by Rep. Gina Galfetti
The incompetence of the Legislature this session is more glaring and offensive than ever. Members incapable of original thought have simply nodded their heads and followed the herd off the cliff by passing legislation that is raising costs for every day Vermonters.
The failure of the yield bill (H.887) to yield any real savings on education is a shell game and does not create any of the much-needed structural changes to the education funding system. It instead offers up yet another costly study rather than a solution, and as a result, taxes will continue to trend upward.
From the Renewable Energy Standard to the Climate Super Fund, Vermonters will continue to pay for a mirage that promises effective climate change legislation but yields no discernible results. In fact, these bills will simply increase costs of living in the form of higher energy bills and higher taxes to pay for endless litigation.
In these uncertain and concerning times in Vermont, those in the ultra-liberal Democratic and Progressive super majority are gambling that Vermonters have more to give. We do not! The reality is that Vermonters have already given up too much, sending both young and old out of the state in droves. Vermont is no longer a place in which Vermonters can afford to live.
What we need to turn the ship is balance. We are already going full speed ahead. It is time to throw the ship into a hard turn and vote in Republicans and moderate Democrats, not activists with an agenda to push, and not nice people who are willing to do whatever their leaders tell them to do! We need to try and undo the harm the Super Majority has caused through the passage of unfunded mandates. We need to vote for people who can work together and listen to the voices of their constituents rather than assert that they alone know better.
Tax and spend is unsustainable, and Vermonters cannot continue to foot the bill for things like so called Green Energy solutions. We cannot continue to see higher and higher property tax bills while the education system remains unreformed and students’ test scores continue to fall. And we certainly cannot afford to pay $31,000,000 (from the Ed Fund!) for programs like universal school meals. School meals are already covered for low-income students through the federal school lunch program. The program is not utilized by many students, in fact some high-income students, who disdain school food, are busy ordering their lunches through Door Dash!
Rather than listen to the voices of Vermonters who are crying out for relief, the Super Majority has chosen to grind their voices silent in the din of the State House. They have chosen to completely ignore and drown out the voices of dissent rather than listen and engage in thoughtful law making. And they have cast their votes for a grand agenda that is not grand at all, but rather arrogant, thoughtless, and unrealistic. And they have left Vermonters behind in the wake of a ship that is headed on a dangerous course.
Gina Galfetti (R) is the Representative for Barre Town and Williamstown. Contact her at ggalfetti@leg.state.vt.us or 802.461.3520
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Categories: Commentary, Legislation, Rep. Gina Galfetti's Floor Report, State Government
With all due respect to Ms. Galfetti, this legislature is far from incompetent and in fact they are trained, (many as community organizers) highly cable & effective Communists who are following all the rules in order to undermine this Republic and install the new globalist agenda.
While I understand why you might personally feel compelled to mince words, I do not. These miscreants are destroying Americans’ educations, their jobs, and the state they call home.
There is absolutely nothing that is sacred to them as they revere nothing but power and do not believe in the Divine, as government is their god.
These legislators are nefarious traitors to the country and to the US Constitution. They are hateful, manipulative, and shameless, but the one thing they are not is incompetent. On the contrary, they are extraordinarily competent at what they do. Simply look around.
Very well said, you get it.
Spot on, Kathleen. Highly recommend the recently published book, Next Gen Marxism. It’s also spot on…
Oh. Okay, Neil, Tom, and Kathleen.
Explain to me the difference between being ‘incompetent’, ‘to completely ignore and drown out the voices of dissent’, and to be ‘more glaring and offensive than ever’, as Ms. Galfetti has characterized the legislature, and being ‘trained’, ‘highly capable & effective Communists following all the rules’. Are these differences with little distinction? What’s your point?
You all seem to be more concerned with declaring who it is among you who can use the most derogatory language to describe the tyranny we face, rather than addressing the specific points made in Ms. Galfetti’s commentary.
Speaking of being ‘nefarious traitors to the country and to the US Constitution’, where does it state that believing in the ‘Devine’ is a requirement for participation? How convenient it is for you to ignore ‘the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them’ as later codified in the first amendment of our amazing Constitution.
“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche
Elections (or rather selections) have consequences and here we all are – hurling headlong into the brick wall they built by design of their Master. They wished and pushed for it and well compensated for their efforts. Not only here, but globally the battle lines drawn and now comes the throw down of many gauntlets. Time to double dog dare those who wish to destroy or redeem – the powder keg is primed for ignition – who will be the side to drop the lit match or blow it out. Who will run and hide?
The evil gaming of politics and ensuing psyops, as we know and experience, is coming to an end. The shaking has commenced and it’s not going to stop until it is completely gutted and hung from the rafters – one way or another. The watchers see it and try to warn others. Free will to take heed or not. Woe onto them who refuse to turn from the wickedness, repent, and rebuke.
For all the efforts to go along to get along is an exercise in futility. Pointing out the obvious is also an excercise in futility. The hounds of Hell are now biting their handlers, the snakes chasing and eating their own tails, and the demons are on the loose taking out whatever and whoever isn’t paying attention. Free will to believe it or not.
