INTO THE MALESTROM

To paraphrase Russian poet Lermontov, "We rebelliously asked for a storm, As if in the storm there is lasting peace."

Our article last week on where goeth the Vermont Republican Party elicited more reader comment than any other article ever published in DPR. We have over twelve pages of letters this week.

Are the trains moving? Rumors abound in the State House. One rumor we were able to confirm. 

IN SEARCH OF ONE CATERPILLAR D-8

George McNeill has been the stalwart of the Republican Legislative Election Committee through three cycles. He has raised money, recruited candidates, created brochures, and hounded candidates to insure that they were out and about, meeting the voters, going door-to-door.

Picture George as a D-8 stuck in first gear, no reverse. George goes straight ahead and gets the job done. At fund-raisers, he prepares and maintains the lists, send out invitations, calls and calls again, finds corporate sponsors, buys party favors, rents the hall and the band, plans the menus, writes the menus, does the table and room decorations, worries over the seating arrangements, writes thank you notes, and more. No hurdle is too high. No promise is unkept.

George told DPR today that he is planning to accept a new opportunity with an organization which "made an offer you can't refuse." 

OH MY, WHAT WILL WE EVER DO?

George said that Republican Whip Rick Hube, R-South Londonderry, is now in charge of elections. "Rick knows what he is doing. I certainly am not leaving anyone in the lurch. I will continue on as Rutland County GOP Chair. I will stay involved. I will help Rick all he wants to help get the job done.

"It is different today. We had little or no help from the State Party Headquarters. The County Chairs are much more independent. But everybody is expendable. I have done three elections in a row. We need somebody else." 

SPEECHLESS IN MONTPELIER

Republican senators are figuring out that not only are they speechless in Montpelier, it is hard to represent their constituents without greater numbers. "We have no voice," they cried when asked if there was not something they could do to stop the Democrats' effort for more new taxes. 

SAUSAGE MAKING IS NOT FOR THE WEAK STOMACH

Act 60 consensus is near, but not Act 60 reform. A Band-Aid maybe. Word from some of our legislators is that Democrats want the result to be that Act 60 is relatively unchanged while creating lots of new taxes and tax revenue for other schemes. Governor Douglas added, "Some senators are predisposed to raise taxes without any spending plans."

John Gregg wrote a seven-column analysis in the Valley News quoting those opposed to the measure such as Stephen Webster, R-Randolph, "It makes no sense to increase a tax that is not deductible to replace one that is. Taking the direct tax burden off schools...will increase spending by $50,000,000 statewide and we can't do that."

Nancy Remsen wrote an eight-column analysis in the Free Press quoting four legislators who are "reluctant supporters" of the bill, but none who are opposed. 

MORE EVIDENCE

Art Woolf, UVM economic professor was quoted by Gregg, "The simplest way to explain this is, 'How may more nails do you want to drive into a coffin?' It is certainly not good news for the local economy. Every time we have raised the sales tax rate, more businesses leave."  Read his detailed analysis of this phenomenon here:  http://www.VTGOP.org/woolf399.htm 

MUCH, MUCH MORE EVIDENCE

The April Expansion Magazine gives us some facts. Our population last year grew 1.3 percent while the national average was 2.5 percent. If Vermont was the most interesting and fantastic place to do business and live, why is our population growth below average by almost 50 percent?

Education levels are well above the national average so why is per capita income well below the national average? Maybe because our state corporate income tax rates are fifth highest. Maybe because our electricity rates are fifth highest. 

JUST MORE FACTS MA'AM

"Vermonters earn less than U.S. average" was the headline of the Money, or lack thereof, section of the Free Press. The Devil was in the details.

The national income growth was 1.22 percent. Yet in Vermont the government sector wage grew by 5.2 percent, transportation and public utilities wage grew by 7.5 percent. These are for the most part tax consumers.

The Vermont farm sector income fell by 37.3 percent, durable manufacturing income fell by 5.4 percent and non-durable manufacturing incomes fell by 3.5 percent. These are the taxpayers.

Hello? 

PAUNCH REPLACES PUNCH

Fewer than 200,000 Vermonters can recall the time when Pat Leahy was not their senator. Closing in on thirty years in Washington, seated as the senior minority member on the Appropriations Committee, you might think that he and fellow thirty-year Washington vet Jeffords might team up to get a few nickels to repair the Waterbury Reservoir Dam.

They can't. Maybe we need new representation. The loss of the reservoir for recreation is costing upward of a million dollars a year in lost sales and thousands in lost taxes. The Federal government created the problem via faulty construction; maybe they could fix it.

