“Stop taxing the middle class, or in a year, the middle class won’t exist,” Amanda Shangraw says
During Gov. Phil Scott’s press conference yesterday, Williamstown entrepreneur and third-generation Vermonter Amanda Marie Shangraw asked Vermont lawmakers to understand that “These taxes are killing us. Please. Stop taxing the middle class, or in a year the middle-class won’t exist.”
Her prepared remarks are printed below.
My name is Amanda Marie Shangraw, I’m a 3rd generation Vermonter who was born with Severe Dyslexia and ADHD.
I was raised by a single widowed mother, Nancy Griffin. My father Barry passed away young of a brain aneurysm. I grew up in poverty in rural East Calais, Vermont. My mother took a job and worked overtime every week until she retired from the United States Postal Service, to support a family of three children by herself. I went to U-32 Middle / High School and continued my education at Johnson State College.
My entire life, I’ve wanted to do good. Start a business and “make something of myself.” I struggled so hard in school that own my teacher advisor warned my mother in my freshman year that the likelihood of me ever getting a diploma was slim, let alone become a contributor to general society, but I took summer school and she worked over time so she could pay for private tutors, to come to our home every day, all summer, every year of my high school career specializing in Orton-Gillingham, so I could eventually learn how to read and write.
In the middle of COVID-19, I met my now husband Peter Shangraw, standing here with us today. He’s a single dad who’s raised two incredible children all on his own. The children’s biological mother has been absent most of their lives, as she has spent the last 20 years struggling with severe addiction. Peter is also a multi-generational Vermonter, who was raised by his Mom, Kay, and his Father, Dennis Shangraw, – he’s one of four boys that all grew up in rural Williamstown, Vermont. Peter’s father was a truck driver, known for his ability to work 80-100 hours a week. Peter’s mother, Kay, was a dedicated nurse until she retired just last year.
Peter and I, by complete accident in the middle of the pandemic started a now, nearly, million-dollar business called Bergamot + Amor in Williamstown, where we hand make luxury leather goods and ship them all over the world. We started our business out of Peter’s garage, but quickly outgrew that space. In 2023, we closed on two abandon properties right downtown in Williamstown, VT on Route 14. The buildings are the last of any historic commercial buildings left in the village and require, what we are now learning, is extensive work to make them up to “current code.”
Peter and I have worked 7 days a week, for the last 3.5 years, 16-hour workdays, while our kids grow up. We have sacrificed taking days off, or any vacations to pay for the buildings in town and their continuous upkeep, with the goal of reviving a small town, and promoting tourism to Vermont in hopes that Williamstown can not only build a better reputation for itself, but also survive post pandemic.
The taxes that our business is seeing monthly to the state, biweekly in payroll, and built into every transaction we take, on top of increasing property taxes, and the endless permitting and fees to upgrade our building to meet “current fire code,” state code, and ADA compliancy after over 100 years of no upgrades is bankrupting our small business. Since our business started in 2022, we have paid $141,915.73 in taxes to the State of Vermont. That’s a price tag that Peter and I’s take-home salaries combined have yet to meet. We employ eight incredibly smart and motivated Vermonters, some that started with us as kids, making three times what I did at their age, just starting out in the workforce with zero previous job experience ever and who are still considered dependents.
I’m here today because I voted for a large majority of you, and I’m let down and hurting, and I’m defeated just like thousands of other Vermonters and small business owners.
Democrats, Republicans and Progressives alike, and I wanted to look you all in the face and introduce myself, so when you go to vote bills in, such as the new corporate tax bill or raise payroll taxes to support items in the state general fund you have a face to remember and hundreds of others to think about. Not to mention the huge property tax hike we’re facing.
I’m asking you, our state government. How do we survive when we don’t have pockets as deep as the big corporations? How do we continue to build back better and lift our community up without having to accept a high interest loan or borrow some crazy amount of money or learn how to write grants? We can’t afford to hire additional help, we work non-stop to sustain, between the cost of living constantly increasing and us having to skip our own paychecks to make sure the lights stay on in our workshop, we are drowning.
