By Greg Thayer
The Democratic leaders in the Vermont legislature have proven themselves irresponsible and with no respect for every Vermont citizen. These people do not care about you as demonstrated by their disrespect for the unintended consequences of their legislation and how it will negatively affect every Vermonters, especially low income and working families. Their march to total government control and a Marxist agenda is hurting every Vermonter and business owner.
Mary Hooper, D-Montpelier, the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee said on the House floor that our challenge is to balance the needs of Vermonters and to create a strong state. Madam Chair, We The People cannot be all things to everyone’s needs. Government is to do the bare minimum and then teach people how to do things themselves. You and the Democratic leadership are trying to create a nanny-state caring for everyone and their every need.
The state budget is up a billion dollars in one year, with $120 million in one-time spending money that goes away in the next fiscal year but taxpayers will still need to fund. Leadership created programs that will not be sustained. This spending is out of control. It is hurting everyday Vermonters.
– Greg Thayer
In 1995 our state budget was $655 million dollars, in 2001 it was $2.6 billion. In FY 2022 the budget was $7.1 billion dollars, and last week you led the charge in the House for a $8.1 billion budget. The state budget is up a billion dollars in one year, with $120 million in one-time spending money that goes away in the next fiscal year but taxpayers will still need to fund. Leadership created programs that will not be sustained. This spending is out of control. It is hurting everyday Vermonters.
Vermonters are already hurting in the wallet, at the gas pumps, home and business heating costs and when we go to the marketplace to purchase consumer products at inflated prices. Inflation is through the roof here and across America. The Democratic leadership wants to spend, spend and spend more!
The Democratic leadership’s budget and policy agenda are irresponsible, leaving thousands of working Vermonters and small business owners having to pay more money. You removed a $100 million dollars in economic development spending for entrepreneurs. You adopted spending for elected Democrats’ social justice agenda, in the name of equity and inclusion being forced on every Vermonters, but especially on students in PreK–12. You scratched $15 million for housing for overburdened middle income Vermonters too.
Democrats are still playing games with state employee’s retirement plans. The state pension programs must be honored. Planned Parenthood is being appropriated a million dollars – why? Leadership is overspending in green energy, with pie-in-the-sky plans forcing Vermonters to go green with unsustainable wind and sun energy. These sources cannot energize our state. Then, there is record spending in the Capital and Transportation bills and other money bills being adopted in the People’s House.
The Democratic leadership’s priorities need major adjustment. Stop trying to be all things to all people. As your next Lieutenant Governor, I will work daily to bring common-sense spending to you, and stop the overspending priorities of the Democrats. Montpelier needs to start listening to Vermonters and less listening to Special Interest!
Here’s a hint; return the $95 million to taxpayers, it’s their money! Stop the leaderships’ pet projects.
Greg Thayer is a Rutland resident and candidate for lieutenant governor.
Categories: Commentary
The far better use of Vermont’s revenue windfall is, first and foremost, paying off all current unfunded retirement obligations. All of them. At the same time, most importantly, eliminate the taxpayer guaranteed rate of return on those retirement accounts. The retirement funds are owned, and should be managed, by those who have earned the benefit. It’s their money. Let them invest it as they see fit – and accept responsibility for the resulting rate of return.
Vermont taxpayers have no business managing (i.e., guaranteeing) a fixed rate of return on any investment. After all, ‘past performance is no guaranty of future results’ – by any other investment manager. Why should Vermont taxpayers make that guaranty when no one else will?
We are seeing pigs feed hard at the trough…..
The only reason budgets keep rising is because of those filling their pockets can’t get enough stealing and ripping off taxpayers. If this State wasn’t a cesspool of corruption, we would be in far better shape. We are a small State, why such spending? For decades, State government and local government has failed to maintain and balance a budget – the only job they really are required to do. Their policies are failures, they are failures, and our State is a collossal failure.