However, Leahy is busy stopping Miguel Estrada from becoming a judge via committee privilege and then via filibuster privilege. One might think that Vermonters were more interested in the Waterbury Reservoir and the local economy’s health, which affects us all, rather than one of a thousand judges who will probably never affect any one of us. 

FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME

Waldo is slipping in the New Hampshire polls, losing 15 percent in a month. Joe Klein in Time Magazine writes, "The resentment toward Dean is a consequence of his banty-rooster self-regard... To hear Dean speak, he did just about everything better in Vermont." 

We ask the curious to find answers to the following top ten:

1- Vermont per capita income in 1992 and 2002, and our ranking.

2- Vermont per pupil cost of education and ranking in 1992 and 2002.

3- Vermont tax burden per capita compared to per capita income and rankings for 1992 and 2002.

4- Vermont GDP and state ranking in 1992 and 2002.

5- Vermont cost of electricity and ranking in 1992 and 2002.

6- Vermont cost of workman's comp insurance and ranking 1992 and 2002.

7- Vermont cost of insuring a family of four and ranking in 1992 and 2002.

8- Vermont cost of property taxes per home and our ranking in 1992 and 2002.

9- National inflation rate with 1992 as base line compared to 2002.

10- Average days required to learn yes or no on permit application and ranking in 1992 and 2002.

"PREPARED, PUBLISHED AND MAILED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE"

The following letter on official stationary was mailed at taxpayer expense to an unknown subset of Vermont's population, including the teenage son of one of our readers:

Dear [Vermont Teenager],

I thought you might be interested in a recent speech I gave concerning the cost of a war with Iraq.

I am deeply concerned by the reluctance of President Bush and other senior Administration officials to tell the American people how much a war in Iraq could cost both in terms of dollars and, more importantly, in terms of the lives of Americans and innocent Iraqi civilians. As a Vermonter, I will continue to speak out against the Administration’s arrogant and heavy-handed Iraq policy, especially its dismissive attitude towards many Americans speaking out against the war as well as the concerns voiced by U.S. friends and allies around the world.

On March 3, I gave a speech on the Senate floor about this issue. I am sending along a copy for you to read. Please feel free to share it with any of your friends or family also interested in our nation’s foreign policy."

Sincerely, 
PATRICK LEAHY, United States Senator

FREE SPEECH

"A month ago, Iraq was one of the most repressive totalitarian societies in the world. Now its citizens gather on the streets and openly debate the future of their country. How can this be anything other than a cause for celebration?" --James Taranto, Best of the Web, 4/14/03

"Susan Sarandon told reporters, 'I thought the best way to protect the troops is to keep them out of harm's way and to not put people into the hellish situation of war.' Do you suppose next that Sarandon will suggest that to protect firefighters we not put them into the hellish situation of fighting fires?" --James Hirsen, "The Left Coast Report," 4/15/03 

4:20 OR BUST

Bust it was. At 4:00 PM this past Easter Sunday, activity in front of Bailey Library, scene of pass marijuana smoke-ins reveled in by upwards to 1,500 UVM’s best and brightest, consisted of Frisbee playing, cell phone communication, and chatting. Seven UVM cops and two of Burlington’s finest wandered the steps, the grassy knoll, and the sidewalks of in front of Bailey. Officer Roberts held her video camera ready.

No busts, no problem. At 4:20, activity paused and people checked their timepieces. Folks looked around to see if anything was happening. WCAX’s crew looked around for something to do. A few wandered out of the library asking, ""Where are all the people?" Studying maybe, church going not probably. Academia returned to academia. 

SEEKING THE PERFECT COMMITTEE

In the crunch season the Senate Appropriations Committee is a player if not the player. There were three Republicans and four Democrats on the committee. With Senator Rob Ide's departure to serve in the administration, there are now only two Republicans and one, Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden, is not exactly a rock ribbed Republican.

Ide has been replaced by Bernier Mayo. Ide also had a seat on the Transportation Committee which has four Democrats and one Republican now. The Democrats want to add Senator Phil Scott, R-Washington, to Transportation but no new Republican to Appropriations. Not sure that they have the votes? Insecure? Mean? Will the newspapers mention it?

BUT I NEED TRAINING!

Of course, the state has tons of training programs. But as President Reagan said, the best welfare program is a job, and he probably would have said the best training program is a job.

Instead of taxing companies to death and then providing a state run training program with the money, why not create a training minimum wage rate? If the rate is set too high, business cannot afford to train.

