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Editorial
Democrats
Pass Budget to Create $200 Million Deficit
Plan also raises taxes
on struggling Vermonters and increases spending
From Vermont GOP, June
3, 2009
esterday, every Democrat
and every Progressive voted to override Governor Jim Douglas' veto, thereby
enacting their own state budget over the objections of Republicans and
Independents. What this vote tells us in stark terms is that the Democrat
supermajorities are totally out of touch with reality, and their leadership
is incompetent to govern our state.
The Democrats' budget does
not reflect Vermont values at all. It is entirely partisan, raises taxes
during a recession, is not balanced for the long term, grows state government
at a time when everyone else is forced to cut back, is a job killer, guts
Vermont's economic development efforts, and severely threatens Vermont's
ability to recover from the recession.
We need to send a message
that struggling families have had enough from Legislative Democrats who
follow their party leaders blindly and turn their backs on their constituents.
Please call your representative today and tell them that you are disappointed
that they voted for a budget that leaves an over $200 million budget shortfall
in the next two years.
Here's what the Democrats'
budget - now law - will do to us:
The Democrats' Budget
increases taxes during a recession:
The Democrats' budget raises
$26 million in new taxes in 2010, hitting struggling Vermonters at the
worst possible time. This includes $9.3 million in higher income taxes
on senior citizens, small business owners, farmers and loggers.
The Democrats' budget increases
capital gains taxes, reneging on a fairness provision made when Vermont
taxes were de-coupled from federal taxes.
The Democrats' budget increases
the estate taxes on Vermonters, which will make it more expensive for seniors
dependent upon investment income to live in Vermont and harder for farmers
who wish to pass their farms on to the next generation.
The Democrats' budget eliminates
the state and local tax deduction, which, along with the capital gains
changes, will hit small businesses and farms particularly hard. Over
2,000 small businesses and farms will pay on average more than $3,000
more in income taxes.
The Democrats' budget
creates massive deficits and unfunded liabilities:
The Democrats' budget leaves
Vermont taxpayers on the hook $67 million in unfunded liabilities for 2011
and over $140 million in unfunded liabilities for 2012. Together, the
fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012 deficits account for a staggering $208 million
shortfall. This will necessitate more massive tax increases when
Vermont has no tax capacity left in its economy.
The Democrats' budget raises
$20 million in new taxes on businesses to pay for Legislative inaction
and at the same time it will leave us with a $160 million deficit in
Vermont 's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund by the end of next year.
The Democrats' budget
raises taxes on Vermonters to increase spending in Government:
At a time when working Vermonters
are cutting back and trimming household budgets, the Democrats' budget
increases spending on government by over 3% - well above the current
rate of inflation, and doing so with one-time federal stimulus money.
Spending in human services
alone grows by nearly $150 million, or 5.6% - though Vermont already pays
for the most generous social safety net in the nation.
The Democrats' budget
does nothing to invest in jobs this year:
In addition to the pounding
small businesses and their employees with take due the Democrats' changes
to the capital gains exemption and the elimination of the state and local
tax deduction, the estate tax and an increase in unemployment insurance
taxes...
The Democrats' budget raises
taxes on liquor (6%) and tobacco (25 cents per pack), which prompted a
petition of protest from Vermont 's eastern boarder small business owners
(Democrats didn't care) and this editorial in the New Hampshire Union Leader:
Thanks,
Vermont! Saving NH liquor stores, "Vermont legislators have
applied the state's 6 percent sales tax to hard liquor... it will
send Vermonters over the border to buy liquor in New Hampshire . Maybe
that could breathe new life into six New Hampshire liquor stores recommended
for closure by legislative auditors...So right when New Hampshire needs
the extra revenue, Vermont... seem[s] set to deliver it to us."
The Democrats' budget
guts Vermont 's economic development initiatives:
On economic development,
this budget fails to make the necessary and critical investments to help
our economy recover from this recession.
The Democrats' budget eliminates
workforce training funds - jeopardizes up to $7.2 million in federal stimulus
money.
The Democrats' budget slashes
Next Generation scholarships for over 600 Vermont students.
The Democrats' budget reduces
funding by $500,000 for the Vermont Training Program - one of ACCD's most
successful tools in attracting and expanding employment opportunities for
Vermonters - eliminating training opportunities for over 2,200 Vermonters.
The Democrats' budget reduces
funding for the Vermont Telecommunication Authority by $500,000 - effectively
shutting down the VTA by September and ending our hopes of being an e-State
by the end of next year.
