Greedy Government is the Problem 
By Rob Roper 

On April 15, 2009, the day hard working Vermonters officially paid up what Forbes magazine just labeled (again) the nation's highest individual tax burden, Vermont Democrats and Progressives responded by voting to increase Vermont's tax burden by $24 million. By passing H.442, they voted for higher income taxes. Higher death taxes. New taxes on iTunes and other electronic downloads. The vote was 82 - 54.

This is on top of passing a 5 cent per gallon gasoline tax, which the Senate is reportedly going to follow suit in passing (although a slightly different version) this week.

All of this is inexcusable. At a time when every household and business is tightening their belts due to the economic downturn, these legislators are poised to INCREASE government spending by a stunning 6.7%, refusing to make the special interest groups who fund their campaigns share in any of the sacrifice that that the taxpayers who pay their salaries and benefits are suffering through.

There's a word for people who want more and more and more for themselves, expect others to provide it, and show no appreciation or sympathy to those who sacrifice on their behalf - GREEDY.

Despite the fact that over 500 Vermonters showed up on the State House lawn to protest higher taxes, Vermont's press corps did its best to pump up the spotlight on twenty or so members of SOS (Save our State) who were lobbying to increase taxes to save government jobs. But here's an important difference between the jobs SOS is begging for, and the jobs of the private sector, productive taxpayers who are screaming for relief. The average hourly wage of the public sector government worker in 2007 was $26.26 in salary plus $13.24 in benefits for a total of $39.50 an hour. The average hourly wage of the private sector taxpayer was $18.42 in salary and $7.66 in benefits for a total of $26.09. (USA TODAY)

So, the real message by SOS and the legislators who support their efforts is this: You private sector schlubs pay us MORE out of your already smaller and shrinking salaries so we elite government bureaucrats can increase our already higher salaries and benefits at your expense. But, be quick about it because 4:30 is almost here and I'm not staying in this office one minute beyond quitting time.

A response comes to mind here, and it is encapsulated perfectly by the wonderfully ironic initials of our socialist senator, Bernie Sanders. Let's send a message to Montpelier: No more tax increases. It's time to pull the plug on GREEDY GOVERNMENT.

Rob Roper is the Vermont GOP Chairman