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
Focused on jobs, health care and education with a fiscally responsible budget.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
My Vision for our Energy Future
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.
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
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.”
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.”
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
6/25 Women For Bartlett Meeting
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.
Call 802-279-7222 for details.
6/20 St. Albans & Alburgh
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.
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
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 ...
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
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
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?
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
6/18 in Rutland
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.
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
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.
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
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/
Monday, June 21, 2010
How I Would Promote Job Growth
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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?
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.
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)
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?
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?
3. How will you go about integrating Vermont’s health care reform efforts with the new federal health care reform law?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
6/19 in Franklin County
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
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
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