Susan Bartlett for Governor

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

2010-08-26T06:18:00.001-07:00

After such a hard run and so many wonderful supporters it’s hard to believe that this part is over. While we sure didn’t get the votes we were hoping and working for, we all sure made significant contributions to the process. And I thank each and every one of you for your efforts, good words, sound advice and support.

While we aren’t certain who the winner is, we all know that our next task is to unite behind that person and make sure they win in November. All 5 of us are in agreement that this campaign has been outstanding so far and it remains important for all of us to work the keep this an issue centered campaign. Each candidate brought good ideas to the conversation and now we have the chance to have the winner take the best of all our ideas and move forward with a great plan for Vermonter’s and our future.

It has been such an honor to meet and talk with so many of you all over the state. It is an experience that so few of us get to have, it seems a shame to me we can’t bottle it and share it with all of you. The days are long and the debates have been many, but the energy from all of you to all of the candidates has been what has kept all of us running full steam ahead. I guess this is renewable energy at its best!

I have no idea what I am doing next other than go to Maine for a few days. Then I am happy to come back and help our candidate in any manner they want my assistance. This has just been the first step on the road to victory and I hope all of you will join me in working for a bright future for all Vermonters.

Bartlett Endorsed by Manchester Journal

2010-08-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

"While we don't agree with all her prescriptions for Vermont, we like her no-nonsense, straightforward style. Her idea of an office of patents and a stress on intellectual property is one of the few original ideas we've heard, and her experience as the head of the state Senate Appropriations Committee gives her a good vantage point to understand the state's economy and the government's role in it."

Read it here

Top Ten Reasons to Vote for Susan

2010-08-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

I can beat Brian Dubie. Only by recapturing the middle will we take back the governor’s office. I am the candidate with the practical, pragmatic ideas that can lead Vermont forward.

I have not made extravagant promises. You will always know where I stand. I have the respect of Democrats, Independents, Progressives and Republicans, and constituency groups from business to human services. You may not always agree with me, but you will know where I stand and you can count on me to listen and be fair.

I have the experience. The biggest problem Vermont is facing is the economy. As a state senator for 18 years and chair of appropriations for 10 years, I know how government works and understand what it will take to restructure state government, balancing the needs of the present while building for the future.

I am a moderate. I have a reputation of supporting essential programs and saying no when necessary. I can balance the diverse needs of all Vermonters from single low-income parents to the business community and everyone in between.

I will make government responsible. Vermont is facing a budget deficit and our citizens are taxed out. Our revenues in 2012 will be the same as they were in 2005. We must bring our spending in line with our revenues. With limited state dollars we must evaluate programs based on outcomes and facts. We can no longer afford to continue programs by habit or based on sentiment.

I will hire the best and brightest. I will bring the most qualified individuals into my administration regardless of their political affiliation.

I will support our schools. Educating our children must be a priority. I have a background in education and I can work with Vermonters to improve our education system without raising taxes.

I will protect Vermont’s family farms. We must keep Vermont’s working landscape hospitable to farmers. Agriculture has been a part of my life. I have owned a farm and helped start a farmers' market. Farming and food production are part of what makes Vermont unique and no other candidate understands the details of the issues better.

I understand the needs of small businesses. Helping small businesses grow and prosper is the key to our economic future. Through innovation and intellectual property, we can create jobs and prosperity for a secure future.

I will protect Vermont’s natural resources. Vermont’s environment is special. I was a conservationist and an organic farmer before it was popular. Protecting the environment by cleaning our water, building a renewable energy future and preserving the Vermont landscape is part of who I am.

Saving Small Schools and Lowering Property Taxes

2010-08-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Susan Bartlett on Education and Lowering Property Taxes from Susan Bartlett on Vimeo.

I have a crush on Susan

2010-08-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

VPR Governors "Debate"

Wednesday, August 18 2010 @ 08:19 AM GMT+4 iBrattleboro.com
Contributed by: paulgardner

http://www.ibrattleboro.com/article.php/20100818081930428

Fascinating debate show on VPR last night with the 5 Democratic challengers - did you catch it?

I came out with a new favorite. I had not expected that. My mind was made up. It was a pro forma listen, I thought.

But before I reveal who my new favorite is, here some other observations from the show.

First of all, I call it a show because a debate did not take place. There were questions and answers and some posturing and campaigning, but no debating.

The atmosphere was mostly collegial. There were a few testy moments, notably between Matt Dunne and Deb Markowitz. The candidates were given the chance to directly question each other. Dunne questioned Markowitz on the subject of transparency - and whether her office (Sec. of State) had been transparent enough. She thought she'd done well (natch) and he thought she could have done better (ditto).

Easily the most bizarre moment of the night was the Peter Shumlin softball question for Susan Bartlett. First he praised her for her work on the Senate Appropriations committee (and praised himself for picking her to head the committee) then asked her to explain the "rainy day fund" which Doug Racine and Matt Dunne had been discussing moments before. Bartlett's explanation was at once so wonky and so clear that it made the Racine/Dunne discussion look superficial and simple minded by comparison. Racine was easily the most relaxed and personable candidate of the show, but Bartlett's performance exposed him a bit, imo. Score one to Shumlin.

The two VPR moderators did a good job overall in their hosting and questioning duties, but to me their questioning of Shumlin seemed sharper than that of the other 4. In one instance he admitted a mistake on an education funding bill where he had compromised with Governor Douglas. Perhaps that line of questioning was agreed to in advance to give him a chance to speak to that issue.

Deb Markowitz wins the dubious distinction of most disappointing. I have been touting her as the only candidate who can beat Dubie based on polls of the state that pit the various candidates against Dubie head to head. At the end of the night, those hand full of polls were all she had. In light of what I heard from the other candidates, that wasn't enough.

Matt Dunne must have mentioned his experience as director of Head Start/Vista and its 6,000 employees 4 times at least during the show. So often that it made clear that he felt a need to stress his experience. For me it's the political version of "me thinks the lady doth protest too much". The more he talks, the more there seems to be an experience/maturity issue there.

I love Peter Shumlin. He's a sharp politician who I mostly trust (a rare combination). Unfortunately, I think his negatives are high for many people and perhaps that's because he has a tendency to lapse into an almost Nixonian, whispery politician speak. I.e. he doesn't talk like "normal" people. You have to make an adjustment to your listening to take in what he's saying (see Racine below). This breaks my heart because he's ready to push for single payer health care and he'd be the staunchest foe to the relicensing of VY which are both huge issues for me. I just don't see him beating Dubie.

Doug Racine likes to tout his defeat of Dubie in a Lieutenant Governor's race back about a decade ago when he was the incumbent and nobody knew who Dubie was. I don't think he can repeat the performance, but I could be wrong. He's a sharper and more impressive candidate overall than I thought. As mentioned above, he was the most personable of the candidates. He's the Democratic candidate who sounds least like a politician. He has the easy bonhomie of a salesman - which he is. He's been in state government long enough that he doesn't have to make too many grating references to his experience like Dunne does. He knows the issues well and discuss them without sounding wonky.

All that said, my new crush, my new favorite for next governor of Vermont: SUSAN BARTLETT.

It wasn't even close. It's not even the thought of how a non-politician like Dubie who is leaning on a lot of outside help is going to deal with an unaffected, brainiac, insider woman.

Bartlett herself is a force.

She reminded me at once of Bill Clinton and Temple Grandin (the high functioning autistic who has been on Terry Gross's Fresh Air numerous times and written several popular books about her condition). Bartlett plowed into every question given her and got to the nub of the issue in a way that was at once intellectually rigorous and easily understandable to the layman. She was political without seeming it.

I don't see how Dubie can beat her and oh by the way, she'd be the best governor of the bunch.

WCAX Candidate Profile: Susan Bartlett

2010-08-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

"I can walk into the governor's office tomorrow and know exactly what we need to do and how to do it," she said.

As a self-proclaimed moderate, Bartlett claims she stands out from the four other Democrats vying for the top spot -- including Peter Shumlin -- who possesses what she called fundamental differences.

"I have been the person for ten years who has balanced the budget, taken it forward and he hasn't. I'd say that's the difference right there."

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=12987195#

Why Women Should Vote for Bartlett

2010-08-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

I want women to vote for me to become the next governor because I am the best qualified for the position, not because I’m a woman. In conversations with folks who work in the halls of government there are often discussions about what are the qualities that make for good leaders and good policy.

It is generally agreed that effective leaders are much more willing to consider the long term effects of policy; they are willing to reach across the aisle and work with others; they believe in planning; they have empathy for folks, and they are strong and can make difficult decisions; they don’t have to take credit, they just want good results.

I believe that I have shown all of these traits in my years in the Senate. I understand that there are long-term impacts from the decisions we make in Appropriations. I have always worked with all of the individuals, regardless of party, or philosophy involved with the issues. As Chair of Appropriations, I have helped develop long-term policy around issues such as corrections, substance abuse, our high school drop out population, affordable housing, access to early education, creating jobs and job training programs, developing programs to help farmers transition to sustainable agriculture and much more.

In these difficult financial times there have been many nights that I have tossed and turned trying to figure out what we can do to balance a budget and do the least harm to Vermonters in need. I have made difficult decisions while balancing the needs of all the people of Vermont, not just special interests.

As the Chair of Senate Appropriations, I have balanced a $4 billion budget for years. I understand not just the numbers, but also the policy behind the numbers. I see the problems we are confronting because we have not had plans; we have not had the comprehensive conversations we need to have to move forward in a sustainable manner. I am ready to lead our state to solutions that can only come from an in-depth understanding of the issues.

I know that I can lead diverse groups of individuals to solutions that serve all Vermonters. That is what I have been doing in the Senate for years.

If you want to know more about my views on various issues, please check out my web site www.bartlettforgovernor.com or you can always call me at home. 888-5591

The experts are frequently wrong.

2010-08-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Susan Bartlett: The best choice for governor. from Susan Bartlett on Vimeo.

When you first get into office, what will you cut, what will you add?

2010-08-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

There really isn’t a simple answer to what do you cut and what do you add. What we have missed in the past few years has been the process to make these decisions in a reasonable way. We know that our revenues in 2012 will be the same as they were in 2005. To me that means we have to reduce our spending to the 2005 level. This has not been easy and the upcoming year will be the most difficult so far. This is why I have been and will remain an advocate for a process like Challenges for Change. We have to change the structure of government services if we want to have successful services. If we want Vermont to continue to be a great place to live, we must change how we are doing things.

The past few years have seen a significant number of cuts in state services and in state employees. The additions in the past years have been of governor appointed positions that have more to deal with politics than policy. Some of these positions have been cut, but many have simply been reclassified. These positions that deal with public relations and “educating” the public would be cut immediately.

I would have meetings with all agencies of state government and ask the people on the front lines what they would eliminate from their agency. I would invite the consumers of these services and outside providers to be part of this conversation. After working with state employees and roviders of services in a challenge for change type of structure, we would decide what state programs need to be eliminated. This could lead to savings or investing those dollars into programs that really work towards our common goals.

It is this type of process that will lead to the difficult discussions we must have if we are to have a government that is sustainable. We as Vermonters must work together to make tough choices, but we also can work together to create good solutions. It really is all up to us. As Howard Dean said “you have the power.” I believe that you have the answers and I’m asking you to elect me governor so I can help us all move forward in a positive way to constructive solutions and a prosperous Vermont for generations to come.

The Importance of Jobs

2010-08-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

The first of Susan's web commercials. We don't want your money to put it on TV, we ask that you send it to a friend.

The Importance of Jobs from Susan Bartlett on Vimeo.

Dubie Says Spending Federal Education Money Would Be 'Reckless'

2010-08-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Brian Dubie says it's "reckless" to use new federal stimulus money to help offset projected cuts in local school budgets.

For the past decade, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Susan Bartlett has been chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

She says she likes the commissioner's plan and she says Dubie's response is simply a continuation of the flawed policies of the Douglas administration.

"I think it's just more of the same old, which is here you're talking about education, so you make education the bad guy, if you will, and totally miss the point of education is one of the most important things that we do. And that it's a big system and it takes time to make some structural change."

Read the VPR story.

‘Green’ grant to train workers

2010-08-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

By Bruce Edwards

STAFF WRITER - Rutland Herald - Published: August 10, 2010

Vermont will use $4.5 million in federal stimulus funds to train unemployed and underemployed workers for green jobs.

The two-year grant program includes training in a number of fields, including weatherization, renewable energy, recycling and sustainable agriculture.

Several organizations and businesses are sharing in the Vermont Green Energy Training Partnership (www.vermontgreen.org) grant under the auspices of the Central Vermont Community Action Council — one of five community action agencies in the state.

Read on ...

Innovation Will Spark Jobs

2010-08-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Gareth Henderson

Vermont Standard

August 5, 2010

Bartlett, a former educator who has been in the Senate for 18 years, said her experience as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has given her a deep understanding of the state budget and governmental operations. Also, she sees herself as being in the middle of the road politically.

“I thought the Democrats needed a person in the middle to vote for,” Bartlett said.

Read the Vermont Standard article here.

Bartlett courts the political middle in her campaign

2010-08-04T10:48:00.001-07:00

“The conventional wisdom is that moderates can’t win primaries,” she said. “I think that we Democrats lost the governor’s seat when we lost the middle. When I hear the question, ‘why are you different,’ my answer is that I have very clear ideas about what kind of changes I would make to state government and who I will bring into my administration.”

Read the article in The Commons, Windham County's independent daily source of news and views.

Markowitz, Bartlett Debate State's Role With Banks

2010-08-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 08/03/10 5:49pm and Wednesday, 08/04/10 7:34am

Bob Kinzel - Montpelier, Vt.

(Host) Two of the Democratic candidates for governor strongly disagree about the best way to help stimulate the Vermont economy.

The difference centers on whether a governor should punish Vermont banks that don't make sizable investments in small businesses.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.

(Kinzel) To Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Markowitz, the issue is quite simple. She says many Vermont banks aren't lending money to small businesses and she wants to change this situation. In her new TV ad, she spells out the solution.

(Markowitz) "If there are banks that aren't going to invest in Vermont, they're not going to get our tax dollars not when I'm governor."

(Kinzel) Markowitz says that if she's elected, she'll sit down with all of Vermont's banks to spell out her new policy.

(Markowitz) "As the state of Vermont, we put $4 billion into financial institutions. As governor, I'm going to bring the banks together and decide, ‘If you're taking Vermont money, you need to be putting money back into Vermont's small businesses.' It's really as simple as that."

(Kinzel) One of Markowitz's opponents, Susan Bartlett says it's not that simple and she says that Markowitz doesn't understand how financial markets operate. Bartlett argues that new federal financial regulations have made it more difficult for banks to lend money to small businesses. That's why she wants to establish an expanded, state-backed loan program for these businesses.

(Bartlett) "Let's figure out what a constructive solution is instead of trying to bully somebody into doing something that, again, if you understand fundamental economics, obviously banks want to lend money to good businesses. That's how they make their money."

(Kinzel) But Markowitz says the federal rules are only a small part of the current problem. She says the larger problem is the attitude of the banks.

(Markowitz) "They are now extremely conservative. They're holding on to their money. There are better options than lending to Vermont's small businesses that are start ups. And that's not acceptable. ...We bailed out Wall Street. It's not trickling down to Main Street."

