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by Rep. Mark Higley
Vermont has a citizen legislature and should be doing the business of the State for a short period of time, and then head back to our jobs and communities. Many now seem to have the time and the aspirations to work on their efforts nearly full-time, in my opinion, to the detriment of Vermont. Talk in Montpelier is about how we don’t have nearly enough time to consider all the bills we should, and how we need a doubling of our pay. Of course, the bills being considered come from the majority perspective.
There’s been a lot of back-and-forth lately regarding the bills being passed in Montpelier and the Governor’s veto of many. The Governor has certainly impressed upon the Legislature his priorities in his State of the State addresses and his budgets. He stressed his three top priorities were affordability, drugs and crime, and housing. On the affordability front, there is more than just the property tax increase of 13.8%. It is many more priorities of the super majority that are adding to the lack of affordability for Vermonters to live and work in this State.
In 2023, we added DMV fees of 20%, the so-called affordable heat act adding $.70 or more to the cost of heating fuel (if approved), a child care payroll tax starting in July 2024 where even a family of four making as much as $172,500 per year can qualify for a benefit. The initial consideration was for the most generous benefits in a paid family and sick leave bill, paid through a payroll tax. OPR fee increases, (this is your professional licensing fees). After the federal money ran out for the universal meals program, the state decided to add this to the education tax, which was in the neighborhood of $29 million a year.
In 2024 we have the 13.8% average increase in education property taxes, with not much hope in coming years for relief. A renewable energy standard bill that could add as much as $1 billion to ratepayers, yet when pushed, our joint fiscal office downgraded that estimate to be between $150M and $450M. A housing bill, while it is relaxing Act 250 regulations in our village centers and downtown areas, will increase the restrictions in rural areas through new ANR environmental criteria. New Residential and Commercial building energy standards going into effect July 2024, adding thousands of dollars to construction costs.
Many smaller bills having an increase on agencies’ budgets with new staff, IT, and projected program costs. Add these to the everyday costs of inflation. All this, with many of my colleagues ideas and amendments voted down, as well as options put forth by the Governor.
I mentioned in our Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, that even though we are a policy committee we need to understand the cumulative effects of what our legislation would have on Vermonters. In my opinion the majority’s agenda requiring mandates and over regulation has added to our overall cost of working and living in Vermont. Vermonters have always been an independent lot, making ends meet somehow. However, with these ever increasing fees, taxes, mandates and regulations in Montpelier, some are becoming dependent or considering a move.
Many ask me, “why the majority doesn’t understand this cumulative effect on Vermonters”? I can only say maybe it doesn’t affect them the way it does a majority of the constituents I’m talking with. I certainly believe many that aspire to this agenda are doing it for what they consider to be “in the best interest of Vermonters”. I believe they need to take a step back and understand that maybe we all can’t afford this utopian agenda.
Years ago, at a debate, my opponent talked again and again about programs we should be investing in. At one point, a member of the audience stood and said “every time you say the word invest, I reach for my wallet”. So true, as most all bills require revenue from some source to implement. Vermont’s Industrial and Commercial tax base is so small compared to other states, that the burden, one way or another, falls on the taxpayers.
Author is a Lowell resident and the Orleans-Lamoille State Representative.
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Categories: Commentary, Legislation, State Government, Taxes
The Vermont Legislature consistently passes revenue bills that negatively impact the working poor and the middle class. Most of the state will decline economically as the tax burden makes living and investing here less likely for those who gauge costs carefully and ROI. It’s pretty obvious that most of our towns and villages are in economic decline, they’re dumpy and run down, with the exception of a very few (Burlington area, Stowe, Woodstock, Killington, Manchester). Visiting places like Barre, Montpelier, Rutland, Newport, Brattleboro show the problems that lack of investment and high taxation cause. Too bad. I just love Vermont. But a liberal, tax loving Legislature is destroying it. For sure.
They already don’t listen or care about their constituents. No amount of money will change that!
I count myself fortunate to be represented in Montpelier by Mark Higley. It’s unfortunate that so many Vermonters don’t have like representation.
Mark Higley is and has been one of the few sane voices (IMO) under the Golden Dome. It’s so nice to hear from someone who so often is of the same opinion as I am serving in that den of iniquity. The product that the majority (super majority) of occupants in that building push on the citizens is appalling. How so many people can in good faith, support, or approve of their swill is baffling. My hat is off to anybody that can sit in the same room as the majority of that super majority. Thank you Mark Higley for your steadfast service to the real citizens of the state of Vermont.
message to mark higley///// i will swap you a hundred pounds of squash for ten gallons of maple product/// i need to get my money back from loosing the bet on trump//////
The Vermont legislature does not care about raising our taxes because they can vote themselves a raise to compensate for it, King Philip the Scott 1st Eunuch King of Castrati will veto it and they will override his veto. We need Phil like we need the hole in a donut.
Mark speaking the truth as usual. I’m honored to be represented by Mark and endorsed by him in my own campaign this year.
Operation Tincup = a constant grasp for the obvious. If a minority voice and vote under the Golden Thunder Dome doesn’t drop the dimes of what is really going on, they are complicit and failing to be transparent and honest. I hear a lot of excuses. I hear a lot of blame shifting and golly, gee I don’t know. Their lips move, but I don’t believe a word they are saying.
After nearly three decades of thievery, we’re down to the pocket lint and they want that too. Double, triple levies by the Feds and the State. The Federal Government is $34+ TRILLION in debt (one set books anyway.) Tax money doesn’t even cover the interest on that debt. We have active war and armed conflicts going on for 20+ years. We have basic institutions that no longer function. Our currency is near worthless – backed by what – blood and labor? Grand illusions of value based on deceptions and propagandists.
The end game is near – this Theater of the Absurd is in it’s final act. The panic and desperation is off the charts as our soverignty and sanctity is squandered away.
Nice article, but lets get real. WHY NOT shorten the legislative session and meet every other year? There is NO REASON in a state this size they need to they meet every year for 4+ months. They are just spending our dollars the way they do with all this time on their hands. Its appalling they think the need more time AND more money to make a career out of being in the VT legislature…..for what? So they can complete their destruction?? No thanks. NH does it better with less $$s. Maybe the REPS should take a look across the river.
More time to what?? To figure out how much more they can tax and spend our
hard earned incomes? Last I knew they had about 900 bills this year. All of this
bills on the wall action is justification of their existence. They come back home and fish for any idea from constituents for a new bill they can write. Thats after they have scoured California and other far left states for bills and programs they can copy cat in Vermont. ENOUGH ALREADY. It is way past time to elect some moderates to
the golden dome. I don’t always agree with Gov. Scott but he needs more support
from moderate legislators rather than the far-left capital dwellers.
C’mon people, they need that money and time to fix all the problems they created.
See how that works?
We all know the legislature is a bunch of left wing socialist agenda fools. Time to get them out they are destroying Vermont with their ridiculous bills and spending.
I have a great deal of respect for Rep Higley. First problem is too many of the bills introduced are solutions looking for a problem