THE PROTECTED CLASS 

Some teachers in Colchester are threatening to go on strike because they insist on no co-pay for their medical visits. They insist on being a protected class. Who are they kidding? There are workers in Vermont making $8.50 an hour who have to pay fifty percent of their insurance premiums. Get real. 

WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE! 

At last week's press conference, Dean filled the room to overflowing with a new committee to study and develop plans to address the lack of jobs in the Northeast Kingdom and Precision Valley. Unemployment in the Kingdom is now over eight percent, not as high as the double digit inflation of the last recession. Since, the state has built a large prison and a state office building in Newport. The group included every legislator and economic development type know to man.

Nowhere in his remarks did he refer to the O'Neal report, the $100,000 study which concluded that there is no logical reason for any businessman to invest in Vermont. The report suggested some clear changes the state could implement to assist business and encourage investment.

CNN recently reported data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis ranking Vermont as the fourth highest taxed state. How would you like the property taxes in Alabama, an average of $210 a year, or maybe New Mexico at $283 a year. Nine states still have no income tax. If it's not the tax burden, it is the permit burden, guilty until proven innocent, process with no end. If it's not the permit burden, it's the transportation burden, bad roads, bad bridges, no east-west highway, limited 53-foot truck access, and expensive air travel. If it's not the highway burden, it's the health insurance burden, the workman's compensation cost burden, and the unemployment tax burden. If it's not the insurance burden, it is the 'perception' burden that all businessmen are greedy polluting parasites exploiting workers.

It is not a problem of workers. Vermont seems to have a wealth of honest, hard working, independent, quality people in its workforce who are often under-utilized and therefore underpaid, taken for granted by an ungrateful government. They should be making more, relying less on the government, if only the government would treat the business investor more kindly. Then there could be more job and wealth creation. 

FUND FOR A HEALTHY AMERICA

In an oxymoronic moment, the only PAC which donated to Howard Dean's Fund for a Healthy America was United Liquors, $5,000.00. And he accepted it. Also included were an impressive list of donors: the Gartners of Rutland, who are before the state's Act 250 process in opposition to a Home Depot in their hometown, gave $4000; the utilities executives, also regularly before the state's regulatory process, chipped in $2000; Kathy Levinson, who gave $15,000 in the fall of 2000 to pro civil union pacs in Vermont and is co- chair of CAPE, promoting rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgendered Community, gave $5000; the Berndts of Sharon sprung for $10,000, as did the Watson (IBM) Stetsons of Norwich. Looks like Momma Dean gave her boy $5000 too.

All told, he raised $111,317.64 in a couple of months. In his usual frugal way, he spent only $2,363.82. He claimed that he made all the calls himself and in fact reimbursed the state for $70.00 of "cell telephone calls." He must have made those calls while rolling along our highways. Raising $111,317 for only seventy bucks ain't bad. 

WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE

Dean's press conference this week took an interesting turn. First he filled half the room with his Children's Cabinet, a group dedicated to those children not doing so well: figuring out who and where they are, why, and what new program will solve their problems.

Then in the second part of his prepared program he said, "I am becoming genuinely alarmed over the fiscal future of the country." Ta-dum! The tax department is a mess, Vermont's revenues are in the dumpster, unemployment is raging in the Northeast Kingdom and the Precision Valley, citizens feel betrayed over the Champion Lands, every school district is overwhelmed by expenses, the property tax is heading up between 7 and 30 percent, health insurance premiums are going up between 20 and 40 percent, his insurance commissioner says that there is no longer a viable workman's compensation insurance market, and Vermont anticipates losing half of its working farms.

Dean is alarmed about the country's fiscal health, but why not Vermonts? Maybe he should resign so at least someone would be paying attention to Vermont and Vermonters. His alarm in remission, Dean was off campaigning in New Hampshire yesterday. He leaves for Southeast Asia on Sunday and Brazil next month.

What seems to have gotten his goat was the cut in transportation money, up to $30 million. Wasn't it Dean who just weeks before cut the town highway funds in his budget by most of 100%? He said that towns could just tighten their belts. Now he howls? Gimme a break. Remember the active verb part of governor? 

THE FOX IN THE HENHOUSE

Governor Howard Dean traveled last weekend to Southern California on his almost full time quest to be your next president. He said that he met with "environmental activists, political organizers, the governor of California, and went to a CAPE [California Alliance for Pride and Equality] dinner where I received an award." Dean received their Crusader Award in West Hollywood.

