federally-funded ‘all-solar’ initiative (more on that in an upcoming story by Paul Bean) comprises about 10% of that figure.
Here’s another concerning DEPS factoid: 30% of all Vermont school buildings evaluated so far for PCB contamination have at least one classroom above the acceptable state threshold, Moore said.
Good to see several former House Reps in the building today, including Carl Rosenquist (R-Georgia-Fairfax). The retired Wyeth executive is still active in public service as a member of the Georgia Board of Selectmen. Rosenquist was one of the last House members to serve on active duty in the Vietnam War. Over lunch today, he was commenting on how Franklin County delegation has gained House leadership positions, including Matt Walker (Chair, Transportation), Lisa Hango (vice-chair, Government Operations), and James Gregoire (vice-chair, Corrections and Institutions). He was recognized from the floor by former seatmate Rep. Carolyn Branagan and welcomed with a hearty round of applause by the House.
John Rodgers good Guv material, Scott says – at his press conference today, Gov. Phil Scott – himself a contractor-turned-Lt. Governor – whether John Rodgers has the right stuff for serving as governor.
“He has all the attributes,” Scott said of the Glover-born-and-raised farmer and contractor. “Coming from rural Vermont farming, he’s able to feel what Vermonters are feeling. At this point I think he would do fine.”
But what about that famous John Rodgers temper, he was asked. (Yes readers, that was a real thing from time to time in Rodgers’ many years in the House and Senate.) All in the past, Scott said – “He’s maturing, he’s learning.”
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Categories: Energy, Environment, State Government
To quote Gump ” stupid is as stupid does “
We pay federal taxes too.
Vermont, your legislators think that money grows on trees, Oh wait it does and the taxpayers are the money tree.
This goes to show that pet projects cost money, even when there is no return on the investment, can we see an audit on what the $500M will be spent on ???
Could you imagine how many potholes and torn up asphalt 500 million could repair?
Rogers talks about building bridges so maybe that five hundred million dollars would go a long ways in repairing Vermont highways and bridges.
How much will be left when all the flood torn regions get their repairs?
Oh well, it’s Federal $! Where do they think the Federal $ comes from? US taxpayers! Don’t know about you, but I pay more Federal tax than Vt tax! More endless stupidity!
Serious mental health problem of not discerning that doing the same thing over and over again doesnt change a thing..
We ain’t got no sun today… we ain’t got no wind…but the powers that be with their heads in the clouds…got it all over me (sung to a tune). They know betta, you just can’t go retro. No more space for me. I’m just a simple gal, I just wanna live within my means. No regulation man for me. I’ll greet the dawn with joy, weather cloudy cold or freeze, and I’ll say tood-a-loo to sun, as it sets behind all those evergreen trees. No more do I listen to the people that tell me what is good for me. If it works for me, yeah, I’m all down with it. But if not, why I’m a big enough gal to let it go, go my way, and say, hey, if you change your mind to desire for liberty in pursuit of happiness, why just sing a song and I will hear. Our voices will be clear clear clear…
They may as well stand on the statehouse steps, on a very windy day, and throw handfuls of hundred dollar bills, to the wind, until the 500 million is gone, blown away…for all the good that 1/2 billion will do.
500 Million not thousand.
That money would be better spent on learning to adapt to climate change because no matter what we do se cannot stop it from happening. All these moronic efforts to stop climate change are going to, in the end, bankrupt us and leave everyone unable to adapt to the change and perish instead.
Vermont legislators should heed a quote of Carl Sagan’s – “One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken.”
That level of spending (waste, in this case) would be better spent by reducing VT citizens property and income taxes.
Where is the Republican Scorecard tallying how much money they’ve cut in spending?
This should be a weekly updated scorecard.
How about some accountability and transparency?
An absolute waste of money and common sense.