STATE BUDGET: We need to establish a truly collaborative working relationship among the Legislature, the administration, and the agencies and employees involved. We are in this together and must seek solutions that spread the sacrifices that are going to be necessary as fairly as possible. Pursuing economic growth policies will gradually lead to an increase in tax revenues.
Many questions about the Vermont elections remain unsettled in the final week of the campaign.
Peter Welch and Patrick Leahy will be returned to the House and Senate by substantial margins. But will Democrats Welch and Leahy be members of the majority or the minority party when the 112th Congress convenes in January? Welch is likely to be in the minority in the House, while enough of Leahy’s Senate Democratic colleagues should be re-elected that he will continue in the majority.
STATE BUDGET: The level of expenditures in the Vermont state budget is unsustainable until such time as a significant and reliable increase in revenues is seen. The only way to increase those revenues is to grow the economy, which needs to happen but will not occur overnight. In the meantime, the challenge to the new legislature is two-fold:
In the race for Secretary of State, Vermonters have two good choices in Republican Jason Gibbs and Democrat Jim Condos. Both are political moderates, well-reasoned, well-liked within their respective parties, and have pragmatic agendas if elected to the office.