House members who voted
for this irresponsible budget are:
Ancel, Democrat
of Calais
Andrews, Democrat of Rutland
City
Aswad, Democrat of Burlington
Atkins, Democrat of Winooski
Audette, Democrat of South
Burlington
Bissonnette, Democrat of
Winooski
Bohi, Democrat of Hartford
Botzow, Democrat of Pownal
Bray, Democrat of New Haven
Browning, Democrat of Arlington
Burke, Progressive of Brattleboro
Cheney, Democrat of Norwich
Clarkson, Democrat of Woodstock
Condon, Democrat of Colchester
Conquest, Democrat of Newbury
Consejo, Democrat of Sheldon
Copeland-Hanzas, Democrat
of Bradford
Corcoran, Democrat of Bennington
Courcelle, Democrat of Rutland
City
Davis, Progressive of Washington
Deen, Democrat of Westminster
Donovan, Democrat of Burlington
Edwards, Progressive of
Brattleboro
Emmons, Democrat of Springfield
Evans, Democrat of Essex
Fisher, Democrat of Lincoln
Frank, Democrat of Underhill
French, Democrat of Shrewsbury
French, Democrat of Randolph
Geier, Democrat of South
Burlington
Gilbert, Democrat of Fairfax
Grad, Democrat of Moretown
Haas, Progressive of Rochester
Head, Democrat of South
Burlington
Heath, Democrat of Westford
Hooper, Democrat of Montpelier
Howard, Democrat of Rutland
City
Howrigan, Democrat of Fairfield
Jerman, Democrat of Essex
Jewett, Democrat of Ripton
Johnson, Democrat of South
Hero
Keenan, Democrat of St.
Albans City
Kitzmiller, Democrat of
Montpelier
Klein, Democrat of East
Montpelier
Lanpher, Democrat of Vergennes
Larson, Democrat of Burlington
Lenes, Democrat of Shelburne
Leriche, Democrat of Hardwick
Lippert, Democrat of Hinesburg
Lorber, Democrat of Burlington
Macaig, Democrat of Williston
Maier, Democrat of Middlebury
Malcolm, Democrat of Pawlet
Manwaring, Democrat of Wilmington
Marek, Democrat of Newfane
Martin, Democrat of Springfield
Martin, Democrat of Wolcott
Masland, Democrat of Thetford
McCullough, Democrat of
Williston
Milkey, Democrat of Brattleboro
Miller, Democrat of Shaftsbury
Minter, Democrat of Waterbury
Mitchell, Democrat of Barnard
Mook, Democrat of Bennington
Moran, Democrat of Wardsboro
Mrowicki, Democrat of Putney
Nease, Democrat of Johnson,
Majority Leader
Nuovo, Democrat of Middlebury
O'Brien, Democrat of Richmond
Obuchowski, Democrat of
Rockingham
Orr, Democrat of Charlotte
Partridge, Democrat of Windham
Pellett, Democrat of Chester
Peltz, Democrat of Woodbury
Poirier, Independent of
Barre City
Potter, Democrat of Clarendon
Pugh, Democrat of South
Burlington
Ram, Democrat of Burlington
Rodgers, Democrat of Glover
Shand, Democrat of Weathersfield
Sharpe, Democrat of Bristol
Smith, Democrat of Mendon
Smith, Democrat of Morrisville,
Speaker
South, Democrat of St. Johnsbury
Spengler, Democrat of Clochester
Stevens, Democrat of Waterbury
Sweaney, Democrat of Windsor
Taylor, Democrat of Barre
City
Till, Democrat of Jericho
Toll, Democrat of Danville
Townsend, Democrat of Randolph
Trombly, Democrat of Grand
Isle
Waite-Simpson, Democrat
of Essex
Webb, Democrat of Shelburne
Weston, Democrat of Burlington
Wilson, Democrat of Manchester
Wizowaty, Democrat of Burlington
Young, Demcorat of St. Albans
City
Zenie, Democrat of Colchester
Zuckerman, Progressive of
Burlington
Senate members who voted
for this irresponsible budget are:
Ashe, Democrat of
Chittenden District
Ayer, Democrat of Addison
District
Bartlett, Democrat of Lamoille
District
Campbell, Democrat of Windsor
District
Choate, Democrat of Caledonia
District
Cummings, Democrat of Washington
District
Flanagan, Democrat of Chittenden
District
Giard, Democrat of Addison
District
Hartwell, Democrat of Bennington
District
Kitchel, Democrat of Caledonia
District
Kittel, Democrat of Franklin
District
Lyons, Democrat of Chittenden
District
MacDonald, Democrat of Orange
District
Mazza, Democrat of Grand
Isle District
McCormack, Democrat of Windsor
District
Miller, Democrat of Chittenden
District
Nitka, Democrat of Windsor
District
Racine, Democrat of Chittenden
District
Sears, Democrat of Bennington
District
Shumlin, Democrat of Windham
District
Snelling, Republican of
Chittenden District
Starr, Democrat of Essex-Orleans
District
White, Democrat of Windham
District
______________
If your legislator is listed
here, please take a moment to contact them by email or by phone to let
them know how disappointed you are by their vote. Contact information can
be found at the Legislative
Directory, or leave a message with the Sergeant-At-Arms
office by calling 802-828-2228.
Also, let your community
know how these "representatives" are voting with a letter to the editor
to your local paper. Here are a few links...
Burlington
Free Press
Times
Argus
Rutland
Herald
Caledonian
Record
Bennington
Banner
Brattleboro
Reformer
Valley
News
Newport
Daily Express
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