"Buy Now, Pay Later" is not affordable or responsible 

Peter Shumlin’s present scheme to jumpstart H.520 is not a compromise at all. It is really nothing more than a fiscally reckless plea to "Buy Now, Pay Later," putting tapped-out Vermont taxpayers on the hook for the same multimillion dollar tab -- only next year and without a clear picture of who exactly will pay. Governor Douglas, thankfully, is not falling for it.

At this point, Peter Shumlin’s actions seem to be more about ego politics and face-saving than good public policy. This "blank check" appeal is a desperate attempt to save himself the embarrassment of having proposed a bad piece of legislation as the cornerstone of the Democrats’ agenda, wasted a full legislative session pushing it, only to watch it flop. 

Ultimately, the demise of H.520 has illustrated vividly that Shumlin’s and the Democrats’ priorities are not in sync with the real problems facing a majority of Vermonters today. We need Montpelier to focus on taxes, jobs, education, economic development and affordability. The Governor and the Republicans "get it." H.520 shows us that the Democrats, or at least their leaderhip, still don’t.

Peter Shumlin and Gaye Symington have lost one full legislative session by failing to deal with affordability issues, much to the frustration of Vermonters. But, with quotes like, "We are going to pass the funding [for H.520] in January. We feel the Entergy tax is both fair and justified," (Rutland Herald, June 27) it unfortunately looks like Shumlin's obsession with this one, single bill will continue, and he is positioning himself and his party to waste another legislative session in 2008.

For more information contact: Rob Roper, 802-223-3411, rroper@vtgop.org