(Kinzel) Don't tell that to Dan Yates. He's the president of the Brattleboro Savings Bank and the current chairman of the Vermont Bankers Association. His bank operates three branches in southeastern Vermont. And he says small business loans are the bread and butter of his company.

(Yates) "We're not interested in the IBMs of Vermont. We're looking at who in Brattleboro, Springfield and in between that's a small business that has a good business that needs to borrow. We're anxious."

(Kinzel) Yates says banks may be hesitant to loan money to companies that don't have solid business plans.

He says he's concerned that if Markowitz's proposal is put into place, it will discourage smaller community banks from dealing with the state because they'll be unwilling to make risky loans to small businesses.

For VPR News, I'm Bob Kinzel in Montpelier

Where is the biggest waste/inefficiency in state government, and what will you do about it as governor?

2010-08-03T10:47:00.001-07:00

Vermont has failed in the past to keep up with technology that leads to efficiency in the work place. Over the past several years we have made a conscious effort to correct this situation. In this past budget, even in these difficult times, we have made investments in technology that will eliminate redundant records and allow for better, faster exchange of information within state government. As governor I will make sure that we continue to make these investments as they are needed.

A business the size of state government needs managers who work with employees all of the time to encourage ideas that lead to efficient, effective government. There is not better place to get these ideas than the state workforce. As governor I would make certain that all managers and state employees understand that this is a goal for everyone in their everyday work and reward and encourage creative thinking that leads to better programs.

That said, I believe the only way to truly identify what is waste and what is inefficient in state government is through a process similar to Challenges for Change. Each program in government should meet with the advocates for their programs and people who use the services that the programs provide, and agree upon a set of outcomes for those programs. Then the same group needs to decide how they will measure the outcomes. This process has the effect of having all of the people involved in programs, both providers and consumers, set the priorities for the programs and how to measure those outcomes. The next step is to go through each of the programs involved and see if the programs address the outcomes they have agreed upon. If they don’t, then why should we continue to do those programs? One of the issues for government is that many programs are started, but few are eliminated. Now is the time to stop programs that do not meet the goals we chose.

The above process does not have to be overly time consuming and because it is an inclusive effort, it can be a very positive process. In these difficult times, it is much better to find the positive outcomes we all want and work together towards supporting those programs, than arguing about reductions. This means that there may well be programs that will be terminated, but those dollars can be saved or be redirected to services that address outcomes that can be measured. This is all a necessary part of right-sizing Vermont government.

On Meth Labs, Public Safety and Law Enforcement

2010-08-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

I was astonished to hear Deb Markowitz say “if there is a meth lab found or domestic violence at 3AM and you call the state police, no one is there”.   Obviously she doesn’t know much about law enforcement in Vermont.

Law Enforcement Cooperation and Support

I have been working with all of Vermont’s law enforcement organizations for many years and one of the reason’s Vermont is one of the safest places to live is the cooperation between all of our law enforcement agencies. If something happens in the middle of the night and we call for assistance, we will receive help as soon as practically possible. That help could be the state police, or your local police or your local sheriff, but you will receive help ASAP. Who shows up truly depends on who can get to you the fastest. That’s what cooperation and coordination are all about.

We have a statewide system of data sharing that is the envy of many other states, the Spillman system. It is run by the Vermont Criminal Justice system and for those individual agencies that do not have this system; “gateways” have been built so they can connect into the database.   Could the system be even better, sure it could, but Vermont is way ahead of many states. Vermont has taken advantage of Federal dollars for many years to build up this statewide system so all of our law enforcement people have the information they need in a timely manner.

The “meth” labs that were found in St. Albans were discovered by cooperative work between several agencies. The word “lab” congers up a room full of dangerous, bubbling mixtures. Vermont took proactive measures a number of years ago when meth was becoming a serious issue through the country. Vermont passed laws that make it very difficult to purchase the ingredients necessary to produce meth. Our law enforcement saw this issue coming and asked us to act before it became a large-scale issue in Vermont. We have been successful in our collaboration.

When a lab or drug scene is discovered, there are excellent protocols set up between Vermont law enforcement and the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). By following these protocols and having the DEA involved in the work, the cost of the clean up and disposal of the illegal substances is handled by the DEA. That saves the state a great deal of money.

Domestic Violence Training

The additional training that she wants for domestic violence has been in place for sometime. All officers are required to get a mandatory 8 hours of training above and beyond their regular training and after than an additional 2 hours to keep them up to date on the newest procedures and methods. While domestic violence is a serious issue, Vermont is a leader in the country in having our law enforcement people and our courts work to protect victims and support them through the legal process. I have been part of these changes and have received recognition for my work in the area of domestic violence.

Prescription Drug Use

The last issue that she talks about is the abuse of prescription drugs. This has been targeted by Vermont law enforcement as a top priority. It’s fine to say you will work with the pharmaceutical companies to change how they make pills. What about right now? We know that the biggest issues facing us are heroin and prescription pills.

Vermont law enforcement works with the DEA constantly to find large-scale dealers in prescription drugs and they have been successful in busting a number of rings. A real issue is all the drugs in our own homes. These are pills left over and just left sitting in the bathroom cabinet creating a target for criminals and addicts.   St. Albans had a model program for the disposal of these left over and tempting pills. Working with the hospital, local pharmacists and law enforcement, they had collections of old prescriptions. A problem arose because the cost of properly disposing of these pills is very high.

On September 25 this year, Vermont is going to participate in a nation wide day to help all of us dispose of unused pharmaceuticals in a safe way. Statewide our local sheriffs, working with other law enforcement and the DEA are going to have collections points for unused pills. These pills will then be collected by the DEA and they will destroy them. It is hoped that this will become a routine event all over the country. Now there is a fast, effective, safe and efficient way to address a large part of the supply of illegally used prescription drugs. Leave it to innovative Vermont law enforcement to develop a better way to deal with the issue.

Vermont has a Drug Task Force comprised of state troopers, municipal officers and deputy sheriffs that work around the state to deal with our drug issues. The reality is that as long as there is money to be made, there will be folks who sell drugs. The single most important thing that law enforcement and the rest of us can do is prevention through education. Teaching young people the dangers of drug abuse and the signs of substance abuse is important and it is an ongoing task. It is just as important to have adult’s dispose of their unused pills.   Vermont has been working hard to deal with these issues and we should all be aware of the work that goes on around the clock. Can we do more, of course we can, but we have a great base and considering our economy, we get a great return on our investments.

What laws, rules or regulations would you change or enact to encourage business to remain, grow or locate in Vermont and that dissuade them from leaving? How would those changes work?

2010-08-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

There are a variety of issues that confront the business community and not all businesses have the same issues. The issues of a small retail store are totally different than someone who wants to produce ice cream or build high tech equipment.

I do not have a specific set of "rules" or "regulations" that can be changed to create a better climate for business in Vermont. I think the underlying issue is that of the climate and the attitude towards business.

We all need to work to change the attitude towards business. In Montpelier it often seems that one is either for or against business. You are for or against the environment. You are for helping people or against helping people. I reject that idea. The single best thing we can do as a state in order to have the environment we want, to help those who need our assistance and to maintain a high quality of life, is to create good jobs.

As Governor I would have business leaders sit with folks from the human services community and the environmental community and come up with some common outcomes. Then I would have them work together to develop strategies to reach those outcomes. As I travel Vermont, it has become very clear to me that we have a lot more in common than we have differences. Leadership is about finding these common ground issues and working together to make Vermont a better place.

There has been talk for years of permit reform and it hasn't happened yet. I don't think it will happen until the agency of natural resources does some consolidation of the number of permits they have to administer. As Governor, I would begin that process immediately. The issue in the room that no one really wants to talk about is stormwater. Until we have a real plan and have real conversations about this issue, it will remain an unspoken threat to development. If we don't deal with stormwater and indirect discharges, there is no way we will ever clean up the Lake.

I do not pretend to have the answers, but I do know that I have an approach that is based on getting to real outcomes that work for Vermonters I know that working together we can create an attitude and environment that is business friendly, while protecting our environment and delivering the services to those in need. And we can do all this at a price we can afford.

Agriculture and Vermont's Future

2010-08-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

When we think of Vermont agriculture, we think of green pastures full of grazing cows, with lush cornfields in the background. That has always been part of our heritage and it will remain part of our future agricultural landscape.

We know that dairy farmers have had a number of very difficult years and that is caused by the price they receive for their milk. This price is set by a totally ridiculous pricing system set in Washington. It has nothing to do with the cost of producing mile. There is little that the state can do to address this issue, but our federal delegation is hard at work to change this system. As a state Senator I have been active in working with them and as Governor I would remain an active participant in getting the federal government to develop a reasonable reimbursement rate for the milk from our dairy farms.

There is a great deal more to agriculture in Vermont and here are some of the actions I would take to help in the continuing diversification of our farming economy. As you will see, the free market is alive and well in the redevelopment of Vermont agriculture. I believe that the government can lend some assistance in possible access to capitol, but what we really need is a governor who understands that agriculture is alive and well and diversifying rapidly in our state. This is where a governor can use the office to promote the many wonderful and exciting things that are happening in Vermont.

There are a number of small beef, lamb and pork producers in our state. They have said for several years that they could produce 80% of all the beef and pork we consume in Vermont if they had access to the proper processing facilities. As Governor I would work with private business and the producers to see that this issue is addressed and help these producers more towards their goal of supplying more and more of the meat we consume. The same issue applies to poultry.
The success of our Vermont artisan cheeses is well known. The growth of the program at the University of Vermont and the sale of Vermont cheese all over America is an excellent example of what our future in Vermont agricultural products can become. As this sector continues to grow, I would listen to their plans and where the state can be of assistance, I would make certain the support was available.
Vermont wine makers and our breweries continue to grow. The Agency of Agriculture needs to become knowledgeable about the cultivation of grapes and hops. These are two crops that can become a very important part of cash crops that will keep agricultural land in farming for years to come. The demand for the basic supplies of grapes and hops that are grown in Vermont is growing and we should work to meet that demand.
Many years ago, Vermont was the breadbasket of the East. There is no reason why we cannot return to that claim. As farms became larger and larger and all the grain was grown in the mid-west, the strains of wheat and other grains that used to be produced in Vermont have been lost. The University of Vermont Extension Service has been working with Vermont farmers to redevelop strains of wheat and other grains that grow well in our climate and in our soils. As governor I would make certain that this work continues and we provide the necessary support to take back the claim of being the breadbasket of New England. Working with Vermont businesses such as King Arthur’s Flour and the Red Hen Bakery, Vermont agriculture can return to its roots and grow crops that are suited for our climate and do not require heavy fertilizing and do not require high transportation costs for the finished product. It will be important to make certain that financing is available for these developing agricultural businesses and as governor I would make certain that the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has the necessary capitalization to help these agricultural based businesses grow.
Throughout Vermont there are some very exciting projects with bio-diesel. At Roger Rainville’s farm he is successfully producing all the fuel he needs for this farming equipment. The sunflowers that are grown produce the oil that is processed into bio-diesel and the processed sunflower seeds produce high protein feed for the calves. The total cost of producing the bio-diesel on the farm is $1.70 a gallon. The cost of purchasing that bio-diesel is $2.70 a gallon. This is an excellent example of a win for the farmer with a number of cost savings and a win for the environment. The transportation costs are reduced and the need to purchase feed from out-of-state is greatly reduced.
In times gone by it took 20% of a farmers land to produce the feed to take care of the horses and oxen that provide the “work” for the farm. It turns out that it takes 20% of the farmers land to produce the bio-diesel to run the machines of today. It seems that farmers are simply relearning the farming practices of their grandfathers.

Buying local and farmer’s markets are helping fruit and vegetable growers all over the state find outlets for their products. I believe that what is necessary to help producers sell their products not only locally, but regionally is a series of cooperative type organizations.

There is a business in Lamoille County called Deep Roots, and they have been in business for many years. They are a cooperative that grows organic vegetables and then sell them in Boston and New York. This allows the farmers to do what they do best, grow crops. The marketing is taken care of by that part of the business. Each year every farmer knows what they will grow and that the sale of those crops is taken care of. Deep Roots is in the process of building a storage facility to facilitate year around access to many of its fruits and vegetables.

A series of these types of businesses around the state would assure that an on-going supply of fruits and vegetables would be available to markets and restaurants throughout the year.

With Bartlett, you hear what you want to hear — and don’t want to

2010-08-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Susan Bartlett at Halvorson's Upstreet Cafe, Church Street, Burlington. Mike Townsend/Free Press

Original source 3:10 PM Thu., July 29, 2010 By Mike Townsend

Susan Bartlett met with a small audience today at Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe in Burlington, and the message was she ”gets it."

She gets the fiscal challenges. She gets the policy. She gets it that the buck does have to stop someplace.

I have been off the campaign trail for several weeks because of vacations here at the Free Press. I missed seeing the candidates work a floor. I am unsure of where this mass race of five ends up, and I wouldn’t bet on any specific candidate to win — or lose — no matter what polls may say and how much money anyone raises.

I only know that the state needs a persistent forum like this to get itself, as Susan Bartlett says she gets herself. Vermonters need to listen now and vote in the primary election, and not wait for the general election in November.

“I can walk into the governor’s office tomorrow and I don’t have a learning curve.”

The governor must be “outcomes” based in expectations and be consumed with the goals, how to get there and how to measure. Today, she says, “You cannot ask that question in state government.” With her as governor that question will be asked.

“If you like change, I am your person.”

Then comes the momentary pause Susan Barlett has perfected, because you know what is going to follow, with that sense of humor and raw honesty that connects with constituents in search of truth.

“If you want to keep things the way they are, you have at least four other decisions.”

Reminder: The primary election is Aug. 24. Vote.

7/26 Radio Interview

2010-07-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

The first hour of the Mark Johnson show on Monday was an interview with Susan.

http://www.markjohnsonshow.net/in-the-news/mon72610

A Realistic Jobs Plan for Vermont

2010-07-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

As I have said for year, government doesn’t create jobs, the private sector does. What government can do is help create the infrastructure and environment that encourages the growth of wealth in our state.

As governor there are a number of things I would work to have implemented to help retain and create jobs for Vermonters. The one issue that we all agree upon is that the telecommunications-high speed Internet structure must be developed rapidly and it must reach all parts of the state. This will need to be a public/private partnership to support access for all Vermonters. This is an example of having lots of the parts, but no system. My administration will immediately assemble the parts that exist, the parts that are planned and all the partners to lie out the completion of an up-to-date system for all of Vermont.

I will implement the following ideas as rapidly as possible to grow jobs for Vermont.

I will properly fund the regional economic development organizations and the regional planning commissions. This is where local business folks come to get the information they need. I will make sure that each region had the connections with groups such as the small business administration, Epcore, job-training programs and the sustainable jobs fund. These offices need to be the one stop-shopping place for regional businesses. I will shift $1 million from existing money spent in the central office in Montpelier.

I will assemble a group of small retail business owners to work with state government to consolidate the number of licenses and permits they need to operate their businesses. If we want our downtowns to prosper, we have to make it easier for retail businesses of all kinds to thrive in our downtown areas.