War is Hell indeed and we are in the thick of it right now. Many can feel it in their bones, while many more can’t wrap their minds around what is going on and about to unfold here and abroad. The veil is thinning.
Re: “The incompetence of the Legislature this session is more glaring and offensive than ever…. It is time to throw the ship into a hard turn and vote in Republicans and moderate Democrats, not activists with an agenda to push…..”.
At least someone on the inside has the courage to call our legislature what it is.
Thank you, Ms. Galfetti. If you were running for office down here in Windham County, I’d be the first to support and vote for you.
Unfortunately, we have no candidates in this neck of the woods with your foresight, and the majority of our electorate can best be characterized as the omnipotent moral busybodies described by C.S. Lewis and T. S. Eliot, struggling to think well of themselves at the expense of others. It would, indeed, be better to live under robber barons than be “cured” against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease… put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason. This tyranny has no bounds, with bankruptcy and conflict sure to follow.
Perhaps you might take the time to tell us what the details of your ‘course change’ entails. For example, what do you think of H. 405, an act relating to school choice for all Vermont students? Have you considered John Feldman’s 2023 documentary film Regenerating Life; explaining how the most important greenhouse gas is water, not carbon dioxide, and that it is the water cycle that regulates 95% of the temperature of the planet.
Most of us already know the dystopian nature of our existing legislature. But what we don’t know is how we can confront them with these specific alternative courses of action. You’ve taken the first step. But now we need someone to address these legislative tyrants head on and publish the conversation for all to see. And if they won’t engage, well, silence can be deafening.
Again, thank you for your courage and honesty.
Have you considered running for office?
Re: “Have you considered running for office?”
Yes. And your point is?
Personally I’d love to see our Senate modeled after the U.S. Senate. What I mean by this is the numbers should not be based on population, but two Senators per county, regardless of population. If Essex County had two Senators, and Chittenden County only had two Senators that would only be cutting two Senators, from 30 down to 28, but the difference that the diversity that Senators from more rural counties would give rural communities more say in their destinies. I would not be against trimming the number of members in the house down as well, but have really not given the “how” part much thought. I will say though that the State of New York has a little more than 30 times the population of the State of Vermont, and they seem to be able to spend enough money (and afterall isn’t that the purpose of government, to spend citizen’s money?) with only 213 Assemblymen, and Senators. Is New York just that much more efficient than Vermont ??? 🙂
Representative Galfetti
A ‘tell it like it is’ comment. Vermonters are catching on to the cost of living cliff we are being marched towards.
Mr. Finnie asked for “specific alternative courses of action”. I believe, in the next General Assembly, you and moderate Democrats can shut down the Clean Heat Standard with an alternative already in operation. Expand the O.E.O. Weatherization Assistance Program, with more work crews, paid a living wage. They can double the number of houses to be weatherized.
Moderate democrats will not be part of any solution. It is not a “democrat” led idea tank. The administrative state has complete control of Vermont and massive amounts of the country. Look at what the swamp did this week, keeping Johnson in.
They might let you think they give up, but the leaders have long term scope, they think in 100 year blocks, not 2 and 4 year elections, not 10 year increments.
Thankfully it’s a massive organization, that can’t veer from the plan, and even so, is not nimble. That is but one achilles heel.
They are VERY predictable.
They Lie and deceive.
They create division.
They destroy things.
We could do well to take these points in and use them to our advantage, but we don’t, we don’t.
They are also so vulnerable with the super majority, but we don’t use that to our advantage either….
It’s no incompetence, definitely not. They are following a plan and listening to the orders given them. They are NOT incompetent, they are very, very shrewd, they cunning.
If you underestimate your adversary, if you underestimate what they have control of then you will fall for their trap, just like we have for 30 years.
You can’t fight goliath head on, that is everyone’s first mistake. You have to get them where they are vulnerable, and of yet nobody is even talking or working that angle.
They will decimate the VTGOP like usual until somebody starts working together and focusing, working harmony. Looking for massive GOP candidates isn’t going to make enough change and it won’t last more than a year or two until we get it right.
We are like Lucy and Charlie Brown, she always takes away the foot ball.
Re: “You have to get them where they are vulnerable, and of yet nobody is even talking or working that angle.”
And just what ‘angle’ might that be?
when you see you your house or senate member at the local store, ask them/// whey are you not in jail for engaging in a r.i.c.o. operation to over throw the vermont constitution with the lock downs and scaring people into taking the covid kill shot//// that should be a short conversation////
Or, you might simply send them an email asking for their position on any number of issues.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/search/2024
I, for one, endorse everything Kathleen said. She’s absolutely right. And she is doubly right in saying that these legislators are not incompetent. No incompetent individual or group could so steadfastly infiltrate the state legislature until they have a stranglehold on it. No incompetent individual or group could stick together despite any petty differences they might have with each other. Oh no. These are cunning, vile, power-hungry, despicable, what’s-in-it-for-me, and yes, communist folks. They cannot be reasoned with, and they cannot be deflected from their common course.