I’m reaching out because not only do we need help, but I’m hoping this isn’t the first time a small business owner has taken the time to explain how these “small hikes” in taxes are truly killing the working-class Americans and suffocating the American dream, messages and motivational pushes that I was fed for breakfast as a kid, now feel further out of reach than they ever have. I don’t want to sit at home and collect food stamps.
I want to work and continue to create jobs and offer housing, and be a part of the solution, not the problem, but we are learning daily, that in this state it’s easier to give up, than to keep fighting. Small businesses all around our state are folding, and I fear we might be next. These taxes are killing us. Please. Stop taxing the middle class, or in a year the middle-class won’t exist.
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Categories: Business, State Government
Unfortunately, Amanda you voted for your own demise. These Marxist Oath Breakers waddling in the Montpeculiar swamp want you on food stamps for total control of yours and everyone else’s lives. The MOBs don’t give a rats rearend about you or your family or your successful business or anyone else in the VSR. These MOBs are beholden to their donors and lobbyists who are pulling their strings. The MOBs are deeply entrenched and are virtually unremovable via our current highly flawed election process.
I hope they listened to her but I doubt they did.
Fortunately and Unfortunately there are hundreds of small start-up businesses in Vermont right now, struggling- forced to comply with taxation and regulation that is truly oppressive. It does indeed seem that the legislative goal is for Vermont’s citizens to be impoverished, left behind and subservient to Legislative whims, fees and regulations.
It does not sound like these business folk want to solicit grants and “economic development” loans from the bloated bureaucratic machine- an admirable feat, if they can accomplish it. Vermont has many programs to “help” small business, but these programs really require too much red-tape to be worthwhile for a true small business. Because of legislative regulation, rules and plain old politics these folks will have a rough time of it in Williamstown VT- but perhaps might have better conditions in Williamstown KY. The legislature needs to be reminded of that. Not all business is portable- but leather goods seems like it might be. So too- along with the government mandated fear surrounding Covid 19- the much vaunted “high paying” IT jobs are extremely portable now, thanks to fast data speeds and low equipment costs. These folks aren’t asking for a handout, a grant or a low interest loan- they are merely asking that the 800 pound gorilla that is Vermont government get off their backs. Vermont’s hubristic legislators need to stop listening to their donor “experts” and start listening to the people that actually pay the taxes, attempt to comply with the regulations and endure the anti-business climate in Vermont. Been there.
Ultra-wealth must pay its fair share.
What’s a fair share? How much do you think ultra weathy should pay? Im willing to bet they are already paying more than you think.
The new definition of the “ultra wealthy” is people who work for a living and draw an honest paycheck. Of course, a lot of people in Vermont these days who are welfare deadbeats and panhandlers actually make more money than those who work.
You think people who WORK for a living are ‘wealthy” and should pay more so you can sit home and collect benefits? Sorry. We the majority of the working middle class leave VERMONT you are going to lose your benefits, sweetie.
I want to see Bernie Sander’s tax return??? He hasn’t worked a day in his life…. and he’s got 3 homes and probably worth a fortune. Ad he is the one who says: KILL THE RICH… like his communistic brethern.
What you might call “ultra-wealth”y might just be the risk takers. The people who put their wealth on the line…providing jobs… Tax is paid in many, many, many ways… It is not regular people nor the wealthy business owners who create tax law… it is the legislators who create tax law! They are the problem!
What is your evidence that ultra-wealth is not paying its fair share? And who determines the definition of fair share? No answer expected, because no coherent answer is possible.
Amanda, the only thing that will change the trajectory Vermont is on is for you and your fellow old school Democrats to realize your party has abandoned you. Republicans in the legislature have voted against all of the tax and spend woke policies that the Democrats have forced into law over their objections and Governor Scott’s vetoes ever since they won the super majority a decade ago.