Travel and Tourism is an important part of the Vermont economy. For years the dollars we have invested in this area have only been in marketing. I believe that the agency needs to have several specially trained staff who understand the needs of these special businesses to work with them on business plans and marketing plans so they can get through the good and the bad times. Travel and Tourism is a specialized business just like farming and we should begin to address their business needs, not just their marketing needs. One specialized position $100,000.

Many businesses have trouble gaining access to capital, yet we know that our banks have money to lend. The problem is not that the banks don’t want to lend money, but they have come under so much more regulation from Washington that they can take very little risk. I will work with the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) and develop a new program that would allow VEDA to work with these businesses and the banks to create lending programs that cover the risk that the banks can’t take. This type of partnership should open the door to lending from the banks and encourage significant growth. Potentially several million dollars to capitalize.

Vermont is a state of innovators and it is time we truly recognized this and turned this asset into real jobs and real wealth for our state. I will start an office of Innovation and Intellectual Property as governor. This office will work with all the regional economic development groups and teach them the basics of helping a business or an individual with an innovative idea get on the path of securing the intellectual property rights for their idea. This office will also help find sources of capital for innovators and will encourage the growth of innovation of all types all around the state. As innovation and the demand for assistance with applying for patents grows, there could be assistance from this office in the form of grants and loans to help inventors achieve their goals of getting their intellectual property and then starting a successful business. For several years I have worked with VCET (Vermont Center for Emerging Technology) to help grow this type of idea. VCET now has a small seed capital fund to help businesses that meet their criteria.

The industry that has been hit the hardest in this recession is that of the building trades. Just like the rest of the country the Vermont housing sector has stalled. From looking at numbers and talking with folks in the field, I think it is safe to say that this sector is suffering from an unemployment rate of at least 30%. If we really want to jump start the Vermont economy, this is the sector we should help. I propose borrowing $15 million a year for two years and giving the money to Housing and Conservation. The housing organizations around the state very easily turn $15 million into $60 million with the financial packages they develop. This would mean $60 million a year spread around the state to begin to address the issue of affordable housing. Every discussion concerning growing our economy comes back to the lack of affordable housing. This two-year program would get the building trades back to work and begin to address the shortage of affordable housing.

I believe that the above steps, combined with my plan for agriculture, will get our economy moving in the right direction and will provide job growth for a number of years. We can fund many of these changes by a reallocation of the existing dollars in the Agency of Commerce and Community Affairs. I feel that these dollars need to be at work in the field, not in Montpelier. There are many Vermonters who are eager to grow their business or to start a business; we just have to provide the right attitude and the right incentives.

Statement on "Realistic Jobs Plan for Vermont"

2010-07-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Today I am releasing a detailed proposal to create jobs in Vermont. It includes accessing capital, a focus on regional development and building affordable homes to get the construction trades back to work. I will address the needs of agriculture in a separate proposal next week.

The other democratic candidates for governor have ideas for creating jobs, but they are all promises and don't address the cost of their programs. My proposal is different because it includes cost estimates. My experience as Chair of Appropriations gives me the ability to balance investment in the future with the reality of our budget problems today.

We must keep state spending under control as we build for the future.

I have talked to Vermonters all over the state and by far their number one concern is jobs. People are worried about losing the jobs they have and wondering what will happen to their children in the future. This is a critical time for our state.

Brian Dubie said on July 19 that he has a 10 point economic plan, but he is waiting to share it with Vermonters. Mr. Dubie, the people of Vermont need a plan for jobs now, not later.

Brian Dubie, what are you waiting for?

Bartlett discusses jobs and the economy

2010-07-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

A good article in the Brattleboro Reformer that gets to the essence of Susan's thoughts on how to support business and create jobs.

"This is about who do we think has the ideas and the skills and the personality and the style that Vermont needs right now, and who can stand next to and beat Brian Dubie," Susan said. "I can walk into the governor’s office tomorrow and I don’t have a learning curve."

Read the article ...

Agriculture day

2010-07-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Susan and I had a completely packed, agricultural day Friday. We met in Hardwick and carpooled to Jasper Hill Farms in Greensboro, which I had never actually seen or known much about. It turns out that they run a incredible facility producing world class cheese, with their own cows as well as others cheese products, and is built literally into a hill. At Jasper Hill we met the two brothers who owned the company, Andy and Mateo Kehler and Susan talked to them about how they started their company, how they are expanding rapidly, and how they make ridiculously good cheese.

It was a really great conversation to listen to, as they exchanged ideas how they believed the future of Vermont agriculture was the exact opposite of the future of California agriculture. Everyone in the room believed that Cabot and Jasper Hill had the right idea, that we will never be able to compete with California and the incredible quantity of food they are able to produce in a single year. What Vermont will always be able to produce is the some of the highest quality food on earth. That will bring back high quality jobs into Vermont, and the financial growth that comes with it. With the tour at Jasper Hill, it became clear that this is exactly what they have produced.

We were joined after the bulk of the conversation by the news crew from WCAX Channel 3. They had been covering the election and joined us for the rest of the day. The first thing that they did with us was to come along for the tour of the factory that Andy took us on. It was a very cool place, with rows of cheese wheels stacked on shelves. They explained the great deal of care that goes into cheese at Jasper Hill, how they vacuumed cheese for dust mites, manually rubbed and cleaned the wheels every few days, and that they were not just left to sit and age. I was very impressed with the entire tour, and the operation as a whole. They seemed very impressed with Susan and her commitment of not only her time, but her support of the goals they strive toward.

We left after thanking the Kehler brothers and headed to Hardwick to the Center for an Agricultural Economy where we met Monty Fischer over coffee. Monty and Susan talked and I learned about the mission and goals of the program, how they try and make sure Vermonters have access to good, locally grown food. He handed us a few papers with names of all the business in Vermont which they are associated with, and it seemed like they were helping out every locally owned business in Vermont, including Barre's own LACE. After about an hour the meeting ended and we headed to Cabot, while the news team interviewed Monty Fischer.

In Cabot we stopped at Harry's Cabot True Value, which like many places in Vermont, was a little bit of everything. It was a hardware store with a diner in the back which was being used to hold a meet and greet for Susan. They had a really good assortment of food laid out for us when we got there, and had a pretty good turnout, plus the store's staff as well. Most of the people who turned up were farmers, and like the rest of the day, they asked Susan questions about farming and food policy, with Susan asking question's of her own. The news crew was there shortly after we were, and they were interviewing people about what they thought about her and the answers she gave. They got a massive amount of footage traveling around with us, it will be interesting to see what bits they use, and how it turns out.

We were at the diner for probably 2 hours, with Susan doing what she does best, talking to the average folks who turned out to see her. I don't think the news crew expected to wait that long for her, but so me of the people who were talking to her were having such a good conversation, they didn't want to leave! We thanked our hosts, and then the final bit of the day was the news crew wanted to interview Susan outside after all of our events. That lasted for probably 5 minutes and we thanked them and headed off back to Hardwick so I could get my car and go home. It was a very successful day for Susan, and a great learning experience for me.

It was a great day, and when we win the election, I will attribute it to days like this. Ever since I have been traveling with the campaign, I think that's what makes Susan different, Susan is going out and meeting people and learning what they care about, not staying at home raising money. People of Vermont know this, and its why we are going to win August 24th.

Andrew Desmarais

Addressing the next $120 million budget deficit

2010-07-26T05:18:00.001-07:00

In order to deal with another year and another substantial deficit, as Governor I would ask legislative leaders to meet with the current administration, me, and the staff I would be appointing to budget writing assignments. It will take all the knowledge we have to develop a budget for the upcoming year.

For several years I have been focusing on the area of corrections for savings. We currently spend almost $140 million a year on this part of the budget. We know that we incarcerate a high percentage of non-violent offenders. Our goal needs to be to help Vermonters with substance abuse deal with their issues and become productive members of society.

This will take years to accomplish. For example; we currently have budgeted for 700 out of state prisoners. Each one costs us $23,000 a year. If we were to bring home all 700 of those prisoners, we would save $16 million. That is a great deal of money, but what would we do with all those prisoners? It will take years and a big investment to develop the programs we need to rehabilitate these Vermonters and to find housing and jobs for them so they do not return to a life of crime. But at least we are beginning to make these changes.

I would ask that each program in government meet with the advocates for their programs and people who use the services that the programs provide and agree upon a set of outcomes for those programs. Then the same group would decide how they would measure the outcomes. This process has the effect of having all of the people involved in programs, both providers and consumers, set the priorities for the programs and how to measure those outcomes.

The next step would be to go through each of the programs the state provides and see if the programs address the outcomes that have been agreed upon. If they don’t, then why should we continue to do those programs? One of the issues for government is that many programs are started but few are eliminated. Now is the time to stop programs that do not meet the goals we chose.

This process does not have to be overly time consuming and because it is an inclusive effort, it can be a very positive process. In these difficult times, it is much better to find the positive outcomes we all want and work together towards supporting those programs, than arguing about reductions. This means that there may well be programs that will be terminated, but those dollars can be saved or be redirected to services that address outcomes that can be measured. This is all a necessary part of right-sizing Vermont government.

I do not believe it is right to ask Vermonters to pay more taxes until government as a whole goes through the above process. Our state revenues are at about the same level that they were in 2005. We must get our spending back to those levels.

10 minutes on Education

2010-07-26T05:03:00.000-07:00

Susan lays out some of her thoughts on how we go forward with education in Vermont. It's not just about aides ...

Susan speaks to the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

2010-07-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

On May 26, she spoke to an audience at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. Chris Graff is the moderator.

Innovation and Intellectual Property, Jobs, Economic Development, the need to support Regional Planning Commissions, Challenges for Change, Economic Development, Agriculture and her experience are some of the subjects covered.

A Moderate Approach to the Budget

2010-07-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

"I've balanced the budget for 16 years."

"The thing about being the moderate is you get beaten up by both sides. I'm pretty resoundingly, every year, beaten up by both sides. I think that proves my point that I'm the moderate."

Qualified to be Governor

2010-07-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Qualified to be Governor from Susan Bartlett on Vimeo.

Larger School Districts and Education Spending

2010-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Larger districts will offer more educational opportunities for children and save money. We need work together to reduce spending on education.

"Half our budget deficit next year, $60 million, is the general fund contribution to education. If we meet that obligation, we are breaking the back of other general fund services. To not meet them, and this is the no-win situation, is breaking the back of the property taxpayer."

Vermont Well-Positioned to Revamp Health Care System

2010-07-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

Vermont is moving forward on global budgeting. The work we've already done on medical records immediately qualified us for millions of dollars in federal money."

"I believe that the next governor, and the next legislature will be able to move forward to make significant changes in the health care system in Vermont in the next two years."

Letter: Choose Bartlett as next governor

2010-07-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Burlington Free Press SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2010

As we all know there are five candidates vying for the vacancy for governor of Vermont. After learning about each candidate's qualifications, I decided to support the senator from Lamoille County. Susan Bartlett is my choice for she is prepared to hold the position.

First: Bartlett has an education background earning degrees both at the University of Vermont and Johnson State College. With her degrees, she obtained employment as directorof a group home for youth and as director of special education services for a school district in Lamoille County. She developed programs that offered stability to our youth at risk.

Second: With her spouse, she has hands-on experience in organic farming and raising animals. She knows dirt, lambs and sheep.

Third: She has business experience having owned and operated a successful shop, Wool & Feathers, in Stowe. She knows yarn.

Fourth: She has served as Vermont's senator from Lamoille County for 18 years. When she won her first race, she was the first Democrat to be elected to that seat in the county's history.

Fifth: During her 18 years in the Senate, she served on the Appropriations Committee for 16 of those years. She was at the helm as the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee for eight of those years. (A former Vermont governor, the first woman from Vermont to serve in that office, also served on the Appropriations Committee.) We know what a tough time our state is in right now with budgeting issues. Bartlett knows budgets.

Sixth: If you've met or read about Susan Bartlett, you have a sense of her competence, her vision for our state, and for the people within its borders. Voters in Lamoille County know.

PATRICIA A. ALLEN  South Burlington

"Not every special needs child belongs in the classroom all the time."

2010-07-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

Susan Bartlett talks about education to the VT NEA. She discusses the importance of improving our educational system to benefit the children and the people who work in our schools.

Susan Bartlett Speaks to the NEA About Education from Susan Bartlett on Vimeo.

How to help Southern Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom

2010-07-25T08:35:00.001-07:00

I do not believe that government creates jobs; I believe that our citizens create jobs. It is the individuals who are already in business or who have an idea that they want to turn into a business that create jobs and prosperity for the entire state. The state can help create an environment and provide infrastructure that helps business grown. As governor I would look at all of the existing programs that give money to businesses and make sure these dollars are really creating jobs. I would make certain that money would go to the new, small businesses that are our future.

As governor I would fund the regional economic development groups properly so they could spend their time helping local business. It is these regional organizations that can best assist local business people. It is also these regional groups working locally that can best develop an economic development plan for their region.

The Northeast Kingdom has suffered higher unemployment rates than most of the state for sometime. The area has been very dependent upon Ethan Allen and the severe negative impacts can be seen when the Beecher Falls plant was closed. The expansion at Jay Peak and the interest in a high tech company building in the area are positive signs that more jobs and opportunity are coming to that part of the state. This part of the state has been the champion of getting funding through a federal program referred to as the EB5 program. This allows foreign investors to make investments into targeted programs that create new jobs. As governor I would work to have other parts of the state take advantage of this source of capital.

I believe that innovation and intellectual property will be the answer for good jobs all over Vermont. The interest in renewable energy poses opportunities for regions of Vermont to become the center of excellence for research and innovation. The rapid growth in bio-diesel and growing our own fuel can provide ways to keep our farmlands all over the state as farmland, not houses. I would form an office of Innovation and Intellectual Property that would train all the regional partners in these areas so local businesses would learn of these opportunities and be helped in getting the patents of their ideas. This office would also work to assist in finding new sources of revenue for businesses.

These ideas apply to our entire state. As I am traveling the state, I find so many pockets of good ideas for job growth. I believe that we are poised to come out of this recession in a way that will ensure slow but steady job growth for all of Vermont.

Susan Speaks at "Race to Replace"

2010-07-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

In addition to talking about closing VY and renewable energy, Bartlett shows her humorous side in this video shot last spring.

Douglas Ignored Legislative Intent

2010-07-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

from vtdigger

Lawmakers decried the Douglas administration’s decision to eliminate a conservation position in the Department of Fish and Wildlife at a press conference Wednesday.

Bartlett sees the administration’s decision as a matter of priorities. “This is a continuation of this administration not being supportive of conservation and/or planning,” Bartlett said.

The position was written into the budget bill that passed in the last legislative session. Legislative leaders said Gov. Jim Douglas violated lawmakers’ intent and negotiated in bad faith when he signed the budget bill and then shortly afterward allowed administrative officials to ignore language in the bill. That wording was designed to protect a staff wildlife biologist who provides technical assistance for towns engaged in conservation planning to protect wildlife habitat.

Sen. Susan Bartlett and Sen. Peter Shumlin (both Democratic candidates in the gubernatorial primary) and House Speaker Shap Smith said the Legislature saw the position as an essential component of the department’s conservation policy.