No, these folks are anything BUT incompetent. Unfortunately, real Vermonters’ first impulse is to “be fair”… to “play fair”. And that, my friends, is the huge mistake that’s been made. You don’t show up at a gunfight with a knife. You have to fight fire with fire.
Is that distasteful? Sure. Is that lowering oneself to their level? Yep. But I’ll tell you their one weakness. If we could ever get our collective act together and mount some real pushback, as President Trump has been doing, they will crack. The whining, the wailing, and the REE-ing will start. And they will make mistakes. You don’t bust open a boulder with one shot from the heaviest implement you can handle. No, you chip away, little by little, until one crack forms. Then another, and another. And eventually they WILL make mistakes. Only then do you slam a giant wedge in there and blast that boulder into a million pieces.
Tell me, why CAN’T we get a rabble-rouser like MTG elected somewhere in the state legislature? It just takes focus and organization in one geographical area. You’d have to get someone who gets stronger by speaking truth to power. Someone who would be enough of a character that they could get regular mass media coverage, but someone who has good old-fashioned common sense and a plain way of putting things. And even more so, someone who can’t be bought and who won’t take a dime from any special interest group or NGO. Hey..,. it’s a plan.
Finally, someone asked Mr Eshelman if he had considered running for state office, to which he replied that he had considered it. My question would then be, then why haven’t you done it, Mr Eshelman?
Game on, Ms. Banks.
Why haven’t I run for office?
Do you mean since I’ve served on our local Planning Commission from time to time during the last 50 years I’ve lived here, or served on one of our local school boards, or on the Workforce Investment Board (liaison between businesses and our schools), or served on our local downtown development association? Of course, that doesn’t consider the fact that I’ve been in business here for those 50 years, having employed hundreds of our citizens. It doesn’t count the number of times I’ve presented research and best practices here on VDC and elsewhere, on the state of our education system, or that I personally met with one of our Governors (Howard Dean) to express ongoing economic concerns, or that I publicly debated our recent Secretary of Education (Dan French) on the importance of School Choice. `
Why are you so negative on Ms. Galfetti’s comments? What IS the difference between being ‘incompetent’, ‘to completely ignore and drown out the voices of dissent’, and to be ‘more glaring and offensive than ever’ – and being ‘cunning, vile, power-hungry, despicable, what’s-in-it-for-me, and yes, communist folks’.
What’s your point, Ms. Banks? What have YOU done recently to change our course? Or do you expect me, and others, to save you from yourself?
Re: “Tell me, why CAN’T we get a rabble-rouser like MTG elected somewhere in the state legislature?”
Because the Vermont electorate won’t vote for people with reasonable conservative views. I did my best to support one local candidate during the 2020 election (he knows who he is and may choose to chime in). I put up his signs and lobbied my neighbors to support him. But he didn’t get any support from the RINO VT GOP and consequently lost the election.
Is that his fault? Is it my fault? Is it Ms. Galfetti’s fault? Again. Ms. Banks, what have YOU done recently to change our course?
the key board thumpers have to stop hiding in their houses and face these crooks//// they take offense when you ask them/// why are you not in jail/// they are so dumb, they do not know what you are talking about///
Thanks, Rep. Galfetti for pulling back the curtain to expose the phony wizard. Vermont has always been known as a cheap place for special interests/unions to buy legislation and rent legislators. Legislators in the democrat and progressive parties know they have a lock on the typical ignorant, liberal bleating sheep majority of voters in Vermont so their sole interest is in pleasing their contributor base. The demo-prog legislators do the bidding of the VNRC, VPIRG, CLF and other eco-lobbyists by imposing expensive, inconvenient and generally ineffective policies (like their attempt to double the drink container deposit and expand it to more products). These lobbying organizations then put it in their promotional material that “your contribution went to strengthen Vermont’s ……. laws, see how effective we are at saving the planet”? And then their donors send them more money. It’s a vicious cycle. The social services expansion organizations like the Public Assets Institute use the same tactics. The way to end it is to stop voting for these jackass legislators and stop donating money to these groups that hate decent, productive, responsible people and use us as pawns for their globalist aspirations. Our pathetic political situation could be reversed in ONE election cycle but your typical Vermont democrat voter is so obsessed with toeing the woke line and with virtue signaling that they do it even in the privacy and anonymity of the voting booth.
I think 90% of the leftist legislators are definitely incompetent, in that they’re driven by emotional processing, incapable of understanding consequences, can’t perceive complex systems or long-term outcomes, and look to others for consensus of opinion rather than forming independent concepts and ideas.
The other 10% know exactly how to goad them.
If 90% of legislators are incompetent and driven by emotion, then they do a good job of emulating and representing the voters who put them in office…
Agreed.
Now Rich … 🙂
Lets face facts: The education system has failed. those in power can not do simple math. those who elected them have no moral or ideological foundation left.
we should try to be patient and re-educate the people about the ideology of equality: we are all created equal under God. Equity is for slave traders to fool their captives into believing “some people deserve different treatment than others.” :-/