Meanwhile in the Los Angeles School District, CAPE and others have been successful in introducing "under the guise of tolerance and diversity, instructional materials on sodomy and lesbian pedophilia," according to WorldNetDaily. Further instructions were given on which stores and web sites students could acquire further "materials."

More here: http://www.WorldNetDaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=26192

January 31st is the filing deadline for parties and federal candidates and PAC's financial disclosure reports. Traditionally, though not required, everyone also provides a copy to Vermont's Secretary of State for the benefit of curious media or citizens. This year only Howard Dean complied with tradition, providing the Secretary of State with a copy of his filing for his PAC, Fund for a Healthy America.

We did have a chance to view Bernie Sanders' filing on the Federal Election Commission's web site; the others had not been posted yet (try it yourself: http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/srssea.html). This filing period covers from July 1-December 31, 2001. In that period, Sanders raised $183,883 and spent $83,856 leaving a cash balance of an impressive $697,955. Believing that charity begins at home, his step-daughter, Representative Carina Driscoll, P- Burlington, received monthly wages totaling over $8,000 before payroll tax deductions. The Sanders campaign spent well on meals; $227.95 at Parima in Burlington and a number of Washington, DC restaurants. Not sure what campaign purpose these had --hope the food was good. In fact, there did not seem to be many expenditures that were directly campaign related.

Sanders is conducting a poll this week, checking out his re-elect numbers, those of his potential opponents, themes, and issues. The person who phoned, however, could not pronounce Clavelle, Pollina, or Meub. Maybe a little more practice next time.

Only one lone Vermonter was listed as a contributor on the sixty one page report, a Miss Dallas Fuller of Lyndonville for $100. Sanders did have lots of union support though with large checks from: Steel Workers, Plumbers, Sheet Metal Workers, Transit Employees, AFL-CIO, Postal Workers, Letter Carriers, Postmasters, Auto Workers, Operating Engineers, Ironworkers, Laborers, Machinists, NEA, and Service Employees Unions. Next week we will continue reporting on the FEC filings. 

GET A JOB

The New York Times reported recently on an unsuccessful livable wage effort. Hempstead, Long Island trustees passed by a 5 to 0 vote a livable wage mandate at $9.00 per hour plus medical benefits. Seven weeks later they repealed it by a vote of 3 to 2, afraid of losing jobs.

Burlington also passed a livable wage but then when the City Market began offering to pay only in the $7-8.00 range, though heavily subsidized by the city through grants, loans, and favorable rents, the city was silent. 

RIDE THE BUS

Or not. CCTA (Chittenden County Transportation Agency) recently announced that they would have to stop the Wiliston bus run for lack of ridership. They argued that they should be running, that it would be an embarrassment for anyone coming to Vermont to learn that bus service was NOT provided to the state's largest retail area and a large employment area. But alas, no more. CCTA is not as bad as Franklin County where the bus was costing approximately $60 per passenger per ride. At that rate, after a few months the state could have bought each rider a car and be done with it.

That doesn't stop CCTA from trying. If you were watching the Super Bowl, you might have noticed that about the only local advertiser was... none other than CCTA. Their 30-second ad went for $4,000 not counting production costs. It also ran in Chittenden County mass transit hotbeds like Rutland and Montpelier. 

INSIDE BASEBALL

For those who pay attention or care, the Republican National Committee announced that the party is reducing the number of regional directors from twelve to eight. This will change the regional director serving Vermont. Charlie Arlinghaus has served this position for the last two cycles. Charlie is from New Hampshire, had served as executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, and has been a strong advocate for Vermont. Charlie's replacement will be Jim Tobin. 

YOU OUGHT TO HAVE YOUR HEAD EXAMINED 

Remember in those scruffy days of yore when you might have brought home a perceived undesirable? Remember when your folks said, "you ought to have your head examined if you are thinking of marrying that lout." Well now, under House Bill 707 you will. The bill requires that prior to the issuance of a marriage license in Vermont, you must have had a test for mad cow disease, tuberculosis and hepatitis C. Traditionally, the test for mad cow disease is to take a slice of your brain and analyze it. Fortunately, they are only suggesting blood test method.