Douglas administration officials say the executive branch has the right to decide the fate of individual employees and positions. David Corriell, Douglas’ spokesman, accused lawmakers of trying to micromanage personnel.

“On the one hand, the Legislature through Challenges for Change wants the government to run more efficiently, and on the other hand, they’re running government as inefficiently as possible by dictating the way the administration is managing government,” Corriell said.
Observers say the stalemate over the language in the law could lead to a constitutional showdown between legislators and the administration. At issue is whether the administration is obliged to uphold language in the law that it deems unacceptable, and conversely whether the Legislature has the right to insist that it do so.

It’s too early to say if the question will become a constitutional issue, according to Attorney General Bill Sorrell, who, as of yesterday, had not been asked by legislative leaders or the administration to weigh in.

Smith said there are no plans yet to sue the administration over the elimination of the position. He called the decision a “breach of the good faith that we all contributed towards in reaching a budget compromise.”

“When we passed the budget document, we expected it to be followed,” Smith said. “It’s not merely guidance – it is the law of the state of Vermont. This year we worked very diligently with the administration to put together a budget that could be signed by the governor and was the result of many compromises, and to then have the governor sign the budget, and then ignore the language of the budget, really cuts against the spirit of the compromising that we did to get to a budget we could all leave the building with, without the repeat of the veto and override scenario that happened last year.”

Jonathon Wood, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, said in a recent interview that there is no constitutional problem. “Those powers are clear and absolute,” Wood said. “The administration has the authority to do this. We have to manage the budget and the Legislature sets the budget. They fund certain programs and we manage the positions.”
Bartlett said the administration is choosing to ignore “what the budget said.”

“If the budget’s a guideline, and you don’t need to pay attention to it, maybe you just need one branch of government,” Bartlett said.

The position, Fish and Wildlife Scientist II, was held by Jens Hawkins-Hilke, who worked with 50 to 80 towns a year to help them identify and map habitat. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife grant paid for half of Hawkins-Hilke’s salary, which was roughly $22 an hour. He was laid off recently and has filed a grievance with the union. According to the legislative letter of intent, his position would have cost the state roughly $16,000.

He provided technical support for towns, as well as helped local community members understand the scientific concepts behind conservation, such as habitat protection. Often this meant helping towns identify what kinds of habitat they valued for recreation, hunting, fishing and other wildlife, he said. Some towns are focused on deer yards; others are interested in protecting salamanders.

Hawkins-Hilke said in an interview that he was No. 4 on the reduction-in-force list at ANR last year. He survived the first round of cuts, but in February he was told his position would be eliminated. Town planning commission and conservation commission officials canvassed lawmakers about the RIF and pressured the Legislature to retain the position. By mid-June it was clear the administration had gone ahead with its original plan.

Wood called it a “limited service position” that wasn’t “meant to be a full-time job” and he said the agency will continue to offer services to local communities through its district offices.

“The position provides planning assistance to towns and municipalities — just assistance to conservation commissions and town plans on the types of things in towns that could be done to protect wildlife habitat,” Wood said. “That type of thing has been done by the department for many years.”

Mike Hedges, a member of the Waterbury Conservation Commission, said he is not confident ANR will help his group finish mapping for new subdivision regulations. Nor is he counting on help from officials from the agency with plans for protecting a moose crossing corridor on Route 100 near Walker Construction. It’s the only place, he said, where the large game animals can pass from the Green Mountains to the Worcester Mountains. Hawkins-Hilke identified the crossing for the commission and was going to help them develop a plan for protecting the area.

“It’s hard for others to take up those extra duties,” Hedges said.

Wood said the agency is responding to constant downward budget pressures.

“There aren’t any more paper clips to cut,” Wood said. “We’ve been into significant cutting of positions for a while now. There isn’t any choice.”

Wood said game wardens, however, continue to be fully funded by the Department of Fish and Wildlife because they “are a high priority.”

“I have not tried to cut game wardens, though the Legislature has cut their overtime,” Wood said.

Since the recession began in 2007, the agency has eliminated 100 positions, many of which were federally funded, according to Wood.

Corriell said the state faces an uncertain revenue outlook in the current fiscal year and a $100 million deficit in fiscal year 2012. He said small amounts add up to “real money” in the budget and that government leaders have to make hard decisions.

“This is a very challenging time, and as a state government there need to be priorities,” Corriell said. “What we need to do is focus on growing our economy. It’s short-sighted to focus on one position.”

Bartlett also sees the administration’s decision as a matter of priorities. “This is a continuation of this administration not being supportive of conservation and/or planning,” Bartlett said.

House Caucus Event

2010-07-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended the House Caucus Event in Danville. Unfortunately, Susan already had an event scheduled in Johnson and could not make it. I really did not know what I was getting into beforehand, aside from the knowledge that it was a fundraiser, and that the Speakers of the House from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine were all going to be there. When I got there, it was already packed, and was clearly very well prepared and organized under a giant tent with people serving very fancy food.
As a kid growing up in a middle class family in Barre I can honestly say I felt a bit out of place there. Clearly it was a high class event for the state party in which they hoped to raise a great of money. Generally I am pretty good at going around and introducing myself to people, but as a college student with twenty-thousand dollars of debt, finding things in common with people who are having lobster and steak served to them is not easy. My idea of fancy food is still from working at Cabot Cheese the last two summers when we would package the extra sharp instead of the sharp cheddar.
I was surprised that the speakers themselves did not speak very long. Vermont's Speaker of the House Shap Smith talked for probably about 10 minutes, and introduced the Speaker of the New Hampshire House, Terie Norelli and Speaker of the Maine House, Hannah Pingre. Neither of the two women spoke as long as Shap did, probably about 25 minutes total. The entire event was 2 hours long, and I got to talk to some great people there including Representative Kitty Toll whose home was the site of the event, and whose family helped put everything together. She seemed like a very nice woman, although understandably a bit rushed. I talked to several people and had a few good laughs. I was happy to find strong support for Susan's experience and vision for Vermont's future.

What else I thought was interesting was the fact that they had several vendors who were there showing off products. It wasn't Coke or Pepsi or anything, but they had someone with a small tent showing off his cheese, and others who were giving away Maple products and what seemed to be Apple wine. I tried a little of each at the end, all were very good.

At around 6 things slowed down, and I headed back home to join friends and see the movie Inception, which was great. Hanging out with bigwigs is something that something I guess I am going to have to get used to in politics, and as long as they keep bringing lobster, I look forward to it.

Andrew Desmarais

What's Emily's List Afraid of?

2010-07-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

Do you believe the polls?

We got a call from a supporter who was polled on her preference for governor in the primary. She said it was clear it was a poll supporting Deb Markowitz. They listed Racine, Shumlin, Dunne ... but no Bartlett!

The pollster didn't know, or wouldn't say, who was conducting the poll.

"Just doin' my job, ma'am."

Is it any wonder the recently "leaked" poll results show Susan is unknown? If you look at Deb's listing on Emily's List at the link below, check the 7th paragraph. Racine, Shumlin, Dunne ... but no Bartlett! This despite two calls to Emily's List asking for a correction.

What's Emily's List afraid of? Could it be a woman who is more qualified and experienced than their candidate?

From Emily's List: http://emilyslist.org/what/candidates/deb_markowitz/more/

"Before she can face Dubie, Markowitz must come out on top of a crowded field of Democrats that includes state Senator Doug Racine, who ran for governor in 2002 and lost to Douglas; state Senator Peter Shumlin, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 and lost to Dubie; and Google executive Matt Dunne, a former state legislator who also lost to Dubie in 2006."

LGBQT Forum

2010-07-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Susan poses with Amber LeMay at the LGBQT Forum July 19

Photo and edited text below from http://houseoflemay.blog-city.com/glbtvt_gubernatorial_forum.htm

On Monday, July 19, the five candidates running for the Democrat nomination for Governor met in a forum addressing GLBT issues. Those present walked away feeling that any of the five would be a great ally as governor.

We, as the League of Drag Queen Voters, were present and were pleased to pose with each of the candidates (see below). We also presented them with a pin that several wore during the the event. We'll be looking for them during this weekend's Pride events, too!

Addressing Property Taxes

2010-07-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

It is obvious that education is a hot topic in most of our communities. Many school boards worked hard to deliver a level funded or lower budget than last year. Staff reductions were made and programs were cut; and still tax rates went up. Voters are angry and frustrated. How can we have a system that penalizes communities that are doing all the right things to contain costs with a higher tax rate?

The culprit is the Common Level of Appraisal or the CLA.

The CLA is the part of Act 60 and Act 68 that is designed to make sure that all taxpayers and communities are treated in an equitable manner. It is the means by which the school tax on a $210,000 home is the same no matter which community the home is located, as long as the school spending is the same. I believe that it is the CLA that disconnects voters from their school budgets, not income sensitivity. It is the CLA that is causing tax rates to rise, when school spending is dropping.

I have been talking with the Finance Committee for several years about working to find a solution to the problems with the CLA formula. So far no one has come up with a solution. It is my understanding that there are some issues with “freezing” the CLA where it was last year, but I find it hard to believe that it could be more of a problem than we have now increasing it!

I am going to ask the Finance committee once again to see if we can at least get a short-term fix for this problem. I do have a longer term fix.

When Act 68 passed, I worked with Representative Richard Marron from Stowe to put a new system of property evaluation in place. Rep. Marron was then the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and he did a great deal of work with the state of Maryland to understand their system.

They have a 3-year rolling, on-going statewide appraisal system. One year it is primary residences, the next year business property and the third year all other property. This system keeps property up to date and I believe it would serve to get rid of the complex CLA formula. I still believe that this is a good idea and I’m trying to get folks to consider it again.

My plan for Vermont envisions hiring professional appraisers to work for the state tax department, performing the ongoing work in each county. We would keep our local listers doing the work that they currently do. With professional appraisers, I believe there would be more consistency in the property evaluations eliminating the need for the CLA.

This system would save money for the towns, which constantly have to reappraise. There would still be an appeal process for taxpayers who felt they had an unfair evaluation.

I believe that this system will keep evaluations up to date in every part of the state, is easy to understand and meets the requirements of treating taxpayers in a fair and equitable manner. It may even reduce property taxes.

It sure would be better than watching property taxes increase while school boards cut services.

Fairness and Diversity

2010-07-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

How will I change the structure and tone of state government?

Right now I think state government is tone deaf on the issues of diversity. The changing population is something we are watching and mostly going “wow this is different”. There have been token appointments and conversations, but the reality is we don’t have any idea what to do. As governor I would convene a series of public meetings to talk about the various issues and work with state and local government to develop solutions. The real solution is education and that takes time, but it is the most effective way to go. Taking an issue and keeping it visible is the best way to get good results. That’s the power a governor has, to take an issue and make it public and keep constructive conversations going.

Appointments to boards

This administration has misused their power of appointment and has used many appointments as political rewards. My approach to board appointments would be to ask the various groups that are involved with the board to make recommendations. As a new and important part of the process I would include individuals who are working in the area of diversity and fairness to participate in the recommendation of individuals for boards. The comment about Native American’s and District Environmental Commissions is an excellent example. One of the problems is we don’t know what we don’t know. So a key to moving forward is getting a different point of view as base line input for recommendations.

Hate Groups

I return to the issue of education. I can see an entire series of public service ads talking about these issues. They would be made with public officials, regular citizens, law enforcement, and all kinds of Vermonters, of all types of ethnic backgrounds. Vermont has a long history of welcoming all folks; it’s time to get back to that behavior.

Vermont brand

As governor I would celebrate the growing diversity of our state and show that pride in our advertising and promotion of Vermont. We are still in the process of figuring out how to develop innovation and intellectual property as economic development and there is no reason that these issues have any ethnicity attached to them. I would develop an introduction to diversity daylong program that would be given to all state workers and any group that receives state dollars. It would at least be a start in developing awareness.

School Issues

I wish I had an easy answer for this question. We have passed laws that have resulted in attempts to address bullying, harassment and hate crimes and as you say they have come to nothing. There must be programs in other states that have been effective in training educators in these issues. I believe we need a total education and sensitizing set of programs to truly move forward. How long has the south been integrated and how much progress has been made?

I don’t think the issue is large or small districts; the issue is human nature and ignorance. For many years I have felt that half the trauma for the state of Vermont surrounding Civil Unions was that for years Vermonters had prided themselves on “not being like other state” and not being prejudiced. Civil Unions smacked us right in the head and said “Oh yea, you think you’re not prejudiced? How come you’re acting like this?”

While Vermont has been “white,” the prejudice against the French Canadians and the Italians has been very real and very nasty. Just because a state has been all white doesn’t mean it free from prejudice.

What sets me apart?

I was born in Massachusetts and raised in South Carolina. My family moved to Orleans, Vermont in 1962 when I was entering the 11th grade. My father worked in textiles and my mother worked for a lawyer. They were totally supportive of integrating schools and raised my brother and I to judge each person as an individual.

A woman of color worked for us so there was someone at home when my brother and I got home from school. My parents spent 3 years trying to convince Johnny Mae to use the front door. She never would. As the violence was increasing, my father had the chance to take a job in Vermont.

My parents saw they had two children who thought all folks were equal and that we were in for a very difficult time as some of our school friends began to take sides in the issue of integration. So my parents made the decision to leave the south and move to Vermont for their children's well being.

I have never shared this story before. When the issue of Civil Unions came along, I felt that I was being given the opportunity to act on a civil rights issue in a way that my parents had never had the opportunity to, and if they had still been alive would have been so proud and happy that I had that chance. So I think that kind of awareness makes me different than all the rest.

Editorial: Money Talks

2010-07-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

Times Argus
Published: July 18, 2010

Vermont Democrats are discovering one of the difficulties created by a contested primary. In the latest campaign finance reports from the six candidates in the governor’s race, Republican Brian Dubie has reported contributions of $943,961. The combined total for the five Democrats in the race is $1,491,375. But because they are battling it out among themselves, win an eye on the August primary, none of them comes close to matching Dubie.

Dubie, the popular lieutenant governor, has managed to carry on a low-key campaign in this early stage, though he also has managed to spend about half of the money he has raised so far. That money is either going toward building a solid foundation for his campaign, or else it is being frittered away.

The Democrats, too, have each spent about half of their contributions, more or less. They are involved in a spirited battle to distinguish themselves from their competitors, and they need to spend the money now.

Secretary of State Deb Markowitz began her campaign early with the aim of locking up some of the major contributors for herself, and her finance figures reflect her success. She leads the pack in fundraising with $523,946 reported so far.

Sen. Susan Bartlett trails the pack, reporting only $70,920 so far. Bartlett issued a statement before the release of the numbers as a kind of preventive strike against what she called the “political pundits” who would deploy the conventional wisdom to assert that her relative lack of money would doom her candidacy. She said she always knew she would raise less money than the other candidates and she planned to run a low-budget campaign. She presents herself as an underdog — like the 2004 Red Sox — and also a Howard Dean Democrat willing to make hard choices about state finances. As chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has established credibility on financial questions, though she has not necessarily established visibility around the state.