And your mention of the Orton Gillingham method of teaching reading is timely, because it is a solution to the poor performance in our schools. Ever since “Whole Language” replaced the phonics based approach to reading in the 80’s more and more kids have been labeled dsylexic and shunted into Special Education, which is not what they need. Most kids will learn to read with any benign approach, but a small number need a phonics based approach, the way most middle aged and older people learned to read. Teach all kids that way and fewer will fall behind and be labeled a failure.
I hope your business survives and thrives, but you might also think about running for office because you could be a game changer.
With all due respect; there is no way she can run for office while running her business and having a family in VT.
She might be tempted to run for the legislature, if their session didn’t last from January until June, and essentially runs all year now. It is tailored for the non-working and non-profit sector folks…people who are non-productive and have a lot of time on their hands.
Hi Amanda, I caught the press conference today. Thanks for speaking up. I like you am a multi-generational Vermonter. I am a bit older than you and I’ve been watching the change to Vermont for a very long time. While I would like to think that legislators would listen to you, I don’t hold out hope that they will. In a year when we’ve seen huge increases in property taxes, what does the legislature do? They decide to raise more taxes. My advice to you is to consider moving your business to New Hampshire or down south somewhere. I think you’ll find a much more welcoming business environment. Never stop going after your dream, but just consider chasing it in a different state.
They don’t care what you or I think. Gone are the days of constituents. These legislators do not think citizens control them, they think they’re there to control the citizens.
Yes indeed. Check out rep Sibalia and sen McKormak who believe their constituents are stupid and do not know what’s good for them. Thank god the senator has chosen not to run again. Sibalia needs to be booted come election day.
Here we have again the agonizing chorus of distress over the need for more money to do “government”. And then we haggle over who among our neighbors we’re gona target. How about we do less government? Have we been prudent in relinquishing arenas of enterprise to the government; arenas that otherwise would be in the private sector? Are we desperate to collect citizens money to spend for things citizens could do for themselves? Perhaps less government is the answer. This might be more in the spirit of the constitution than confiscating more money from some vilified subgroup of our neighbors.
“Stop taxing the middle class, or in a year the middle-class won’t exist.”
Well yeah, that’s kinda the point.
All in all, this was a great motivational speech for the Democrats to hear. It helps them understand that they are right on track making their intended progress and are well on the way to achieving their goals. Well done.
If I’m not mistaken, Phil Scott, a business man, said numerous times during his numerous campaigns, he’d work to bring good paying jobs and businesses to Vermont. Lt Governor Zuckerman runs a business as co-owner of a farm. There are others in the Legislature who own businesses or are partners in a business. Why are so many businesses in Vermont struggling or disappeared all together? Seems to me the State of Vermont Legislature, Administration, and bureaucrats favor foreigners and corporate giants (Kingdom Con/Taft Corners) rather than support local business or local business owners. The old trickle down economics lie amounts to corporations taking over and local business owners shafted by corrupt politicians – particulary in 2020. Home Depot and Walmart stayed open while local ones were ordered to shut down. They don’t want small businesses to flourish, but they’ll use and abuse small business owners as pawns nonetheless.
Amanda,
That your lovingly hand made hand built life and business is positions you to beg and plead at the feet of legislatures ” Please stop taxing ” Amanda stop denigrating yourself precious woman. Below, read the Vermont Constitution Article Six. Then simply ask yourself have you been played and betrayed by these legislatures? That a stark answer comes to you Amanda, radically accept it. Act accordingly, including getting out & delivering the Vote Nov’ 24
Vermont Constitution Article 6. [Officers servants of the people] That all power being originally inherent in and co[n]consequently derived from the people, therefore, all officers of government, whether legislative or executive, are their trustees and servants; and at all times, in a legal way, accountable to them.
Million dollar business = middle class? Waaa Waaaa…
Sorry but this is progressive liberal whining that their share of the pot is too small…NOT about ‘doing good.’
Nevertheless, the foundational point is right — and theres a bigger agenda here: slavery to mammon to meet the dark one’s goal: lost souls forever.
Million dollar business divided by 10 employees plus expenses is clearly middle class.