Bill here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2002/bills/intro/H-707.HTM

VOTER TURNOUT INCREASES

Just do the numbers. Professors Michael McDonald and Samuel Popkin did. In a paper that was published in the American Political Science Review, they found that in 2000, about 10 percent of the voting age population was ineligible to vote. The most common category of ineligibility was felons. Vermont is one of only three states (Maine and Utah) which allows felons to vote, but only in state races. Adjusting the voting base to take this into account increases the turnout from 51% to 56% in the 2000 national elections. In California, the voter turnout climbed from 44% to 56%. 

THAT DOG DON'T HUNT

They just cannot get that Marxist stuff out of their system. Like some drug, it addles the brain and causes Pavlovian drooling. Secretary of State Colin Powell is just the latest of these goofy thinkers, declaring at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York at the World Economic Forum, "stopping poverty will help fight terrorism." John Walker was not impoverished. The fifteen Saudis who crashed planes on September 11th were not impoverished. Nor were their fellow terrorists from the United Arab Emirates or Egypt. Prisoners in Cuba include those from Australia, France, and England --not exactly third world countries.

If Powell was right, the charge on September 11th would have been led by sub- Saharan Africans. Not only are they dirt poor, they are victims of America's slave trade and European colonialism. So where were they? At home, doing the best they can with disease, bad governments and foreign exploitation. Values and discipline determine behavior, not economics. 

FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR WHOM?

According to the National Journal, the media has begun to question some of the abuse that far left professors are taking for supporting the bombings on September 11th. This is not a problem here at UVM; two guest lecturers said that we deserved what we got with no effort to silence their views. But at the University of New Mexico, Professor Berthold said in class that "anyone who can blow up the Pentagon gets my vote," and received a letter of reprimand in his file. At California State University Sacramento, Janis Heaphy was booed off the stage for saying that the curbing of civil liberties had gone too far. It is right that the media speaks up for free speech.

But where were they over the past few years when prominent conservative speakers were silenced by crowds. Ward Connerly who worked to remove racial preferences was shouted down on five different occasions according to the National Journal with no complaint from the media. Linda Chavez, a conservative commentator said "I have been disinvited, harassed, shouted down, threatened and assaulted on campuses" with no mention in the press. Christina Sommers, critic of feminism and an invited speaker, was told by a HHS official to "shut up," and was then mocked and left the stage.

The media was quick to rightly point out that leftists should not be discriminated against, but silent for years when conservative's free speech rights were abused. 

WHERE DID THEY GO?

Enron has many players, each with a part: the Republicans, the Democrats, the accountants, the corporate officers, the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the bankers, the lawyers. But why has no one mentioned the trade media? Television stock pick experts push their firm's client companies. Television journalists have been replaced by attractive news readers. Print journalists did not seem to have an investigative beat. If this had been politics, somebody would have had a source on the inside to blow the whistle. 

THAT AUTOMATIC 6.6 PERCENT ACT 60 TAX HIKE

»» Bob Alexander, Londonderry: Wait a minute! A state wide 6.6 % real estate tax increase with some rinky-dink sliding scale know only to God and Montpelier? Who voted on it? When was it debated? Who knew about it? Exactly, what is going on here?

With the proposed income tax increase, I will pay ANOTHER $750 to $1,000 to live in the workers' paradise. This is absurd. Money and brains vote with their feet. What portion of our state tax short fall is a function of the overall economy (I see ski areas booming, restaurants jammed, etc., the building trades working full out), and what portion is from the smart people getting the hell out of here while they can afford to do so. My state real estate taxes and income tax over what I would pay in New Hampshire or New York equals one semester's tuition for my daughter. Give me a reason to continue to put up with that? Any reason? 

MS DORTA'S HISSY FIT 

»» Bernier Mayo, Saint Johnsbury: Didn't anybody notice that Peggy Dorta, in her letter taking Libby Sternberg apart for commenting on the Dortas' decision to send a child to private school, made the case for parental choice in education? She lectured Ms. Sternberg on how some schools are right for some kids, but others aren't, and it's a parent's right to choose.

