Especially candidates who voted to override Governor’s veto
by Alison Despathy
Here are a handful of policy Questions to consider asking candidates, especially Democrat candidates because their party voted for these laws over the Governor’s veto. If they don’t have an answer, please ensure they research and review the history and can supply you with clarity. This is critical to affordability in VT. There is tremendous political propaganda in play at this time- every candidate is saying affordability is a priority for them- what does this actually mean and how will they help achieve this? Please help break through and get to real policy questions on actual issues in VT to know your candidates. Thank you for considering
1- The Global Warming Solutions Act was passed over the Governor’s veto and mandates unrealistic GHG reduction requirements resulting in policies that unnecessarily increase the costs of heating and fuel for Vermonters. If these reductions in our cold rural state which requires heat and transportation to live, are not met then we are sued and waste taxpayer dollars as policies are developed to attack Vermonters with regressive laws that increase basic living expenses with no benefit. We have already been sued once by Conservation Law Foundation. GWSA drives the clean heat standard and transportation cap and invest programs. There are two bills that will be reintroduced to fix the GWSA- one is a full repeal and one is an amend to change these requirements to goals and remove the lawsuit provision.
Do you support these bills to fix the GWSA and stop harming Vermonters with higher costs on basic living expenses? If you don’t know, please take the time to review so you can provide an answer. These are critical aspects to Vermont’s affordability issue and voters need answers.
2- The Renewable Energy Standard passed by the Democrat supermajority over the Governor’s veto – this will significantly increase Vermonters electric rates with zero tangible benefits. Costs for Vermonters are estimated at ~$500 million- $1 billion over the next 10 years. Vermonters already pay efficiency Vermont charges on our electric bills and we have the cleanest electricity portfolio. This is a law which prioritizes renewable energy developers over Vermonters and our small local utilities. There are also two bills to repeal or amend this RES that will be reintroduced.
Do you support the bills to fix the Renewable Energy Standard about to ramp up costs? If you don’t know, please take the time to review so you can provide an answer. These are also critical aspects to Vermont’s affordability issue and voters need answers.
3-Do you support a foundation formula in education to budget schools and start to cost control education spending and skyrocketing education property taxes? And do you support school choice?
4- Do you understand what Act 181 actually was and did to Vermonters, rural Vermonters in particular and property owners? Please explain why this was bad policy and should NEVER happen again.
Act 59 -aka- 30×30, 50×50 poses a real threat to Vermont, property owners, working lands, and Vermont’s future land access and development. Carbon credits and other “Wall Street environmentalism” schemes are fueled in this law- serving corporate goals over Vermonters prosperity and posterity.
Do you support a full repeal of Act 59, or else plugging in Vermont’s current use program enrolled lands to meet these requirements?
5- Do you believe Vermonters should be able to choose what kind of car they drive and not have electric vehicles forced on them via increased fees for fuel such as those in the recently proposed cap and invest policies?
6- Do you support structural change in healthcare policy from the past decades of Democratic leadership that has chased out dozens of insurers since 1992? A silver plan in VT is ~$1300 compared to ~$450 in NH due to VT policies that are an outlier from all other states except NY. We have the highest insurance costs due to these policies- more than twice the national average – Do you support these changes and do you understand what Governor Scott’s recent healthcare Executive Order does to start this process because the legislature has failed to make any meaningful changes. This is critical because as we all know these costs drive property taxes and increased education costs on top of the high healthcare costs for all.
7- What regulations would you amend to support our working lands economy such as farming and forestry? They are many existing policies that interfere with the success and viability of these businesses. How would you specifically fix this problem.
Also – would you take a moment to fill out this survey from the Vermont Natural Rights Project? Thank you so much for your time. Vermonters need real information on actual policy and existing laws to help inform them on candidates and action that can make a difference.
https://www.naturalrightsproject.org/candidate-questionnaire#CandidateQuestionnaire
The author is a clinical nutritionist in St. Johnsbury.