2 people working 16-hr days seven days a week for over three years SHOULD be millionaires. Sadly, they are not. Their business may be worth a million dollars, but considering the property taxes, building maintenance, payroll, payroll taxes, more taxes, etc, and chances are their own paychecks are below minimum wage. If you are willing to work that hard and take that much risk, you should be rewarded with the fruits of your labors… not have your hard-earned dollars go to line the pockets of people sitting on their couches, feet up and beer in hand.
On the license plates, of the cars and trucks, it was “SEE VERMONT” now, as far as old line Vermonters are concerned ,the state should change the moto to,” FLEE Vermont ” thanks to overreach by elected officials.
Vermont’s greatest export ,not maple syrup, but Vermont’s educated youth ,due to government overreach.
VOTE TRUMP! (And vote out every progressive leftist possible)
Many of the legislators in Montpelier don’t hear what any of us are saying because what’s happening to us is not important to them. The progressives in Montpelier have an agenda, for all who voted for them, you allowed them to push this on all of us. Now, even those of us who did not vote for these thieves, are stuck with THEIR agenda. Calling them, providing petitions to them, or having “kitchen table” conversations, as you are about to find out Amanda, will not help, they do not hear you. If you want to see this mess go away, vote them out of office. It’s just that simple.
We had enough of the insane VT taxing and sold our business of 37 years…the goal is to create crisis-poverty so we all give up and then the Gov has complete control which rolls us right into the bigger NWO plan
I “liked” this, but I find it true, not likeable. I feel more and more that our state government has passed something before we even know it was out there for discussion. They do want complete control, and they are getting there. It’s a terrible time for Vermont. I hope property tax bills coming this year will wake people up…and try to FIX THE MESS and VOTE REPUBLICAN to begin to save the state.
Amanda, if you’re talking to any legislator about ” Taxes or Budgets ” then you talking to deaf ears, they only know one thing, spend what they don’t have and ask for more yes, that would be taxes !!, I hope you don’t think they’ll listen, as they ” Don’t Care “,
and they’ll do whatever needs to get done for their agenda………………………….
If you want a legislator to listen, then you need to bring their voting records front & center in a public format, make their voting policies known, and have them voted out for being inept or just plain incompetent !!
Maybe people will wake up, before it’s too late, what’s killing Vermont, is “progressive ” politics…………… Vermont is infested with this cancer, yes they are killing us.
Its pretty hard to run a state with only 600,000 and only 480,000 / and busyness’s pay taxes, we cant expect children, elderly on fixed income, and disability to pay, I would ask any one of you what’s the solution? Have our state be behind the others? heck we already are behind by 20 yrs in all kinds of things such as Housing , Broadband, Cell service and so on.
Amanda, these people under the golden globe don’t give care about you or any other Vermonters. I’m sure it went like this: thank you Amanda but your time is up, okay next….. they are only concerned about safe injection sites, banning flavored tobacco and making sure there is enough housing for illegals.
They want just enough of us to keep the lights on the rest of us can pound sand we’re just in the way of their utopia (Burlington)
Is it bad enough yet? Is it bad enough for her to start voting differently? I doubt it……
Vote the entrenched wrecking ball legislators out. Ask yourself, what is the personal gain for these people to keep raising taxes and implement more and more regulations/ie restrictions on small businesses?
Amanda, you speak well and they should listen in Montpelier, but the progressives are an arrogant bunch. You’d be a good fighter!!! You should run for office in the house legislature . Rodney Graham a Republican in Williamstown who was in the house has just retired. Contact Bill Huff in Thetford, Vt. If you are interested.
While I echo her sentiments, I wish she didn’t act like a serf begging their lord for lenience! To me, it’s high time the thugs in the statehouse remember who they work for.
The democrats don’t care about the people-they only care about pushing an agenda. Way too much apathy-get your friends to VOTE! It’s the ONLY way to change this insanity. Get Involved! Join the Vermont Republican party! Go to meetings! THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOU!
They don’t care most are out of staters who want Vermont like California.