by Alison Despathy
Vermont Public (formerly Vermont Public Radio) reinforced its reputation for climate propaganda with its recent article, Climate policy grinds to a standstill in Montpelier. It reiterates the bogus talking points used by Vermont Democrats for years.
Cue a Statehouse theme song- Bang Your Head by Quiet Riot about sums it up.
Most Vermonters are not falling for the spin, especially after the Clean Heat Standard saga, the property tax attack and the steep healthcare cost increases crushing the healthcare system, businesses and education spending. The list of irresponsible policy under Vermont democratic ‘leadership’ grows. Vermonters are hurting.
The article quotes climate extremist Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor): “Done properly, initiatives such as the clean heat standard, or a cap and invest framework for the transportation sector could free low and moderate income Vermonters from the financial yoke of fossil fuels.”
Herein lies the problem. These programs are incapable of being ‘done properly.’ How many times must it be said? These programs were definitively determined to hurt low and moderate income Vermonters, despite the intended goal of trying to help.
There false talking points persist due to blind ideology unwilling to accept new, opposing information. White, like many democrats, has repeatedly struggled to acknowledge reality and the damage current climate proposals bring.
Same story for the Climate Council and their recent Climate Action Plan (CAP) which again promotes a clean heat standard, a transportation cap and invest program and ecosystem services, even though they have all proven too costly and inappropriate based on detailed reports by the Public Utilities Commission, Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak, and multiyear working groups assessing program impacts.
Keep in mind that heavy-hitting Climate Council member Jared Duval is also Executive Director of Energy Action Network, an organization launched with an aggressive Climate agenda intended for Vermont.
In 2023, an intensive working group concluded the carbon credit program would favor investors at the expense of Vermont farmers. An alternative approach was offered, yet like a zombie, it has resurfaced in the CAP.
Why are VT Democrats falling for this next level empire and forcing this extractive carbon market in all sectors, pretending it is the answer to climate change?
Cue another song from the Statehouse playlist- In 2 Deep by Damian Marley, “If you’re over ten and watch CNN and believe everything, you are in too deep, so don’t get in too deep.”
In the worst game of Whack-A-Mole ever, the reemergence of these punitive, regressive policies will continue to be Vermont’s vicious cycle every session until the Global Warming Solutions Act and the Climate Council are repealed.
Senator White shared, “What gets me out of bed every day is how do we…support the lowest-income Vermonters getting off of extremely expensive, unclean, price-volatile fossil fuels?”
Like many, White has been duped to believe this is possible. Buildings need weatherization and electrical upgrades before taking a heat pump. Biofuels are more expensive, just as price volatile as fossil fuels and not clean when tracking the lifecycle from genetically modified seeds, to profuse pesticide use and ecosystem destruction. Add to this ongoing widespread extended power outages due to storms and grid deficiencies and you have a nightmare without diversification.
How long can reality be ignored by legislators?
If transparent propaganda was the goal, the Vermont Public story was stunningly successful. Unfortunately it does not help anyone understand the real story.
Elena Mihaly, vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, also chimed in stating, “It is eminently clear right now that the Scott Administration just has failed to deliver the responsible climate action that Vermonters expect and deserve.”
Earth to Mihaly!
Vermont has spent more than $1 billion over the past five years for climate policy. Mihaly fails to understand that Gov. Scott has consistently shown that he will not sacrifice Vermonters for unrealistic agendas by climate activists creating bad laws. Mihaly and White’s statements offer a glimpse into the “we don’t care, we want it now” mentality driving Vermont’s climate policy. History has proven that extremism leads to destruction and Vermont is on the brink.
CLF is a lucrative ‘nonprofit’ responsible for providing the language in the GWSA that the state can be sued if emission reductions are not met. This lawsuit is in play and will force the administration to take action, bypassing the legislature and imposing harmful policies.
The most concerning statement in the Vermont Public propaganda piece masquerading as reporting was, “(Representative) James, (Senator) White and other influential Democrats, including Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth, say they stand ready to defend that law (GWSA) against repeal. And if Democrats and Republicans can’t align on a shared climate action plan, then they’re prepared to let the judicial branch force the enactment of emissions reduction policy on elected officials’ behalf.” This admission places Vermont at severe risk and reflects their gross negligence.
Vermont has the lowest level of emissions. Our 75% forest cover with vast mycorrhizal networks constantly sequester, trade and transform carbon, the building block of life. Humanity has yet to fully comprehend nature’s capacity for handling the basic elements of life, especially in Vermont where the environment and natural resources are abundant and many stewards keep an ever watchful eye on the health of Vermont’s ecosystems.
Vermont Public’s propaganda superficially simplifies a complex issue into ‘the Democrats want climate policy and the Republicans are pushing back’. Author Pete Hirschfeld ignores that the programs promoted as climate policy by the Democrats will not work, are deeply unaffordable, involve a fraudulent carbon credit game, hurt low and moderate income Vermonters and our businesses, will not make a difference for the climate and environment and direct money away from communities in need of hardening infrastructure and preparing and recovering from storms.
This has been backed by study after study. Vermonters pay big money for these reports. Reporters should use them. Avoidance of these details harms Vermont and impedes meaningful progress. When will the Democrats wake up to reality? Cue the theme song–again