We asked Governor Douglas about this idea. He said, "I would support a training wage as long as those who are supporting families are paid the regular minimum wage."

Tom Douse of Vermont's Department of Employment and Training provided us with a web address to check on how other states handle the minimum wage. Go to http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm 

DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU

Minnesota provides that small employers with less than $500,000 in revenue can pay $4.90 rather than the $5.15 mandated by the Feds. Missouri exempts all retail or service employers with sales less than $500,000 from any minimum wage.

Montana sets the minimum wage at $4.00 for businesses with sales less than $110,000. Nebraska exempts all firms with four employees or less.

Ohio set the rate at $3.25 for firms from $150,000 to $500,000 in sales and $2.80 for firms with sales under $150,000. Oklahoma exempts firms with fewer than ten employees or sales under $100,000 from any minimum wage. Virginia exempts all firms with four or fewer employees. 

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

So said football legend Paul Hornung when asked why he partied so hard. It is also true of starting in the workers’ world. First, you must learn to show up, not so easy for many teens used to sleeping till noon. Then you must learn to show up every day. Then there is a work ethic to learn. After that comes a bit of customer service or as the coffee mug says, "Rule #1, If we do not take care of the customer, somebody else will."

Most of the teens who want a few extra dollars are not worth $6.75 as proposed by the Legislature. You love teachers. Give the teachers in business a break and set a lower training wage for the youths, the unmarried, childless youths. 

YOU NEED EVIDENCE?

Our dearly beloved senate says that there are no permit problems, no tax problems, no crisis. Well, here is more evidence.

Luzenac of West Windsor will shut their talc plant laying off thirty. The remaining thirty-five are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Vermont jobless claims are up a tenth since last month and a 33 percent since last March. Guess all those Democrats have jobs so who cares?

We noticed that Chesapeake advertised for help. We called. Aren’t you closing? we asked. "Well, yes." But you are advertising. "Yes, we need folks till we close." But you are offering a six-month bonus? "Only if we are here," he chuckled. 

IT’S ALIVE?

Scott Peterson is not your favorite guy, allegedly decapitating his pregnant wife and tossing her over the side of the boat. He is also accused of killing his unborn child, a double capital crime qualifying him for a seat on old sparky.

Maybe the National Abortion Rights Action League will petition as a friend of the court to claim life does not begin until birth and therefore their newest best friend Scott can only be tried for one death. In that this pitch would not help with fundraising, we doubt that we will hear from NARAL. 

SHAME SHAME SHAME

It is hard to fathom. After receiving between 100 and 200 resumes for the position of executive director of VERMONT’S Commission on Women, the board has chosen Wendy Love from upstate New York.

Knowing that there were many fine Vermonters who applied, knowing that we are in a bit of a recession, knowing that this job is funded by Vermonters, and knowing that there is a housing crisis in Vermont, why in the world would they choose someone from New York.

Here’s why. It seems that there was only one requirement for the job; that you previously were President and CEO of a Planned Parenthood. This appears to be the only differentiating item on Ms. Love’s Cirriculum Vitae; she now serves in that capacity "in rural upstate New York." Sorry Vermont women, you can pound sand.

For more information about the VCW visit: http://www.women.state.vt.us 

VT-NEA SAYS "VOTE NO" ON SCHOOL BUDGETS TO CONTROL COSTS

Writing in the May issue of Vermont-NEA Today, the official organ of the labor union with a monopoly on government schools, Executive Director and Chief Lobbyist Joel Cook suggests the legislature does not need to address education cost containment. He says local voters are doing enough. 

"After all, more than 40 communities have rejected proposed school budgets this year, a bit more than used to be the case annually prior to Act 60. Isn't the budget adoption - or rejection - system working to contain costs? ...when voters say "no" to local budgets, local school boards generally pare down spending."

Informed sources tell us that the Senate "cost containment" plan is to order up a fifteen member commission with full access to the Joint Fiscal Office and the Legislative Committee to hold public hearings and to report back next year. Of course the commission will be dominated and controlled by members from the educational community. So they spend more money to ask how we can stop ourselves from spending more next year? Right, good luck. May as well create confetti with the money for the welcome home our brave men and women as they parade down Church Street. Watch the pig fly too. 

MANY VIEWS ON VERMONT GOP

»» John MacGovern, Windsor: I have just read with pleasure your analysis of what ails the Vermont GOP. I think in many ways you are correct. The fact of the matter is:

1) The Governor of the state is THE leader of the State GOP.