Among the other three Democrats, Sen. Douglas Racine reported raising only $210,158 so far. Former Sen. Matt Dunne has raised $267,861, and Sen. Peter Shumlin has raised $418,490. Racine’s relatively modest sum comes as a surprise given his success in winning several high-profile endorsements from labor organizations and given his long history in Chittenden County politics. Shumlin’s total was boosted by a contribution of $166,787 that he made personally to his campaign.

The difficulty for the Democrats is that they will have to spend a good portion of what they raise just to get past the Aug. 24 primary. Dubie can marshal his resources for the General Election. Even having spent half of what he has raised, he has a healthy advantage over the Democrats so far.

But as Bartlett reminds us, “If money alone determined the outcome of an election, Jack McMullin would have beaten Fred Tuttle.” Jack McMullin was the wealthy Republican who moved to Vermont and soon thereafter entered the race to defeat Sen. Patrick Leahy. He didn’t count on the late Fred Tuttle, the retired and hobbling old farmer from Tunbridge, who used subversive Yankee wit to undermine McMullin’s credibility. How many teats on a cow? McMullin didn’t know. Tuttle won the Republican primary and went on to endorse Leahy.

Bartlett is no Tuttle. She is a serious, if underfunded, candidate. But Dubie is no McMullin; nor is the Democrats’ fundraising leader, Markowitz. All are serious candidates with credible records and diverse strengths and weaknesses. Enter a conversation with Vermont Democrats this summer, and while each of the candidates has committed supporters, many Democrats scratch their heads wondering which of several good candidates to back.

It is a sign of the times that the candidates have gravitated toward positions that have many themes in common. Markowitz has issued an action plan for the economy in order to build jobs. The other candidates have their own proposals for creating jobs.

Dubie, meanwhile, stands firm with what for eight years has been Republican orthodoxy: shrink government and cut taxes. It is a message that resonates with Republicans. The Democratic candidates are betting that Vermonters, after the eight-year administration of Gov. James Douglas, are looking for more. Their battle to win the chance to make that case now enters its critical phase.

Click here to support Susan now with a contribution.

Lamoille County senator looks to moderates to deliver primary victory

2010-07-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

By Peter Hirschfeld

Vermont Press Bureau - Published: July 18, 2010

Susan Bartlett has read her own political epitaph before.

In 1997, she alienated powerful constituencies in her Lamoille County Senate district by helping to shepherd Act 60, the landmark education funding law, through the Statehouse.

“They said re-election was impossible after that,” she says now. “They’d dug the hole and nailed the coffin.”

In 2000, it was Bartlett’s strong advocacy for civil unions that was to be her undoing.

“They said if Act 60 didn’t kill her, then we’ve got her this time,” she says. “I was outspent 5-to-1. They said I was toast.”

Bartlett endured, though, riding her reputation for fiscal moderation to eight consecutive re-elections since first winning the county’s lone Senate post in 1992.

As the five-way race in the Democratic gubernatorial primary hits its midsummer stride, Bartlett is once again fielding rumors of her political demise.

Polls show her lagging well behind the rest of the field. And Bartlett’s fundraising totals bode ill for her candidacy (in campaign filings disclosed last week, she reported $70,000 in donations, the only Democratic candidate below $200,000).

Perhaps owing to her previous political battles, Bartlett is unfazed. Last year, when she announced her candidacy, Bartlett predicted certain triumph in the 2010 general election. Voters are ready to leave Gov. James Douglas and Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, she said, but want a voice of fiscal moderation that she alone among Democrats can provide.

On a recent sweltering Monday, inside the dark, wood-floored living room of her North Hyde Park home, Bartlett remained cocksure in the face of political realities that point to almost certain defeat in the Aug. 24 primary.

“They’ve said I was done before. They’ve told me it was all over,” Bartlett says. “Then the silent majority goes to the polls and elects me.”

‘Willing to say no’

In the Statehouse, where she has been chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for a decade, Bartlett has made a comfortable home on the conservative edge of the Democratic spectrum.

During the last two legislative sessions, more progressive members of Bartlett’s caucus championed the use of “rainy day” funds to protect government programs from revenue shortfalls. Bartlett, however, urged a fiscal restraint that exposed the Agency of Human Services to significant budget cuts.

In advance of the Senate vote on Challenges for Change, a government restructuring plan that was criticized by fellow Democrats – including three also running for governor – as a backdoor downsizing scheme, Bartlett delivered the sales pitch for a piece of legislation that cut more than $30 million from state spending.

“She’s willing to say no,” says Sen. Jane Kitchel, former human services secretary under Howard Dean and now vice chairwoman of the appropriations committee. “If you’re the chair of Appropriations, you do have to say no at times. It’s not the most pleasant position to be in, but she never led people with false hopes.”

Senate President Peter Shumlin, who 10 years ago made Bartlett the first woman to head the appropriations committee, cited her “moderation” and “balance” among his chief reasons for her appointment.

“I think the thing about Susan that makes her so good at that job is that she has a very balanced approach to making decisions, and that’s what an Appropriations chair has to do,” says Shumlin, who is competing against Bartlett in the Democratic primary.

The same moderation that won Bartlett respect, and considerable power, in Montpelier – in her inaugural Senate run in 1992, she considered declaring as an independent – has probably hurt her standing with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, which generally decides primary elections.

Going for the moderates

Bartlett has made clear her primary campaign strategy: Own the moderate bloc of Vermont Democrats, a portion of which has swung for Douglas and Dubie in the past four general elections.

That approach might be problematic, according to Eric Davis, professor emeritus of political science at Middlebury College.

“She has been quoted in the last several weeks as saying she’s looking for the support of so-called moderates,” Davis says. “But I believe her main difficulty is going to be that most of the people who vote in the Democratic primary call themselves either liberals or progressives rather than moderates.”

Moderates haven’t shown up in primaries, Bartlett counters, because there weren’t any moderates to vote for.

“I can say to people, ‘This is the primary where you actually have a choice. This is the primary where you can have a profound impact by actually coming out to vote,’” she says. “I hear folks all over the state telling me, ‘This is the one. This is the one where I vote.’ We’ll see if they show up.”

At home in the Kingdom

Even as she peddles her self-styled fiscal conservatism, Bartlett says she never wavers from her belief in the goodness of government.

“I’m sure not one of those Republicans,” she says. “My father and I stopped talking about politics when he decided he liked Ronald Reagan.”

Bartlett is a chatty woman whose family moved to Orleans when she was 15. The daughter of a soldier father and an English mother – they met while he was stationed in the European Theater during World War II – Bartlett, 63, says she took immediately to rural life in the Northeast Kingdom.

“I’d been in South Carolina before that, and this new place was much, much better for me,” she says.

Bartlett says she wasn’t a great student at Orleans High School (though her campaign website touts her receipt of the “Betty Crocker Award”). Nor did she achieve excellence in her undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont, where she met her future husband, Bill.

“I was not a terribly good student,” she says. “I just was not interested.”

At Johnson State College, where Bartlett earned her master’s in administrative education – she specialized in special education – she says she found her calling.

She started working in group homes for at-risk youth. After graduating, she was hired by the Lamoille North Supervisory Union, where she developed a districtwide special-education program.

“My parents used to tell me that from when I was a toddler, I was always a defender of the weak on the school playground,” Bartlett says. “It’s just been an obvious part of who I am, and the special-education work was a natural fit for me.”

Bartlett says her work with children helped spawn her interest in politics, which she came to see as a way to make government work for vulnerable children and adults.

“The fundamental thing that makes me a Democrat is I really do believe it is appropriate for government to create programs to help people,” Bartlett says. “This whole ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ thing, maybe that used to work. But you go look at some of the poor folks in this state and tell me what the odds are of those kids being able to pull themselves up.”

For all that she burnishes her conservative credentials, Bartlett says she has a long record of supporting government programs even in the face of budget constraints.

She’s long been a proponent of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and, colleagues say, helped protect it from draconian cuts pushed by the Douglas administration in 2009 and 2010.

She also touts court diversion programs, for which she helped carve out additional appropriations.

‘Not slick’

Bartlett is one of the few gubernatorial candidates without a well-polished stump speech and says she rarely uses prepared remarks.

She often pauses a few beats before answering questions at candidate forums and isn’t given to rhetorical bluster.

“She’s very down to earth and straightforward,” says Sen. Diane Snelling, a Chittenden County Republican also on the appropriations committee. “She’s definitely not slick.”

Nor is she a polished politician. One of Bartlett’s early forays into campaign PR left many political observers scratching their heads. In advance of the Senate’s February vote on the relicensing of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, Bartlett’s campaign circulated a news release condemning the timing of the vote. She accused Senate President Peter Shumlin of grandstanding and said lawmakers needed more time to study the issues surrounding the aging plant.

It was odd enough – politically, at least – that a gubernatorial wannabe had opted to publicly criticize a vote around which her party’s faithful had rallied so strongly. Odder still was her position on a key vote just a few days later. A Republican-led amendment sought to delay the Yankee vote until later in the session – precisely the action Bartlett had called for just days earlier.

Yet she voted against the amendment.

She later said she wanted the Senate to speak in a unified voice on Yankee. When she failed to rally support for her position to postpone, she reasoned, she might as well join the majority.

But the turnabout left many Statehouse insiders wondering whether the senator was ready for prime time.

“I say what I think. I always have, and you can be sure I always will,” Bartlett says. “I really don’t spend a lot of time thinking how it’s going to play.”

Long odds

Davis, who moderated a candidate forum in Middlebury earlier this year, says Bartlett has the least name recognition of any of the five Democratic candidates. But he says she’s impressed with her knowledge of all things budgetary.

“My sense is that to people attending the forums, she comes across as very knowledgeable, especially in state fiscal policy,” Davis says. “Susan Bartlett knows more about budgets than anybody who doesn’t work on the fifth floor of the Pavilion building,” where the governor’s office is.

While Davis puts long odds on Bartlett to win the primary, he says she’s well positioned for other executive jobs. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bartlett end up with a senior position in the next administration if a Democrat wins in November.”

Bartlett says she’s not interested. And she warns political pundits not to embarrass themselves later by writing her off now.

“I’ve always been lifted by that great and wonderful silent majority,” she says. “They’ve always come out for me before. We’ll see if they do it again.”

Click here to support Susan now with a contribution.

Stable, Reasonably Priced Electricity

2010-07-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

Currently our utilities are in the process of signing long-term agreements with suppliers to make sure that all Vermonters have access to affordable electricity in the up-coming years. As Governor I believe that the most effective action I could take would be to help educate all Vermonters about efficiency and conservation.

The most affordable electricity that anyone can use is the electricity they never use. That is a statement that seems so obvious that it may sound silly, but it is surprising how few individuals take advantage of Efficiency Vermont. We Vermonters spend almost $700 million a year on electricity. If every home and business in Vermont were to take advantage of Efficiency Vermont, our consumption of electricity would decrease dramatically. We could keep almost $14 million a year in our pockets if we all cut our consumption of electricity by 2%. The investments in efficiency tend to be on-going, so think about how much money we could save over a period of only a few years.

Electricity, unlike many things we consume does not decrease in cost as we use more. In fact one of the major costs of electricity is that we have to have power plants ready to produce power when we are at our “peak” usage, like these very hot spells in Vermont. It is costly to have those plants on “stand by” and we all have to pay for them to be there all of the time.

The introduction of the “Smart-grid” is one way to address the issue of “peak” usage and the cost that these peaks add to our electric bills. The Smart Grid allows the utility and the consumer to have constant information about the amount of energy they are using at any given time. The Smart Grid will allow the consumer to take advantage of this information and use electricity when there is low demand, which will level out the peak demand. We know that usage peaks when we all get home from work or when we are all getting ready for school and work. The Smart grid allows your electric water heaters to heat the water before or after the peak demand, you will still have all the hot water you want, it’s just when does that water get heated. Your dish washer or washing machine can come on when the demand is low and so can your drier. The smart use of electricity plus the use of efficiency can save all of us millions of dollars.

As Governor, I would make efficiency and conservation a number one priority. This combined with investments in renewable energy would help move Vermont towards an affordable and environmentally efficient energy future.

Bartlett in it to win

2010-07-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

While I may be an underdog, winners aren't decided by conventional wisdom, as the 2004 Red Sox proved to the Yankees! I am not running for Governor as a "politics as usual" candidate.

If money determined the winner of an election, Flanagan would have beat Spaulding, Tarrant would have beat Bernie, and McMullin would have beat Fred Tuttle.

Read - Campaign Finance Statement

Now more than ever we need your support to bring common sense to the governor's office! Contribute today!

Read - Rules on Early Voting

Susan Bartlett proud of her no-nonsense style

2010-07-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

Is it Howard, or Dean? The twin "democats" are hard to tell apart ... Free Press photo

HYDE PARK — Susan Bartlett was running a store in Stowe called Wool and Feathers, selling a gamut of products from yarn to sweaters to a rack of lamb, when the state senator from Lamoille County announced he would not seek re-election in 1992.

Republican state Rep. Herbert O’Brien, a man she considered too conservative, stepped in to run for the seat. “I decided I was tired of not having a choice in local politics,” she said.

So Bartlett launched a campaign few expected her to win. Voters in Lamoille County, one of Vermont’s smallest and most rural counties, had never elected a Democrat to the Senate, nor a woman. Bartlett had a lot of things on her resume, but serving in public office was not among them. She had run once for side judge and lost. People, she said, thought it was cute that she was running. “Everybody knew Herb would be elected,” she said. Read on ...

Linda Carbino Interview

2010-07-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

Linda Carbino talks with Susan about running government, budget difficulties and support for folks struggling with Mental health and substance abuse issues.

Watch it here ...

Susan at the Welch campaign kickoff

2010-07-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Greetings folks from the campaign trail...yesterday Susan and I had the opportunity to join Peter Welch for the campaign kickoff which was held in Waterbury. The event was a great success and everyone is very excited to allow Congressman Welch to continue to get great things done in Washington for Vermont. Susan and I had the chance to meet some great folks from the Waterbury area, and we continue to get positive feedback from all the Vermonters we speak with. Have a good Sunday and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Human Services and Budget Cuts

2010-07-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

I have very real concerns about the safety net for human services. A combination of reduced budgets, reduced staff and increased demand are straining the resources of our state to their limits. Knowing that revenues at the end of 2012 are projected to be at the same level as 2005 makes it very clear to me that we have to find new ways to deliver services. We cannot expect to go back to the way we have done things in the past; the money will not be there.

We know that many of our social costs are attributable to substance abuse and mental health issues. We know that many of the folks who need help do not have the ability to pay on their own and Medicaid covers them. Medicaid reimburses below cost, so our mental health system has a financial structural issue.

Our mental health (designated agencies) and substance abuse providers have to find ways to deliver their desperately needed services to many more people than are currently receiving counseling. Years ago adult education (now adult learning) served individuals at their kitchen tables and they were certain they could not find a different way to deliver services. Adult learning underwent a dramatic structural change and now serves many more people in totally different ways and is much more successful than they were previously.

As governor I would have our mental health agencies and private practices meet and work with the state to develop a comprehensive plan for how to provide high quality services to the folks who need them. This is the only way we are going to address the corrections population; a long-term plan with the private and public agencies to address the needs of mental health and substance abuse. As governor I would reduce the red tape that goes with Medicaid, I would recommend common evaluation tools and suggest the state only pay for evidence based treatment programs.

