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by Sen.-elect Scott Beck
More than any post-election period that I can recall, Vermonters remain heavily engaged since November’s election. So engaged, that many want to know why the problems highlighted on November 5th haven’t already been fixed: education property taxes, housing affordability and availability, healthcare costs, public safety, and the Clean Heat Standard.
This urgency, like the election, is yet another indicator of the frustration and desperation that many Vermonters are experiencing. Families with budgets already underwater or slightly above are now drowning; many that were comfortable are now questioning whether they can remain in Vermont. An end to the super majority, while welcomed, is not an answer to a myriad of self-inflicted systemic problems facing Vermont.
The legislature will be sworn in on Jan. 8 and then must quickly organize and get to work while waiting for January’s revenue forecast, Governor Scott’s proposed budget, and warned school district budgets. While these fiscal clues will be relevant to solving Vermonters near-term problems, the legislature needs to continue to focus on the difficult work of passing systemic change.
For some, the most difficult part of passing systemic change will be confronting well-resourced special interest organizations that have been behind a myriad of self-serving policies and programs that do not serve Vermonters well and have caused countless negative unintended consequences. Vermonters must remain engaged with their legislators and continue to demand change that addresses Vermont’s affordability and public safety crisis. Legislator voting records are publicly available and serve as a convenient scorecard.
Every election is important and individually they teach us different lessons. November 5th was a stark reminder to many legislators that job one is to represent their constituents and that a voting record is a legislator’s bond. Well-meaning attempts to make Vermont more affordable by making it more expensive or solve world climate change in a small cold-climate state might sound great within the confines of Vermont’s Statehouse when chatting with lobbyists and advocates, but they don’t look great when laid bare as a voting record at the feet of struggling Vermonters.
The lessons of November 5th are real and were heard loud and clear by Vermont Senate Republicans. Vermonters have spoken; their voices deserve to be remembered and acted upon.
Scott Beck of St. Johnsbury is the Caledonia District state senator-elect and the incoming Senate Republican Minority Leader. He previously served 10 years in the Vermont House of Representatives.
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Categories: Commentary, State Government
Ahh, Mr. Beck- you and every other member of the legislature have a weapon that can and should be used against special interest and those other legislators that use their self-righteous arrogance to get what they want….
Sunlight.
Expose the dealings of both special interest and D/P politics to the sunlight of truth and let your constituents have that information. Closed door hearings, back-room dealings have gotten Vermont to where it is- broken and broke. No more can the taxpayer, “stakeholder” and consumer afford the liberal nonsense of legislation emanating from montpelier, so when it smells- disinfect with the sunlight of truth.
Senator Beck
Congratulations Minority Leader.
You have the votes to defeat the Affordable Heat Act.
You don’t have the votes to enact legislation that will lower the cost of heating our homes and commuting. That is what we want.
Use your leadership to begin educating all legislators on how that can be achieved.
It will take the first session to bring around enough votes to piece together new, sensible energy laws and regulations that lower our electric bill. Who can be opposed to that!!
Invite bi-partisan legislators to learn truths about the “save the planet” propaganda and what must be changed to bring Vermont to a sensible place on how we heat our homes.
Workforce remains the limiting factor of any program that weatherizes homes. Work with what we have: the PUC’s energy efficiency utilities that retrofit households. Increase the current 2 cent fuel fee to 4 then 6 cents. Increase the crews’ wages and allow the State’s Weatherization Assistance Program to provide similar services to lower median income families, as well.
It makes common sense to weatherize homes. It lowers the family’s fuel bills.
Vermont abounds with capable energy professionals and Administrative Staff to guide legislators through a tutorial on the cost of bad energy policy. Involve the public to participate.
Democrats are not going to write the needed legislation to fix this mess. Republicans will. You will need more votes
Join forces with the Governor on this very visible topic — affordable energy. Draft the bills this year. Get bi-partisan co-sponsorship for introduction next session.
Who can argue against lowering our fuel bills.
Finally, any motion to repeal, amend or reject the green wave will give affirmation to it. Write the narrative that gets the votes you will need. Something simple and positive. Lower our energy bills.
How about lower taxes and a balanced budget before any more spending is placed on its citizens?
Someone forgot!!!
What the Vermont Legislature needs to understand and must put number one is that the Special Interests ARE VERMONTERS who voted for a complete change in Vermont from a lobbyist controlled, rogue government controlled, unelected domestic and foreign controlled system to that OF THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. The mandate of November 5th must go forward! Vermont Legislatures will be held accountable, they will be primaried, they will have sunlight upon their votes, actions and inactions. The People of Vermont as well as the whole of the U.S. have put forth a mandate of America First. America is a Constitutional Republic. We The People have spoken and We Will have Victory! If that means federal funds are shut off to Vermont, so be it. Actually that would be a lesson learned for Vermont to clean-up its act, move toward a non-government pro-business state. One important measure should be the complete disassociation with the Climate scam. It would be an important first step for Governor Scott to permanently leave the so-called U.S. Climate Alliance. The Climate scam, in my opinion, is the first huge rock in the road that must be removed to have a prosperous Vermont that will benefit The People. The other huge rock is being a Sanctuary State, pandering to the Marxists/Globalists Agenda, that must end now. How is our Northern Border protected in Vermont? The cleanup of Vermont must happen, there are many other issues such as drugs, crime, trafficking, which we all know is happening, increased throughout the state and must end now. What the Vermont Legislature must do is to right this ship! No more word salads or happy talk, time to roll-up your sleeves and get this done. The People who voted for the mandate on November 5th is behind you 100%. Let’s get this done!
Show that you really care and give up your free food card. My REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER SIGN IS STILL ON MY WOODPILE for public view. Vermonters are hoping for a grand performance from the new gang in the statehouse.
This is asymmetric warfare, you must know their true aim and how they use divisiveness and fear to control. When you know this they are easily defeated by the truth and a bit of team work. Their goals are often the opposite of the program name, they always have a different objective.
Their overall goal is power, money and enslavement so they can dominate and subjugate the populace.
It is better to be in the minority, then they have to take all responsibility, it would be great fun.
They don’t care about the poor, they want us all poor. Anything you do to help the poor will be met with opposition and defiance, exposing their hearts and true nature.
Republicans could put up the following bills, to which they win if passed and win if rejected!
$5 car registration for any car over 10 year old!
$10 truck registration for ANY truck over 8 years old
$2 registration for any motorcycle under 300 cc
Here is another one.
Demand that the state investigate equal pay for me and women and get it. Done. The state has all the pay stubs. The state lies about it. They don’t want peace between men and women.
Just two simple acts to expose the lies and suddenly you are the champion for the average man and women AND you’ve given up no moral ground or gone against ANY principles a conservative holds dear.
We can do this all day long on about every topic and WIN!!!!!!
It would be so much fun! TGBTG