2) The state party apparatus should be in his hands, that is, the State Chairman should be his man (or woman).

3) And then, the Governor will work to build a strong party which helps him get re-elected and us, rank and file Republicans, elect Republicans to the State Legislature which will pass his program of reducing taxes and getting the state economy growing again. Passing that program will help Republicans get elected at every level.

4) This business of having a Speaker's PAC running one operation and the State party running another and no coordination, even animosity, between the two, makes no sense.

5 ) Finally, I find it most perplexing that (and I remind you again, I am watching from down here in Windsor and rely on news reports to get the story, so I may be wrong) the elected Republican leaders (House Speaker, Committee chairs) seem to me determined to undercut Governor Douglas, leader of their own party, not simply in minor matters but in matters he considers essential and vital. To me, the spectacle is mind-boggling. This behavior is not in the governor's interest, the public interest, or in their interest. Maybe they don't like the Governor, maybe they feel they come from 'safe seats' so they don't need a Republican governor to help them get re-elected, but I can assure you, if they keep this up, they will not be speaker or chairmen of these committee next time around. If this amazing circus continues, the Republican controlled House will lose more GOP seats and a Republican cross between Svengaly and Houdini would not be elected Speaker next session.

Again, many thanks for a great analysis. 

»» Jim Peden, Chair, Shoreham Republican Caucus: The reason why we can't win at the local level is we have lost a lot of women voters who once sided with our original core principles. By constantly beating the dead horse of abortion and gay rights issues, we have driven our moderate female voters away from our camp.

Only when we abandon (or at least put aside) these long-settled and completely dead issues can we re-emerge as the party of fiscal responsibility, equal opportunity, tort reform, educational accountability, and tax relief... all of which are perfectly live issues which deserve our attention. Issues which have been firmly settled by the appropriate Supreme Courts, we cannot change, so why dwell on them?

Here in Addison County (liberal heaven), we Republicans are generally viewed as a band of gay-bashing homophobes and extremist religious fanatics, demanding a particular far-right interpretation of Christianity to be militantly imposed on the whole of society.

Governor Jim Douglas made a big hit at the United Way of Addison County annual meeting when he spoke to an audience of obviously strong liberal leaders of an assortment of local social service agencies. He spoke of the need to reinforce individual charitable giving in a time of diminishing state resources, and described positive steps he had already taken to increase United Way pledges among state employees. He won a lot of respect from the local liberal leadership, which in turn has considerable influence over a greater liberal body. At no time did he dwell on "faith based initiatives" or other hot button items which cause the alarm bell to ring among Democrats.

We could learn a lot from Governor Douglas. There are plenty of positive issues to address, enough to keep our candidates busy during the whole campaign season, without once having to take out the dead horse buggy whip. 

»» Robert Maynard, Williston: In your last Report you take a look at some of the problems that the Vermont GOP faces from lack loss of state legislative seats and the absence of a Republican presence in Washington D.C. from Vermont, to the five headed "hydra" that the VTGOP has become.

You note that: "Though the Republicans have a very big tent ideologically, much bigger than the Democrats, they have very little coordination in their tent...."

This is stated as though the ideological "big tent" is a strong point and that despite this advantage, the Democrats are more organized and better able to get out their message. Let me suggest that the former may be at least a partial cause of the latter. Having a "big tent" welcoming people from all walks of life is one thing, but an "ideological" big tent is quite another. It is a diplomatic way of saying that the GOP has less of an ideological focus than the Democrats. There is no mystery to why the Democrats are so much better organized than the Republicans. In a battle of ideas, those who are more focused and clear where they stand will win every time. Until the Republicans get over their ridiculous obsession with being an ideological big tent and stop being afraid to lay out on the table what they stand for, the Democrats will ALWAYS runs circles around them organizationally. 

»» Martin Harris, Addison: May I respectfully remind your readership that our "nominal" Republicans in office since the Hoff take-over have been responsible for such leftist concepts as super-agencies (Davis), state-wide property tax (Snelling) and the attempted taxation of interest on federal obligations (also Snelling, via Joyce Errecart). In short, our "Republicans" have been of the Rockefeller wing of the party, like Madame Snow of Maine at the national level. Just maybe we'd do better if we'd put up real conservatives for election?

»» Don Griffes, East Charleston: Your comments on the GOP missed some very important points. Having been a member of the Vermont State Republican Committee for almost three decades I have a decidedly different take as to why the GOP has failed to elect Republicans. Douglas and Dubie, for the most part, got themselves elected on their own merits, along with the help of a multi candidate field.