Right on, Peggy. She went on to say, with righteous indignation, that if parents can afford to send their kids to independent schools, they have every right to. Whoa, Peggy! Are you telling us that choice is good only for those who've got the bucks? Isn't that pretty elitist? Strange talk from the wife of the leader of an organization whose screed is that public schools are the principal safeguard of democracy, one of whose tenets is that elitism is to be eschewed. I guess choice is a good thing if we are talking about my kid, but not when we are talking about yours, and yours, and yours... 

GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON (LEFT-WING) WOMEN

»» Mike Audet, Underhill: The Gov's commission on women did not come to the aid of Karen Maple either. She was the home schooling nursing mom who was jailed for contempt of court. I visited Karen in jail. She had no soap, face cloth, comb or breast pads. Her breast milk had stained her jail uniform and was visibly wet. I offered to pay for these items but the jailers would not take cash and I did not have a check with me. I came home and called the office of the Governor's Commission on Women and got the cold shoulder. Later I went to the Vermont Supreme Court with Karen where she was exonerated. 

TATTOO HYPOCRICY

»» David Millson, New Haven: Even liberal Cheryl Hooker, the only D-Rutland, said that minors should be "required to obtain parental consent before getting poked or painted." So do you think that minors should be "required to obtain parental consent before" having their wombs surgically invaded, being endangered by non-physician practitioners, being left to deal alone with the inevitable effects of the depression and loss of self esteem -- and shuffled off to the hospital after an abortion goes wrong with no-one -- parents or social worker -- to care for them? 

WHAT TO DO? STAND TOGETHER

»» Rob Mazza, Colchester: In regard to Michael Ticehurst's question, "what do we do?" Well Michael don't feel alone, last election I got involved and said the way to go was the Republican way. Well lo and behold I got all these fine friends of mine together and went to a Colchester Republican meeting. I was told thank you so much for bringing these people, we are not used to this many people. Some of these people wanted to know why their town Representative who is a Republican and voted for Civil Unions was not there to answer our questions and why he failed to return our phone calls. We were told don't question what he did; "Its over."

When we had questions about Barbara Snelling and voting like she did, we were told we don't question these icons. What does this make us, drones? We saw how the rest of higher ups in the party left Ruth Dwyer in the cold. In the end most of us said enough is enough. Until the old Republican guard is gone and new blood is in, it will be the same ole story. I am now getting calls from the party needing my help. My answer is, "the name is Rob not Drone." Michael, join P.O.S.T. -- Property Owners Standing Together. They are a great bunch, work together and are growing a great team.

P.O.S.T. Web site: http://www.wegrew.com/post/

VOTE, SUPPORT CANDIDATES, RUN FOR OFFICE!

»» James Gregoire: I enjoy your report and look forward to reading it every week. I'd like to see more regular blue collar people involved in politics. Here in Vermont you see a number of average citizens in the house, but the numbers dwindle as you go up through the senate and into statewide offices. People complain constantly about how government doesn't have their best interest in mind or that the government is made up of wealthy elitists that have no clue what most of us face in our daily lives. What happens when the average guy runs for office though? Normally the lawyer or the business man wins and Mr. Blue collar goes home. In small towns there are a number of normal citizens in elected positions but that's where we apparently draw the line as far as what we will entrust our blue collar neighbors to do for us. Every position of our government was designed for the average citizen to hold, although true the senate was originally for the upper class.

The bottom line is this; Do you feel qualified to control your life, your destiny? Do you believe you have the common sense to pass legislation that will be helpful and protective yet not overly restrictive or invasive? Do you and your family or friends talk about politics and come up with different solutions than the wealthy fat cats that hold elected office today? Do you feel that being a descendent of former public servants is not in and of itself a qualifier for public service? I answer all four questions with a yes and I bet most of the rest of you that work blue collar jobs answer them the same way.

Put trust in your peers and elect them (or run yourself) for public office and see what good old common sense and a working persons perspective can do for our government. People like us that live on budgets might have something to offer our rich friends in Washington when it comes to balancing a budget. The government is by, for and of the people, it isn't of the special people, the rich people, the connected people or anything else it is for the people plain and simple. If you don't take control of the government then you only have yourself to blame for its failures. I get tired of hearing how the rich run the country or how there is an elite class determining policy. We all know that this is the case to some degree, but the complaint needs to be focused on our lack of participation, not on their participation. 