Where it is possible we need to make use of technology; record keeping and tracking and information can be done by technology, we need to have all of our human resources used to deliver direct services to Vermonters, not doing paperwork. I would support recovery programs in the communities and demand that all state dollars spend produce accountable results.

I am certain that working together we can solve the social issues we face. We can construct a better way to deliver services and help Vermonters get back on track to living productive, successful lives. But we all have to learn to do things differently.

Tuesday in the North East Kingdom

2010-07-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Susan and I traveled to the NEK to meet people and talk to them to see how business was, and what they were concerned about. The first stop of the day was at the St.
Johnsbury senior center, where we stopped in to have lunch. It was a really nice place, and we were given a very warm reception as we talked to all of them about the challenges and problems they face from day to day.

After lunch we started around St Johnsbury talking to businesses and residents, and from Aquarealm to town clerk, we told them about the campaign, and they told us what was concerning them. We stopped at a little cafe in St Johnsbury for cold drinks, and once we were done we were back in the cars and off to Lyndonville.

In Lyndonville we met a great deal of the business community as we fought the heat (and common sense). It was well worth the trip however, as we met everybody from the pharmacists who had a little bit of everything in their store, to a woman who just bought a fabric store, and was starting to become successful because of all of the sales she made online.

After touring downtown we continued our quest for the perfect ice cream in Vermont at Carmans in Lyndon. Neither me or Susan was in the mood for a creemie, and we both went for cookie dough which was fantastic at 5pm. We saw a clock downtown display the temperature, it was still 93 degrees.

After Lyndon we traveled to East Burke to a house party that a friend of Susan's was hosting for her. Suzanne Masland was a very nice woman who had clearly been friends with Susan for a very long time. I had a burger Suzanne made (delicious), and helped set up. Soon other people started to show up.

The great thing about house parties is that they are so simple for me. Susan loves to talk to people, and she loves to make a connection and really get to the root of what people are thinking, and wants to know how she can help Vermonters. If you put her in a room full of people who are there to discuss exactly those issues with her, there is really nothing else that needs to be done.

I headed out probably a half hour before everybody else did, went for a swim above the waterfall in East Burke, and headed down to Bradford to visit my girlfriend. It was a long day, but a very successful one for Team Bartlett.

Andrew Desmarais.

Fourth of July Weekend

2010-07-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

Fourth of July weekend is always a fantastic time for our country, and Team Bartlett geared up for a busy weekend with parades in Bristol and Brandon Saturday, as well as saying hi to people around the Montpelier parade, even if we were not actually in it. I missed this entire day as the Fourth of July in my family means gathering with the extended family in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It was the 85th annual celebration on the 3rd of July, and Susan had enough support that thankfully I could miss being in the parades and go see my family.

Saturday I arrived in Richmond real early to try and find a good parking spot and get to the gathering point for everyone in the parade before the crowd did. I failed on both accounts. I arrived and saw Eammon and his Girlfriend already waiting in line. John Bauer arrived shortly after, and Susan having parked at the end of the parade route arrived later. The parade started on time, and was well organized, but even at 9:45 it felt around 110 degrees in the shade. There were a lot of people who attended who seemed to be fans of Susan, which was great as Susan talked to people and I handed out literature. We got to the end of the parade and we were all dying of heat but Eammon, his girlfriend, myself, and Susan jumped in the car to head for the Colchester parade.

At the Colchester parade we were way back in a huge line, and waited for probably about a hour before we actually started to move. It was fine with all of us - they were handing out free food in the church by the parade route, and all four of us enjoyed hot dogs. The parade was incredibly well organized, but it was very slow moving. It was great for Susan and myself to get some time to talk to everybody in the crowd, however we were all wishing we could do this in 75 degree weather. It was a really long parade, almost 2 miles long but people were cheerful and it made all of us happy to see everybody. After the parade was done, we all walked back to the car and headed back to Richmond. When we got back to Richmond we all went in for Switchback beers at the Toscano Cafe Bistro, and they were exactly what the doctor ordered.

On Monday, Susan was at the parade in Morrisville, but we were given the day off because it was her home town parade, and she had more volunteers than she knew what to do with. I was not going to argue with a Monday off, and spent the day swimming with my girlfriend, another great weekend for Team Bartlett.

Andrew Desmarais

Weekend Schedule for Independence Day

2010-07-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Come join Susan and the Bartlett team across Vermont this weekend to celebrate Independence Day and have a great time with our fellow Vermonters! We will be at all of the following parades and celebrations throughout the weekend:

-On Saturday, find us at independence parades in Bristol, Brandon, and Montpelier

-Sunday, we will be at parades and events in Richmond and Colchester

-To finish it off on Monday, Susan and company will be in Morristown

*Hope to see everybody there!

Meet and Greet with Susan Bartlett in Stowe

2010-06-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,

On Wednesday, July 7th, at 5:00 p.m., there will be be a free social meet and greet at the Green Mountain Inn on 18 Main Street in Stowe, where dinner will be served. This event is going to be a great chance for all Vermonters to meet Susan and hear about her ideas for Vermont and her plans to get things done for working families. It will also be a great opportunity to ask any questions that any of you may have. Talking to folks on the phones for the last day or two about this event has me excited; the turnout should be really good! I hope to see everyone there, it will be a great time.

Eamonn Berry
Regional Field Director
Bartlett for Governor

My Vision for our Energy Future

2010-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

A major issue we face now is the lack of a comprehensive energy plan. Where will our base load energy come from for the next 20 years? How can we expand our use of renewable energy and have it become truly affordable?

As governor I will create a blue ribbon panel of Vermont experts in the energy field to create a 5, 10 and 20 year plan for moving Vermont to a locally produced, reliable energy future. The impact of this planning, and supporting legislation, is as important as Act 250 was to preserve our landscape in the 1970s.

I cannot foresee any circumstances that would persuade me to support the operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant beyond its long scheduled 2012 closing date. Vermont needs to turn the page on VY and focus on meeting our energy needs from other sources of energy with an ever-increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation.

Almost every transition creates some hardships and when Vermont Yankee closes in 2012 there will be changes in jobs and a loss of jobs. On the other hand we know that every transition creates opportunities. We know this transition is coming and as governor I will work between now and 2012 to mitigate the negative affects.

The current number of jobs at the plant is approximately 900 and upon closing it is estimated there will be a loss of 300 jobs in the first year. We know that moving the plant to SAFSTOR keeps a number of jobs at the plant for many years. If the plant moves to decommissioning, literally taking the plant apart, there are a number of jobs created for the process of disassembling the plant. This not only provides the benefit of the total removal of the plant, but also allows for additional time to create new jobs in the energy field.

In the consensus economic and fiscal impact analyses associated with the future of Vermont Yankee, they show an increase in jobs over several years if we as a state make investments in efficiency, conservation and renewables. Using the money in the Clean Energy Fund, money from a fee the state receives from Vermont Yankee for dry cask storage (this will continue as long as the casks are there) we can invest millions of dollars a year into the creation of new energy jobs.

Given the significant transmission infrastructure development surrounding Vermont Yankee, I believe it is important to explore the generation opportunities that could be locally sited. This could be biomass that would create construction jobs and long-term timber production and logging and forestry jobs. I believe it is important to explore the possibility of a natural gas fired plant on the site, which would provide many high paying jobs.

Energy efficiency is the least expensive and cleanest source of electrical energy. Energy efficiency investments create jobs because energy efficiency improvements are labor intensive and local. Besides creating jobs, the money saved generated by efficiency improvements stays with the consumer, helping all of Vermont’s economy. Vermont has a long and strong tradition of investment in energy efficiency and should continue its investment. It will reduce our use of electricity as well as the use of energy to heat our homes while creating jobs in the hard-hit construction industry.

We are in the process of changing Efficiency Vermont into an all-fuels utility. That will be a huge help to all homeowners as they learn how many ways they can save not just electricity, but all other forms of energy.

Vermont has a number of small hydroelectric facilities. With moderate improvements to make them run more efficiently, they will remain an important Vermont resource. Expansion of our wind farms, wood-fired generation, solar generation and farm and landfill methane projects will also be needed.

Industrial wind power is the most-talked about form of renewable energy because it is the most controversial. I am not willing to give up our beautiful ridge lines to wind turbines without a comprehensive plan for our energy future. Once we know where we are going, we need to streamline the permit process and allow folks not only in the town where they are located, but people in surrounding towns a voice as well.

Biomass is a great source of energy for Vermont and must be part of our energy mix. It will create jobs and can generate not only heat, but also electricity through co-generation. There are several plans in the works to heat entire areas of towns from one plant. We have biomass plants generating electricity now and another on the way.

I have supported a group up in the islands called the Farmer's Watershed Alliance and they have been working on best practices to help clean up water's that drain into our streams and ponds and lakes. One of the other projects they have been working on is bio-diesel. They can produce bio-diesel from their seeds crops (canola and sunflower) for $1.70 a gallon...it costs them $2.70 to buy it! The by-product of the pressing is very high in protein and they use it to feed their calves and don't have to buy grain. Talk about a win/win for the farmer, for the environment and for energy use. I can foresee whole farms making fuel to sell locally at a profit.

Vermont spends a lot of money buying power for our public buildings. A long-term plan could have us equipping them with solar panels that generate more power than they use. This will benefit our schools and other public facilities and help to lower taxes once the equipment is paid for.

Our SPEED feed-in tariff for renewable energy is a perfect example of how we can develop local resources. Vermont also needs to have a mix of long-term fixed-price contracts with renewable generation in New England. The Hydro-Quebec contract is not a fixed price contract and it does not protect Vermonters from high electric prices in the future.

The Smart Grid should be fully developed. Right now the potential of the smart grid is unknown, but can become an important piece of conservation. I do not think that individual utilities will necessarily develop this process to its full capacity. My administration will provide strong leadership to the regulators to ensure we can maximize the efficiency of the use of grid resources.

CLIMATE CHANGE

We all live on this planet and no one can ignore the global changes that man has made on it. We cannot continue with the relatively unrestrained abuse of our planet’s air, water and soil without dire consequences. Although the science supporting climate change has been continually challenged by a small but vocal group of skeptics, as the body of scientific knowledge has grown, the debate has mostly shifted from whether it is real to how best to control it. I believe it is real and I refer you to my definition of a green economy.

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that is produced in Vermont by the burning of fossil fuel for home heating, transportation and electric power demand. State and federal policies that promote efficiency reduce the need to burn fuel. For home heating, building codes, energy efficiency initiatives like Efficiency Vermont, extending federal tax energy efficiency credits and federal appliance efficiency standards are effective tools. In the area of transportation we need to develop real systems of public transportation.

GREEN ECONOMY

The next priority is ensuring that Vermont leads in the use of clean energy and that we develop a plan for how we best create a green economy.

I think that the Green Economy is much more than green energy. For me it is today’s reusing, reducing and recycling model. The Green Economy is about renewables and conservation, waste management, sustainable transportation and buying local. It’s about putting systems in place that will lead us all to an economy that is based on lowering our carbon footprint as individuals and as society as a whole. A Green Economy is a sustainable economy.

I believe that there are many different jobs created as we move towards a green economy. Certainly there are many jobs created when we support making our homes and places of work more energy efficiency, when we build bike paths, when we install solar panels and wind turbines. I believe the longer lasting jobs will be created by the innovation that we Vermonters develop as we develop a Green Economy.

It’s not building the wind turbine, it is creating the technology that makes the turbine a better turbine and then getting a patent on that technology that creates the jobs and grows our economy long term. It’s the system of waste management that is innovative and patented that creates the long-term economic development. It’s the innovative ideas and equipment we develop to clean up Lake Champlain that will attract and keep young people in Vermont. It is the many spin-off companies that can grow from the innovations in any field of the green economy. If we become the home of innovation and intellectual property (patents) we will grow the economy and keep and attract young people to Vermont.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

As I drive past our Park and Rides, they are not filled to capacity right now and I would venture a guess that public transit is not filled. Obviously when gas is really expensive, we will leave our cars, but most of the time we are still wed to our individual automobiles. I believe that using dollars to modernize our public transit system is very important and that as a state we have to be willing to support public transit for a number of years before we change our habits. As governor I would institute programs that “sell” public transportation as a way to save money for individuals and a way to help lower our over all carbon footprint.

I believe that rail can become an important part of our public transit system. As we receive the federal dollars to upgrade our rail beds, I believe that commuter runs between places like St Albans to Montpelier and Bennington to Rutland can become an important piece of commuting in Vermont. There is interest, followed by dollars, in Washington that has not existed for many years and as governor I would have a plan in place to show that there is definitely interest in reliable public transit, by rail, for everyday commuters. It will take time to change our habits and it will take a long-term commitment to create these changes.

CIRC HIGHWAY

Thirty-five years ago the Circumferential Highway was the reflection of the thinking of the day; ways to go around cities for all of those cars. Today there is more of a desire to get us out of our individual cars and onto public transit. The land has been purchased and many communities planned their growth around the idea of a circ highway. Our world has changed in 35 years and what once was a perfect solution may not now be the best idea. With the new environmental study, as governor I would get the businesses and communities most affected to work together to decide what really is the best use of our dollars. The dollars used to build a major highway would go a long way to establish a modern public transit system that addressed the needs of commuters and communities.

Again, what we need is a long-term energy plan for our state that addresses both generation and use of not only electricity, but also fossil fuel. My administration will make certain that one is developed. There are so many exciting things happening around all forms of energy that I am certain that Vermont can lead the country in sustainable energy use.

Bartlett Campaign Manager Questions Poll

2010-06-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/24/10

Contact: John Bauer 802-279-7222 john.bauer@bartlettforgovernor.com

John Bauer, Susan Bartlett's Campaign Manager, questioned the validity of the recent Rasmussen poll on the gubernatorial race. "It's method of gathering information and the questions they asked have little or no bearing on the democratic primary on Aug. 24." she said. "It does not indicate which candidate likely voters in the democratic primary prefer."

His reservations are summed up by Eric Davis' post on vtdigger.com.

"Rasmussen polls should be interpreted cautiously. As explained at the \methodology\ link on Rasmussen’s Web site, Rasmussen uses automated prompts with touch-tone responses rather than live operators to collect its data. The Rasmussen method is not as effective as live operators in coming up with a sample that includes likely voters. (For example, how effective is an automated response system in screening out those under 18 who pick up the phone?) Also, rather than make calling a larger number of respondents to get a sample that is representative in terms of age, gender, and other demographic characteristics, Rasmussen weights the responses they do get to come up with an adjusted sample." Davis wrote.
"Also, this poll is not much help in terms of trying to project results in the Democratic primary, since it attempts to measure candidates’ support in the general election."

“This poll told voters the primary is Sept. 14,” Bauer said. “I wonder what else they got wrong? A general election poll of 500 people does not measure the strength of any candidate in the primary.”

6/25 Women For Bartlett Meeting

2010-06-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

This Friday, 6/25, Pixie Loomis is hosting an event called Women for Susan where women all across the state of Vermont will come to talk and spend some time with Susan. I encourage all women interested to go check out the event. It will be at 1701 Cleveland Corners Road in Susan's town of Hyde Park, and will start at 5 pm.

