Biden, Democrats caused inflation – Inflation results when government prints money to pay bills without corresponding economic growth. In 16 months, Democrats and Biden approved $2.9T spending above budget this year and Biden is now proposing more spending to curb inflation. Historically high inflation normally precedes a recession.

Inflation started to increase right after Biden was inaugurated. When he declared war on fossil fuel, increased drilling/environment regulations, canceled the Keystone pipeline, and banned all new drilling on Federal lands, it reduced domestic oil supply by almost 2 million barrels a day and spiked oil prices. This ended our energy independence causing dependency on other countries at inflated prices. This ultimately increased prices in every industry.

The purchasing value of the dollar is decreasing because of inflation. A family would have to generate $7,000 more income before taxes to equal the buying power of 2020. Consumers see the effects of inflation not only at gas pumps but also grocery stores. Bags of groceries that used to cost $30 are now $60. Manufacturers’ car prices are changing almost daily because part prices keep rising resulting in a dealer sur-charge added to the sticker price. The cost of borrowing will also increase which will affect home and car purchases.

A former Obama cabinet officer said Biden has been wrong on foreign policy decisions his entire career. Barack Obama wasn’t complimentary about Biden’s judgement as Vice-President. We’re in for a rough couple of years. We need leaders who understand economics to take back our country. – Frank Mazur, South Burlington

‘Green’ agenda doesn’t improve health, cripples energy independence – Vermont as we know and love it has an abundance of natural beauty, fresh air and generally happy inhabitants. I wonder how, in such a small State with a low population, some people can have such a determination to eliminate our green house gas emissions, especially from the heating sector.  Are these emissions really excessive?  Is our health dramatically compromised by these emissions?

Are we to follow Europe with their green agenda, which led them to abandon nuclear power plants, ban fracking and extraction of natural gas reserves?  That left them with solar and wind energy, which have been proven to be insufficient in providing enough energy to heat homes and energy for all aspects of food production, among other things.  Energy and food security are vital for a nation’s and our States’ well being.  A Europe gone green has crippled their energy independence, and now they must rely mainly on Putin’s Russian gas to be piped into their countries.  Having to depend on a nation that invades a neighboring country and indiscriminately kills thousands of innocent civilians isn’t really a good idea, is it?

It is all well and good to incorporate renewable energy in Vermont, but expecting that to replace fossil fuels which provide us the means for most of our transportation and home heating, is not practical or reasonable.  We especially do not need forced inducement by bills such as H.715, an act relating to the Clean Heat Standard.  This bill establishes more groups, more committees, more consultants, more administrators and will require over $1 million for FY 2023. A complicated credit system is involved, which will pressure and then ‘punish’ those who do not meet the obligations of this unelected group of people.  Vermont citizens are already feeling the pinch of inflation and high costs for our heating fuel, gas for our vehicles and food.  We don’t need more interference to jack up costs even more! – Kathy Wagner, Sandgate

Prog lawmaker reminded he wouldn’t support statewide carbon tax – The following is an open letter from a constituent of Vergennes Rep. Matthew Birong: I am writing to remind you of the statement you made during the 2018 Candidate Forum at Vergennes High School regarding a carbon tax. I asked you if you supported a carbon tax. You responded that you would support a regional carbon tax but not a stand alone carbon tax for Vermont only. The Clean Heat Standard is a carbon tax, as Senators discussing the bill admitted in this video.

Nothing has changed since 2018 which would make a carbon tax more desirable – quite the opposite with fuel oil prices almost double from one year ago. Vermont needs less expensive energy to help ramp up economic activity – not punitive measures which hurt Vermonters and do nothing to solve “Global Warming”. (I remind you also of a since deleted FB post where you rationalized your vote on the GWSA by referring to wild fires in California – which have long since been extinguished while the GWSA only grows more menacing.)

It is unfortunate that the super majority is so relentless in forcing such policies through without any support from Republicans or the Governor. From a party so concerned about the plight of “minorities” one might expect better from the Progressives and Democrats that hold sway in today’s legislature.

I wrote this piece a couple months back in VT Daily Chronicle about the “Global Warming Solutions Act” as it relate to the world situation. With the war in Ukraine these matters have only become more complicated. In the face of such intense geo-political matters the Vermont legislature’s hubris in pushing ahead with so called “Global” solutions (nothing could be further from the truth) is disappointing to put it kindly.

I regret that we both, as residents of the same small district in this little state have developed such antipathy for each other’s positions. When we see how this disregard plays out writ large on the world stage it behooves us to find ways to cooperate. A cease fire on the GWSA seems a good place to start. Thanks for your service and best wishes, Steve Thurston.

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