RECOGNITION

»» Leo Descoteaux, Barnet: Keep up the good work. When Dean says "I believe that every human being deserves the same rights and protections regardless of RACE or sexual orientation". Does this mean that the Abanaki Indians are not human beings. They deserve recognition as much as others do. Or is this bordering on RACE discrimination. 

ERRATUM

»» Barb Fondry: In reference to former Gov. Kunin's comments about money, It's the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil, not the money itself, but the corrupt use of it: 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil." Thought I'd set the record straight. Keep up the good work. 

CONGRESSIONAL PAY RAISE

»» Dave Garrecht: Amendment XXVII (1992) to the U.S. Constitution reads: "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened." Please, could someone explain to me how our congressmen have slipped in a pay raise for themselves? 

THEY LIKE US

»» John Farmer, Stowe: Keep up the great reporting. Although in Florida seven months a year, I remain a Vermont voter. As a seventh generation born Vermonter, I am appalled that the ship of state has veered so much to the portside.

»» Geoff Chapman, Dorset: Thanks for your report. It is like a clear, bright light shinning out of the murk and fog of the rest of the political and educational reporting in Vermont. Don't stop. Better times are coming!

»» Victor Gardy, Shelburne: Keep up that very perceptive political attitude.

»» Richard & Margaret Waite, Brookfield: Your report this week was so good. Some have been only pretty good. Keep the good stuff coming!

»» Ralph Boyd, Greensboro: Keep up the good work! A breath of fresh air in a socialist jungle. 

ACT 60 HAS FAILED IN GLOVER AND CRAFTSBURY
Reprinted from The Chronicle by permission 

This newspaper endorsed the concept of Act 60 when it was being developed. We did so because we believed it would help equalize education funding and lower reliance on the property tax. In theory, Act 60 would help small towns with few resources get caught up with bigger, wealthier towns. But this week we are not sure it is meeting either goal. Two of the small unwealthy towns in our county are expected to become "sending" towns under Act 60.

Glover Community School is practically falling down around the ears of the incredibly dedicated staff who teach Glover children. Mobile units are scattered here and there, while plastic sleds have been seen strategically placed in the hallways to catch the leaks from the roof. The townspeople can't afford the price tag of a new school, and the school board is working on a plan for a major renovation. The board has announced that due to lower revenues from the sate, the librarian and a school secretary, among others, are likely to be laid off. Yet the amount needed from local taxes is due to go up 13 percent in order to keep the very meager and conservative budget plan afloat.

Meanwhile, Newport City and Barton are considered poor towns, with few local resources, under act 60. It is hard to fathom a formula that would have Glover sending money to Newport.

Glover and Craftsbury have certain things in common. Both are small towns with few students. Both are struggling to provide a decent education in old buildings. Both have lots of community spirit and taxpayers who want to keep those small schools going despite the high cost per student.

The high cost per student in Glover and Craftsbury has nothing to do with spending extra on luxuries. It has to do with the fact that it costs a certain amount of money to run a school even if there are not that many students inside. These towns are being penalized by Act 60 for trying a little harder.

Act 60 has some provisions for income sensitivity that will help certain people in Glover and Craftsbury. But Governor Howard Dean has suggested that income sensitivity should be cut back, and that the state block grant should be level funded. The equalized grand list of Vermont has gone up this year by 7 percent. So there is more money coming in to the education fund from somewhere. Where is that extra money being spent?

Act 60 might still be helping some small towns. But it has failed in Glover and Craftsbury. Small towns like these need extra help. Instead they are getting extra headaches. This might seem like a small loophole for people in the populated areas of Vermont, but for people in these towns, it is a crushing blow.

From the December 14, 20001, 6 pm WCAX news script:

The head of state's largest public school teachers union is sending his son to a private school. Angelo Dorta -- who has been the president of the Vermont NEA since 1995 -- is sending his son to Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington for his Senior year. Dorta's son had been attending Mount Mansfield Union High School up until this year. Dorta told channel 3 today it is a personal and family decision influenced by many factors. He says it is not suitable for further discussion because it is not connected to any kind of policy stances or decision that he makes as NEA president.

"Liberalism is embarrassed by success and prosperity because independent and free people do not need liberals..." --Cal Thomas

The San Francisco City municipal workers' health care plan was upheld in court last week. The medical insurance plan pays for any city worker's sex change operation. Now the workers are suing because the plan only offers them two choices. --Argus Hamilton 

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