Call 802-279-7222 for details.

6/20 St. Albans & Alburgh

2010-06-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

This week in the Bartlett campaign has been particularly exciting. Susan and I traveled to St. Albans and spoke with many business and community leaders there, who voiced varied concerns about the possibility of a Wal-Mart close by. St. Albans and the business community that resides there has been particularly resilient throughout the economic recession, and it was encouraging to see thriving local businesses.

Later that day we traveled to Borderview Farm in Alburg, where I had an exciting opportunity to witness the research and practices of Roger Rainville, who is using sustainable farming practices to conduct research on a variety of matters, including a plot to grow hops for Vermont beer companies such as Rock Art. Roger has between 2,000-3,000 research plots, where he conducts water quality studies as part of the UVM extension.

Perhaps the most exciting part of Roger's farm is that the entire farm runs on biodiesel that Roger processes through canola and sunflower seeds grown right in his farm. Roger has, after cost, been able to make each gallon of biodiesel for $1.70, well below the cost of fossil fuels. Susan has supported Roger through appropriations for the last several years, and farmers like Roger need to be supported to keep Vermont a working, farming landscape.

It's also been so encouraging to talk to Vermonters across the state on the phones and in their towns and see the support for Susan and her campaign for Governor.

Gubernatorial Candidate Susan Bartlett

2010-06-23T10:10:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, 06/22/10 Noon and 7pm
Bob Kinzel
There's a wide field of candidates for governor, and Primary Election Day is August 24. This month on Vermont Edition we're interviewing the major party candidates and getting their positions on key issues in the primary races. On Tuesday our guest is Democrat Susan Bartlett, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Bartlett describes herself as the moderate among the five Democratic candidates, and we learn about her platform and how she approaches key issues facing the state.Listen ...

6/22 A day in Barre

2010-06-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Susan and I decided to travel around my home town of Barre, and see how the local business’ were doing. We started out at The Wayside on the Barre-Montpelier road, where Susan just got off the phone with our campaign manager, John. Jeb Spaulding had just endorsed Shumlin calling him a moderate, and apparently some in the media had already started predicting that the entire world was going to collapse around the campaign.

Susan and I decided the best way to deal with the oncoming political apocalypse was to go in and eat. Literally as soon as we walked in the door, one of the staff at the Wayside, a woman named Theresa, came over introduced herself and said she was a supporter. I guess she didn’t get the message our campaign was doomed.
After a good meal from the Wayside, we headed out to downtown Barre, and I was happy to have recruited another volunteer.

The first store we stopped at was Boisvert’s, but they were extremely busy so we headed one down to Nelsons Hardware. At Nelsons, Susan met a few people, and we headed down to Poolmart, where we met someone working there who I had gone to high school with. He said he was in the Air Force and was about to drive down to Texas in about a month. Susan and I must have talked to him and the store owner for over a half-hour, about everything from how business was slow, to what to do about the number of ex-convicts in downtown Barre. We stopped at all sorts of places for a education in how businesses are doing in Barre City. Barre Books, Lubianas Bridal and the new Bridal store in town were all doing well which was encouraging. We also had many stores tell us that this year wasn’t great, but they were holding on, and it was better than last summer. I guess with this economy that can be considered good news.

The highlight of the trip was the last two places we stopped at. Susan had never been to the Local Agricultural Community Exchange (LACE) which opened up a few years ago. She was thirsty and so we went in and I had a root beer. We were enjoying good cold soda on a hot day when she pulled out her Blackberry and read the final version of the press release that her and John put together, “ …. Being a moderate is about your approach to finding solutions and building consensus. A moderate bases decisions on information, not ideology and looks for solutions without preconceived ideas” I don’t think anyone who knows Susan would disagree that’s how she is. I thought it was well done.

After LACE, we passed by Studio Place Arts and decided to see what was inside. I am not an artsy person but they have just a fantastic display of all kinds of historical art about the anarchists of Barre. Perhaps it was just my love of history, but it was really cool. On the other floors we saw some beautifully done stain glass windows, and I guess you would call it, 21st century art on skateboards. Arguably most impressive was some of the local art drawn by kids at Barre Town and Barre City Elementary school. As someone who still struggles with stick-figures, I could not believe how talented some 4th-8th graders were.

Andrew Desmarais
Deputy Field Director
Susan Bartlett Campaign

The senator from Lamoille County is telling it straight, but is anybody listening?

2010-06-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Finally Susan

The senator from Lamoille County is telling it straight, but is anybody listening?
By Andy Bromage - Seven Days [06.16.10]

Senator Susan Bartlett has a reputation for toughness, so no one expected her to get weepy during her final budget presentation. The Lamoille County Democrat was briefing her colleagues on the Senate floor, on a cloudy day in April, when she was overcome with emotion.

After 18 years in the legislature, including 10 as chair of the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee, Bartlett was retiring to run for governor. This was the last budget she would shepherd through.

“I knew I’d feel sad,” said Bartlett, half crying, half laughing. “I’m crying because — whew — I don’t have to do it again.” By turning a potential “Muskie moment” into a joke, she skillfully avoided embarrassment.

For years, 63-year-old Bartlett has been the legislature’s go-to person on all things fiscal. Fellow senators say her understanding of state government is unmatched; her institutional memory, indispensable.

“She has an incredible ability to process numbers,” says Sen. Diane Snelling, a Chittenden County Republican who calls Bartlett a “mentor” and has served for nine years on her committee.

One of five Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for governor, Bartlett is trying to parlay her deep knowledge of state government into a victory at the polls on August 24. That, combined with her politically moderate views, are what set her apart from her competitors.

Read on ...

My day in Rutland with Susan

2010-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, Susan and I left for a day in Rutland starting out at 7 am. At 8 we met with the Creative Economy Committee briefly on the new bike path that was going through Rutland. It was clear that while it was only going to be 2 miles long, they had put a great deal of effort into it, and it was going to be very well done. I then accompanied Susan and our fantastic hosts for the day, Tara Kelley and her intern, (whose name I have regrettably forgotten), to meet Marli Rupe of the Natural Resource Conservation District over breakfast. The two women talked while I ate and watched the soccer game. I called it a successful event.

At 9:30 we went to meet Mark Foley, Jr. and Mr. Louras - the mayor of Rutland. We discussed the city, ideas how to make it better, and the ever present problem of what to do about the large population of ex-criminals who are in Rutland and my home town of Barre.

At around 11 we went off to meet Jim Sabataso who belongs to Sustainable Rutland at a little coffee shop. The thing about the conversation that really caught my ear was the block parties that Rutland throws every Friday night in the downtown. It seemed like a really fun, good idea, and exactly what more places in Vermont need on the weekends.

After meeting Jim we went off to eat at a restaurant called Table 24, which serves a very tasty BLT. I also found out the USA soccer team came back to tie Slovenia. Awesome. After lunch we said good bye to our hosts, and went off to get creemies in downtown Rutland. It was a great day for Team Bartlett.

Andrew Desmarais,
Deputy Field Director
Susan Bartlett Campaign.

Bartlett Supports Re-structuring State Government

2010-06-23T04:57:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 06/23/10 7:34am
Bob Kinzel - Montpelier, VT
(Host) Democratic gubernatorial candidate Susan Bartlett says it's critical to restructure all of state government along the lines of the recently passed Challenges for Change bill.
Bartlett says developing an outcomes based approach to the state budget is one way to improve government services without raising new taxes.
VPRs Bob Kinzel reports
(Kinzel) As chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations committee, Susan Bartlett played a key role in the drafting of next year's budget. As part of the process, Bartlett became a strong supporter of the so called "Challenges for Change" bill.
It's legislation that reduced state spending by roughly $30 million by implementing a system of outcome based standards for a number of state programs.
Backers of this approach said it was a positive way to deliver essential services without making serious budget cuts. Critics said the bill was all fluff and no substance and they argued that the legislation would hurt people who rely on state services.
Senator Bartlett is one of the five Democrats running for Governor this year. Speaking on VPR, she said the "Challenges" approach is a central part of her campaign:
(Bartlett) "I'm not afraid to say this is what we need to do we need to change how we are delivering services we can't keep doing things the same way there needs to be a significant structural change this isn't about efficiencies this is about significant structural change and that's not popular because that's scary."
(Kinzel) Bartlett says performance standards need to be established for all programs to be certain that state revenues are being targeted in the most effective way:
(Bartlett) "We might be spending a lot of money on child abuse but if we aren't measuring to know if we're really making progress in preventing child abuse then we may be spending a lot of money but not getting the results with the goal with this would here are the outcomes you're going to measure them so you're going to know if you're making progress and if you're aren't masking progress then you can change the strategy."
(Kinzel) Bartlett acknowledges that two of her opponents, senators Doug Racine and Peter Shumlin also voted for the "Challenges Bill," but she says they don't share her enthusiasm for the legislation:
(Bartlett) "But if you listen to them talking about it, it's a different approach I believe."
(Kinzel) Bartlett says she also supports imposing performance based standards on hundreds of independent contracts that the state authorizes every year.
For VPR News, I'm Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.

6/18 in Rutland

2010-06-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, Susan and I left for a day in Rutland starting out at 7 am. At 8 we met with the Creative Economy Committee briefly on the new bike path that was going through Rutland. It was clear that while it was only going to be 2 miles long, they had put a great deal of effort into it, and it was going to be very well done. I then accompanied Susan to meet Marli Rupe of the Natural Resource Conservation District over lunch. The two women talked, while I ate and watched the soccer game. I called it a successful event.

At 9:30 we went to meet Mark Foley Jr and Mr. Louras - the mayor of Rutland. We discussed the city, ideas how to make it better, and the ever present problem of what to do about the large population of ex-criminals who are in Rutland and my home town of Barre.

At around 11 we went off to meet Jim Sabataso who belongs to Sustainable Rutland, at a little coffee shop. The thing about the conversation that really caught my ear was the block parties that Rutland throws every Friday night in the downtown. It seemed like a really fun, good idea, and exactly what more places in Vermont need on the weekends.

After meeting Jim we went off to eat at a restaurant called Table 24, which had a very tasty BLT. I also found out the USA soccer team came back to tie Slovenia. Awesome. After lunch we said good-bye to our hosts, and went off to get creemies in downtown Rutland. It was a great day for Team Bartlett.

A Progressive Tax Structure for Vermont

2010-06-22T05:14:00.000-07:00

Two years ago the legislature decided that what was needed was a comprehensive study of the revenues package that funds Vermont state government. Three people were appointed and staff was hired to have them take the necessary time to research and study what Vermont currently has as a revenue structure, what is working, what the impacts of various changes are and what a comprehensive revenue package for our state should look like. We very intentionally set the date for the report for after the 2010 election. What we all know is that the next governor and legislature can look forward to a comprehensive piece of work that can lay the foundation for a new structure.

With that said here are the general principles of a Bartlett administration. I believe in a progressive system of taxes and revenues; when you earn more, you have the ability to pay more. Individuals, groups or companies that use certain state services should help defray the costs of the services they consume; you need a permit to sell ice cream, you should pay for the cost of delivering that permit. For a number of years I have been interested in the idea of capping the amount of income tax individuals pay after age 65 and that should be a progressive system. As we move towards health care reform I believe that everyone has to be in and everyone has to pay. A Bartlett administration would want tax policy that supports the growth of our small businesses and encourages the growth of good paying jobs throughout Vermont.

I have been a supporter of Challenges for Change and moving all of state government to an outcome based, measurable system of government. Once we all understand clearly what we are getting for our dollars, then we can have a conversation about how much we need to be spending; where are we spending enough, where do we want to spend less, where do we may want to spend more. I believe that once this is done and Vermonters see what their tax dollars are buying there will be a very different conversation regarding the revenues of our state. With an outcomes based system and the information from the revenue study group, the next administration and legislature can redesign our revenue system and have it truly reflect the values of Vermonters.

6/22 Bartlett on VPR

2010-06-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

Susan will be on VPR today at noon talking about her moderate approach to government, her experience, and her vision for the future. Listen on the web at http://www.vpr.net/

How I Would Promote Job Growth

2010-06-21T13:04:00.001-07:00

I don’t believe that government creates jobs. I believe that government can help create an environment that is supportive; making sure we have good telecommunications infrastructure, supporting job training programs and certainly helping with access to capital.

I have always believed that jobs are created locally and that we should support our regional economic development groups and our regional planning commissions. They know what is working in their areas, who needs help, and how to match the needs of local business with the available resources in the state for their area.

As governor I will establish a statewide office of Innovation and Intellectual Property. Innovation and entrepreneurs have always been a part of Vermont, but we have failed to acknowledge them as true job creators.

Innovation backed by intellectual property protection raises the value of small companies tremendously, which will create good paying Vermont jobs and allow small Vermont companies to grow into large Vermont companies.

People talk about bringing good paying, high-tech jobs to Vermont. Companies are willing to supply training but they need to start with people who have a strong background in math.

We need to have local technical centers gear up immediately to work with companies to provide the basic education and skills to prepare Vermont workers. As governor, I will work to develop a truly close working relationship between our schools and our business community. Read more ...

We need to address helping Vermonters keep the jobs they have. Employers train employees then find they don’t last very long. They have the basic skills, but something doesn’t work out and they quit after a short time. We need to support workers and help them solve distracting problems in their personal life.

If a worker has problems at home, or has trouble getting government assistance, it has a direct impact on their performance at work. On a lunch break, a specialist can put the employee in touch with the right agency and help them get the paperwork done. This additional assistance can turn a distracted employee into a great worker, and because the worker is valued and less distracted, it is a real benefit to the employer. Read more ...

I pushed for increasing funding for the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI), a program that was started several years ago to encourage job growth in Vermont through cash incentives to employers. This is expected to help create 800 good paying jobs in Vermont.

These are performance based incentives, so until the company has created the jobs and folks have been working for a specific time period, the incentive is not paid. They are paid out over a period of years. These new jobs create more revenues for the state, so these incentives don’t “cost” the state money, they just share some of the new revenues with the company that creates these new revenues.

Child Support Enforcement is Important

2010-06-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Douglas administration has failed to seriously address the issue of non-payment of child support. The vast majority of single parents who receive child support are women, so while I acknowledge there are a small percentage of fathers in this situation, I see it as primarily a topic for women and their children.

Many women who need assistance from the state are left asking for help because the absent parent fails to make support payments. The system is so cumbersome that many women simple give up and stop trying to get the state to collect the back payments. It is time consuming and intimidating to have to go to court over and over in an attempt to get the money that is owed. Children are the true victims in these situations. There is currently more than $1 million in back child support payment owed to parents in this state. Certainly some of that money will never be collected, but it is way past time the state take this as a serious situation and make some fundamental changes.

I took the opportunity of Challenges for Change to work with the department of children and families, the office of child support, the tax department, the department of labor, the judiciary and law enforcement to have a serious conversation regarding getting better compliance with the requirements of child support. There are several key issues; the office of child support is understaffed and does not have “field” workers who can go and check up on non-paying parents; tax and labor have no way to check folks who are working under the table; the court system lacks time to have these issues seen as a high priority and does not have simple systems in place for a parent to ask for assistance.

