Symington: Privacy for me, but not for thee
By Rob Roper

When it comes to exposing the private, personal financial information of 109,700 middle and low income Vermont households, Democrat leaders see "the benefits as outweighing the drawbacks," and express no urgency in regard to fixing the problem. (Critics rap tax system condescending to taxpayers, Brattleboro Reformer, August 1)

Speaker of the House Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) was dismissive of Vermonters’ growing concerns about Act 185, and the problems stemming from the new way of dealing with property tax prebates/rebates. "I think anytime there's a change, people basically find things wrong with it," she said. (Tax changes raise privacy worries, BFP, August 1).

Of course, Symington’s own household income level exceeds the threshold to qualify for a rebate, so the information needed to calculate it remains undisclosed under the present system. Her own privacy remains protected.

Protecting her own privacy is a priority for Symington. In the debate over campaign finance reform, "House Speaker Gaye Symington told the Free Press she favors personal financial disclosure by the governor, calling it a ‘reasonable expectation.’ But Symington said a similar requirement for members of the Legislature [read 'herself'] 'might be less necessary.'" (Views on money show disconnect, Free Press, July 24, 2007)

Symington’s casual disregard of Vermont citizens’ rights and expectations of financial privacy while being aggressively protective of her own is both elitist and hypocritical.

Rob Roper is the Vermont GOP Chairman, Contact: 802-223-3411, rroper@vtgop.org