I am very proud of my wife Deb and the 13 other House members who voted NO on Proposition 4. That is the definition of courage!

I was dismayed and disappointed so many of my fellow Rs voted for Prop 4, a Prop that will undermine the future of Vermonters.

The comments Deb heard for voting NO were “not a hill worth dying on” and “hope this doesn’t bite you in November”. To those and others with similar thoughts, you are wrong for the following reasons: While it is true Deb and the others may lose votes or even an election, the fact is you cannot cave and embrace social engineering in one hand, and then stand on your soapbox of fiscal responsibility, affordability, less government control, lower taxes, and all the other economic talking points on the other.

Socially Liberal/Fiscally Conservative is oxymoronic. Both Social and Economic issues are joined at the hip and share the same foundation in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. The truth is Proposition 4 will create more funnels of wealth redistribution for socialists to gain more power, more bureaucracy, more regulation, and ultimately more division and inequality. It is naive to think otherwise.

You can dismiss this argument or laugh at this view but until Vermont Republicans gain a true moral compass on social issues, they will never achieve the power needed (majorities in the legislature) or anything close to what this state needs on a fiscal level to fix Vermont’s broken mess. You really don’t have to look very hard to see someone who has gained a great deal of power both economically and socially and the leverage necessary to get things done, by standing on the right side of social and moral issues, not caving to the left’s woke agendas, while at the same time reducing wasteful spending and creating economic opportunity and growth.

For the sake of Vermont’s future, I implore Vermont Republicans on this wrong path to quit sticking your finger in the wind to appease wokeness and have some moral fortitude to stand for what is right and true. I believe if we stick together and hold to our convictions, no matter the cost, we can gain the momentum that will reform our state for the better! – Kevin Powers, St. Johnsbury

Bruner: Alarmism is boring

Wow!  The New York Times published an article by David Marcus announcing the end of the Climate Change Hoax.  People are ready to move on to more important things.  Climate alarmism is tired and boring.  Another form of alarmism that many Vermonters are ready to ditch is Trump Derangement Syndrome.  Carole Vasta Folley (opinion writer in recent News & Citizen) is definitely stuck in neutral as are many other liberals who have been distracted by these silly rants about DJT.  It is not what most Vermonters are concerned about. 

Rep. Dave Yacovone’s article regarding overdose deaths and addiction is a concern locally.  Another addiction that concerns Vermonters is Montpelier’s addiction to spending!  Property taxes, state income taxes, social security taxes, food and beverage taxes, Act 250/181, useless electric buses and do we really need to spend another $83,000,000.00 to combat homelessness? 

Climate hoaxes and TDS has been the shiny objects that has kept Vermonters from focusing on what actually is important.  It’s time to focus on getting rid of those elected officials who have done so poorly for Vermonters. It’s time for some major changes in Montpelier. – Bill Bruner, Hyde Park