It became obvious to all parties that the remedy for this situation need not be overly complex. When a parent fails to make payments, the office of child support can contact local law enforcement to check out the situation. Frequently the custodial parent knows where the other parent is and what they are doing for work. Local law enforcement can then serve the necessary paperwork and begin the process of collection.

As governor, I will make sure that children stop being the victims of non-payment of child support.

Affordable Childcare is Important to Education and Our Economy

2010-06-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Affordable childcare has been an issue for many years all over America. As long as American’s demand low taxes, services such as high quality, affordable child care will be an issue for most working women.

I believe that childcare should be viewed as an important part of our educational system. More and more research shows that the early years of growth and development are important. Investments in early education and high quality day care are in reality an economic savings. Affordable, high quality day care allows women to work and to become part of our growing economy and it allows children access to the early learning opportunities that are so important for success in school.

As governor I would begin to address this issue by removing the cap on pre-school positions. It is horrible that children have to win a lottery and that schools have to say no to what we understand now is the foundation for good education. Next I would work to educate Vermonters on the value of these programs. I think it is very encouraging that the Business Roundtable is once again talking about this issue as the key to future economic growth in Vermont.

I believe that the key to this issue is the understanding and support of the entire business community. I do not believe it would be overly expensive to provide all of Vermont children access to high quality childcare. The real issue is convincing Vermonters that the early dollar investment is not only smart, but also saves dollars in the long run by encouraging the success of every child.

As governor I would also propose that all day care, preschool and school meals are free and nutritious. Why? First they should be free because so many parents will not apply for the assistance, so their children go without. Next, when children are hungry, they cannot focus on learning, they simply think and worry about their next meal. In a state with so much, how can we allow any child to go hungry? By combining the money we already spend on school meals, we could meet this goal with little additional spending and we could achieve immediate, positive results for children.

The Importance of Appointing Women to Government Positions

2010-06-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

It is very important to me to appoint women to my administration. But the most important factors for any position in my administration are that the person be knowledgeable in the field, have a successful track record of getting to positive outcomes and they work well with others. I want individuals who are willing to try new ideas and who will work to help all those they work with to get to good results. My appointments will not be political and they will not be rewards to helping me become governor.

There is no better way to appreciate the importance of women in government working in the legislature for 18 years and on the appropriations committee for many of those years. Women bring a different perspective and different approach to problem solving than men. It isn’t good and it isn’t bad, it’s just different.

First, is a woman’s preference to take the long view of an issue and second is the willingness to reach across political divides to get to “yes.” It is no mistake that over the years as chair of senate appropriations I have worked to get the majority of my seven members to be women. In the complex policy issues we face in the budget, women work well to get to comprehensive solutions.

Over the years I have had many conversations with individuals who work with government and many of them comment on the differences they have seen over the years, as more and more women are in the legislature and in positions of authority in state government. There are many capable women in Vermont who could offer leadership in state government and they will be part of a Bartlett administration.

Education Spending and Quality Goals

2010-06-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

High quality educational opportunities are the key to the future

Well-educated citizens have the knowledge and confidence to invent new products, start new businesses, be great employees, and to be active participants in their communities, be it as a basketball coach, a volunteer firefighter, a select board member, or a member of a local theater group. We owe it to our students to prepare them to compete in our rapidly changing world.

Act 60

Act 60 has worked to equalize spending among Vermont's communities, thereby compiling with the Supreme Court's Brigham decision and ensuring that all children have the same access to education, regardless of a town's property wealth. However, changes must be made to the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) to make our educational funding formula less confusing. I favor replacing the system with a statewide, three-year rotating professional appraisal.

Vermont must reduce spending statewide in order to reduce local school taxes

Vermont is among the highest per pupil spending in the country, and Vermonters are frustrated by rising property taxes. It is important to understand that school taxes are determined not only by what we spend, but by what is spent across the state on education as a whole. In order to reduce taxes at the local level, we need to take a system-wide approach to reducing spending.

We can control spending and enhance educational opportunity in Vermont

Here is what I would support as Governor:
Larger School Districts - Vermont should have 16 school districts (as opposed to the current 307). The path to getting to larger districts needs to be paved by requiring all districts to implement best practices in administration over two years with the goal of creating larger districts in five years.

Minimum-Maximum Class Sizes - Each district would adopt a minimum-maximum class size policy. This would mean greater job security for teachers, increased flexibility for staff planning, and reduction in costs associated with the hiring process. In addition, it would keep investments made in professional development within each district, increase capacity and help preserve some of our smaller schools.

Critical Evaluation of Special Education - Our schools and our property taxes have become the deep pockets of special education/social services. We need to have our department of education define what truly belongs as an educational cost and what is a "social cost. I believe it is correct to have education taxes pay for educational costs, and the general fund pay the social costs.

Teacher Support and Training - I believe that the most significant progress toward the success of all children happens in classrooms with excellent teachers who base their work on research proven instruction and educational practice; for example, differentiated instruction as a method of teaching and workstations as a strategy to help all students to learn.

Read the detailed policy paper.

Why Vote for Susan?

2010-06-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

Vermont women should vote for me for governor because I am the best qualified person for the position. My position as Chair of Appropriations has prepared me to understand not only the finances of the state, but the many complex policies that drive those finances.

I have been getting the approval of $4 billion budgets for many years and that is not an easy task. I have had to learn to say no and explain why it is necessary for not only my committee, but also the senate as a whole to say no. I have learned to balance the many needs of our state with the limited dollars that we have to spend.

My reputation in the state house is of being fair, balanced, direct and willing to listen to all sides of an issue. People also know that I am not afraid to make a difficult decision and stick to it.

I was the first woman and the first democrat to represent Lamoille County in the senate. My county is a very good representation of the state as a whole, fairly tolerant on social issues and fiscally pretty conservative. I have earned their votes over some difficult elections when the state was divided over issues such as Act 60 and Civil Unions.

To beat Brian Dubie in the general election, I believe that the democrats need to have a moderate as their candidate. For many years now the general public has shown they want a moderate in the governor’s office. We don’t seem to care so much about what party they belong to, we want a person who represents our values.

As I travel the state I find that Vermonters like my candor, my real ideas and my willingness to work with others. I find that I am much better known than I anticipated. Vermonters like me and I believe that will turn into votes on primary day and then in the general election. I would appreciate your support in the Democratic Primary August 24.

Q & A with the Community of Vermont Elders (COVE)

2010-06-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

Contact COVE

1. The Administration is about to require seniors who are on Vpharm to effectively turn over the $250 federal rebate to the state, which in many cases they will then have to refund about 70% back to the feds. This will likely cause great confusion among seniors; take most of this money out of the Vermont economy; and deny this one time relief to many seniors who spend approximately $800 in Vpharm premiums and co-pays before they get to the donut hole. Do you support the Administration’s recoupment efforts in this regard?

No I do not think it’s a good idea to make things even more confusing. As you all know, the administration has backed away from this position. Our seniors can certainly put this one-time relief to good use.

2. Unlike all other Vermonters who receive help from the state with their medical bills (e.g. Medicaid, VHAP, Catamount, etc) seniors can be required to reimburse the state after their death for the cost of their long term care by using the assets available in their probate estate. Under the Vermont law, the state must file a claim with the probate court and is considered like other creditors when the estate is probated. In the last legislative session, the Administration proposed that all assets, whether in the probate estate or transferred at death outside of probate (e.g. jointly held property, life insurance, etc.) would be subject to recovery. The state would also be able to place a lien on a person’s home when they begin receiving long term care and remain their until after the person’s death. Do you support his method of estate recovery?

It was my appropriations committee that said a resounding no to this idea from the administration. It was presented, as part of Challenges for Change and it took my committee less than 15 minutes to figure out this was a really horrible idea. I definitely do not support the concept.

3. How will you go about integrating Vermont’s health care reform efforts with the new federal health care reform law?

In S88, the health care bill we passed, we have asked that an outside consultant be hired to present the next legislature and the next governor a plan for moving the state to either single payer or matching our current system with the federal health care reforms. We will have the ability to see which idea can really work best for all Vermonters. I am certain that Vermont will make great strides forward in health care reform in this next session. Of the $120 million deficit for next year, $30 million is due to increased health care costs. Once we reform health care and as we move forward in containing the costs of health care, we will have much more flexibility in the state budget for other issues.

4. Given that Vermont may again face revenue shortfalls in the state budget next year, how do you propose protecting vital human services and supports from further budget and Challenges for Change cuts and erosions?

It is certain that next year’s budget will have a large shortfall. If I were elected governor, immediately after the election, I would begin work with the current administration and the legislature to develop a budget and plans to protect vital human services. I believe that some of the structural changes we have implemented will begin to show positive outcomes and we will be able to redirect spending within the current budget. An example of this is I have supported efforts in corrections to help offenders integrate back into communities. These ideas will save money in corrections and allow us to spend additional money in other areas of human services.

5. What are your plans for strengthening and advancing Vermont’s long term care infrastructure and Home and Community Based Services so that older Vermonters have choice, access and assurances for aging safely in communities?

At a forum in the recent past, we were asked if the budget issue in Vermont was one of revenues or spending. My answer is that it is both. Our revenues have dropped to below the 2005 level. That means we have had to address our spending. The long-term answer is to address our revenues by growing more and better jobs in Vermont. That is what will grow the revenues that the state has to spend. We also have to address the cost of health care, once we do that there will be money to spend on the needed services in our communities so older Vermonters can age at home.

6. Increasing numbers of old, frail and vulnerable Vermonters are falling victim to abuse, neglect and exploitation and the state agency charged with responding to reports and protecting vulnerable seniors has failed to meet this growing need. What will you do to ensure that the state can protect vulnerable adults and provide an adequate emergency response to the abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults?

It is obvious to me that we need to have more staff in place to respond to reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation. As governor I would replace these positions immediately. This is a situation where a few positions in state government can make all of the difference and it has always been my position that it is a fundamental duty of government to protect vulnerable individuals, no matter what their age.

What specific steps can a governor take to create jobs?

2010-06-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have always believed that jobs are created locally and that we should support our regional economic development groups and our regional planning commissions. They know what is working in their areas, who needs help, and how to match the needs of local business with the available resources in the state for their area.

As governor I will establish a statewide office of Innovation and Intellectual Property. Innovation and entrepreneurs have always been a part of Vermont, but we have failed to acknowledge them as true job creators.

Innovation backed by intellectual property protection raises the value of small companies tremendously, which will create good paying Vermont jobs and allow small Vermont companies to grow into large Vermont companies.

People talk about bringing good paying, high-tech jobs to Vermont. Companies are willing to supply training but they need to start with people who have a strong background in math.

We need to have local technical centers gear up immediately to work with companies to provide the basic education and skills to prepare Vermont workers. As governor, I will work to develop a truly close working relationship between our schools and our business community.

We need to address helping Vermonters keep the jobs they have. Employers train employees then find they don’t last very long. They have the basic skills, but something doesn’t work out and they quit after a short time. We need to support workers and help them solve distracting problems in their personal life.

If a worker has problems at home, or has trouble getting government assistance, it has a direct impact on their performance at work. On a lunch break, a specialist can put the employee in touch with the right agency and help them get the paperwork done. This additional assistance can turn a distracted employee into a great worker, and because the worker is valued and less distracted, it is a real benefit to the employer.

I pushed for increasing funding for the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI), a program that was started several years ago to encourage job growth in Vermont through cash incentives to employers. This is expected to help create 800 good paying jobs in Vermont.

These are performance based incentives, so until the company has created the jobs and folks have been working for a specific time period, the incentive is not paid. They are paid out over a period of years. These new jobs create more revenues for the state, so these incentives don’t “cost” the state money, they just share some of the new revenues with the company that creates these new revenues.

Seven Days Profile

2010-06-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

One of five Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for governor, Bartlett is trying to parlay her deep knowledge of state government into a victory at the polls on August 24. That, combined with her politically moderate views, are what set her apart from her competitors.

Most pundits would give Bartlett long odds: She has scant name recognition, no major endorsements, and doesn’t have a lot of campaign cash. Polls show Bartlett squarely at the back of the Democratic pack, trailing Republican candidate Brian Dubie by 18 points in a hypothetical match-up.

But Bartlett appears undeterred. Vermonters want a centrist in the governor’s office, she reasons, and after eight years of Republican Governor Jim Douglas, voters are ready to give a Democrat a chance. She says her Democratic rivals — senators Doug Racine (D-Chittenden) and Peter Shumlin (D-Windham), Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and former Senator Matt Dunne — are too liberal to beat Dubie, the popular lieutenant governor.

Read on ...

What to do about job loss at Vermont Yankee

2010-06-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

If Vermont Yankee closes how do you replace the jobs lost — in terms of numbers and pay — and blunt the broader economic impact of the lost jobs?

Almost every transition creates some hardships and when Vermont Yankee closes in 2012 there will be changes in jobs and a loss of jobs. On the other hand we know that every transition creates opportunities. We know this transition is coming and as governor I will work between now and 2012 to mitigate the negative impacts.

The current number of jobs at the plant is approximately 900 and upon closing it is estimated there will be a loss of 300 jobs in the first year. We know that moving the plant to SAFSTOR keeps a number of jobs at the plant for many years. If the plant actually moves to decommissioning, literally taking the plant apart, there are a number of jobs created for the process of disassembling the plant. This not only provides the benefit of the total removal of the plant, but also allows for additional time to create new jobs in the energy field.

In the consensus economic and fiscal impact analyses associated with the future of Vermont Yankee, they show an increase in jobs over several years if we as a state make investments in efficiency, conservation and renewables. Using the money in the Clean Energy Fund, money from a fee the state receives from Vermont Yankee for dry cask storage (this will continue as long as the casks are there) we can invest millions of dollars a year into the creation of new energy jobs.

Given the significant transmission infrastructure development surrounding Vermont Yankee, I believe it is important to explore the generation opportunities that could be locally sited. This could be biomass that would create construction jobs and long-term timber production and logging/forestry jobs. I believe it is important to explore the possibility of a natural gas fired plant on the site, which would provide many high paying jobs.

Energy efficiency investments create jobs because energy efficiency improvements are labor intensive and local. Besides creating jobs, the money saved generated by efficiency improvements stays with the consumer, helping all of Vermont’s economy.

Vermont has a long and time-tested spirit of entrepreneurism that has seen us through many tough times. I am confident that we will tap into that spirit and bring forward new ideas and creative businesses models that will power our future. The key to mitigation of the potential negative economic impacts is developing a plan to help the workers who will lose their jobs, research if a new plant on the site is possible, plan for the expansion of efficiency and conservation and invest in renewable energy sources.

A Progressive Tax Structure for Vermont

2010-06-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

6/19 in Franklin County

2010-06-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

I spent a really interesting and exciting day up in Highgate on a farm that is producing all of their own biodiesal from sunflower seeds they grow themselves. The by product of the pressing to get the oil is a high quality feed that they use for their calves and they don't have to buy any grain for them now. The biodiesal is also $1 a gallon cheaper than they can buy it from the private sector. Talk about a win win for the farmer, the environment and the land!

I have helped fund these projects as Chair of Appropriations and it is really exciting to see the rapid development of alternative energy. I sincerely believe that Vermont can lead the way to showing that we can radically reduce our carbon footprint and make the land a better place.

-Susan