I see the biggest problem with the Vermont GOP is their failure to motivate and involve their grassroots members. It’s true that the Democrats are formidable opponents but they can be beaten. Many Democrats are not inhibited by the truth while the Vermont GOP has continually come up short at setting the record straight. Democrats will continue to beat the socks off Vermont Republicans in state wide elections as long as the party leaders ignore the potential of grassroots Republicans.

You say that the big problem is lack of money. I say the big problem is leaders who are not listening to their loyal and duly elected members. If Republicans are to gain a majority party status again in Vermont, it will require much hard work, by many members, to make it happen. The GOP party will just keep on losing elections by believing that more money is all that’s needed to make them winners. Republicans need to get busy recruiting members and putting them to work at getting out their message and the vote on election day.

The Republican message is a winning one, but that message has been kept low key and even suppressed by the dominant media culture, for years. Many of us write letters to the editors, truthfully pointing out the shortcomings of our opponents, only to be refused publication.

The Dwinell Political Report is doing a great job of stimulating debate. We thank you! Please keep up the good work. 

»» Mary Daly, Fairlee: Thanks for your great newsletter. On the Republican Party, last year I volunteered to volunteer at the office in Montpelier. I did that several times and was never contacted to set up a schedule. I would have been available on one of several late afternoons and planned to be available each week as the elections drew closer. My enthusiasm was and is boundless for getting Repupblicans elected and I was very disappointed not to be used to move the effort forward. I hope this next election cycle will be different.

On Act 60 - the problem is that school costs have gone way over the mark and need to be controlled. We did vote the budget down in Rivendell on March 29th. I think they got at least some of the message. Spending has to be controlled and they have to have fewer employees to control those costs.

Keep up your good work. 

»» Tom Morse, Underhill: [Regarding last week's comments on the leadership of Freed and McNeill]. You cannot overlook the tyrannical, authoritarian behavior of Freed and McNeill. Both have extremely strong personalities along the same lines as our past speaker of the house from Bennington.

While I also support the right to bear arms do not forget that McNeill played a major role in dumping Peter Smith and is one of the major reasons why we have a socialist in Congress.

It is my observation that the Republican Party is dominated by a wealthy group who dictates to the rank and file. The excessive regulation of Act 250, Act 200, Planning and zoning have stifled and oppressed the majority and allow only the well healed to buy their way through the process. 

PERMIT REFORM - ANOTHER VIEW

»» Will Adams, Montpelier: I read with interest Annette Smith's diatribe regarding efforts to reform Vermont's environmental permitting process. I represent some of the founding organizations of the Vermont Coalition for Permit Reform (www.vermontcpr.org) and take exception to Ms. Smith's characterization of the business community's motivation for developing proposals to reform a permitting process that has become inconsistent, unpredictable and untimely.

The legislation that was developed by the Coalition, H.169, was developed over an eighteen month period by business people and attorneys who have years' of experience dealing with the various levels of permitting in Vermont. The fundamental notion was that Vermont's environmental permitting process was inconsistent, unpredictable and untimely, and that legislation should be developed that would address these three areas of concern, while maintaining Vermont's environmental standards. The House of Representatives has passed Governor Douglas' permit reform bill, H.175, which contains many of the elements of the Coalition's bill. We support H.175 as passed by the House, however, there are provisions (such as the expanded notice provisions) in H.169 that some would like to see included in the bill before it reaches the Governor's office.

Ms. Smith would have people believe two falsehoods. One is that the business community doesn't want citizens involved in the permitting process. First, the Coalition's bill contained provisions to expand the notification requirements so that more citizens would know about a pending permit application, and would have allowed more citizens to become involved in the process, early in the process, as long as they could show that their interests were going to be directly affected. We think expanded notice, and greater opportunity for those with an interest in a project to participate in the review, enhances, rather than diminishes, public participation. Governor Douglas' bill, passed by the House, also allows for greater participation by those who have a direct interest in a project.

The second falsehood is not stated outright, but is implied--that business people aren't citizens. Ms. Smith rails about the fact that she has traveled throughout the state talking with people to receive input on the permit process. So have the twenty-two member organizations of the Vermont Coalition for Permit Reform. In fact, many of these organizations have been talking with their memberships (read, citizens) for well over a decade about Vermont's permitting process.

As for Ms. Smith's suggestion, ". . . let's try working together to solve our problems instead of attacking each other." She should have heeded her own advice before writing, "So far, 'permit reform' has nothing to do with fixing an inefficient and expensive process; nothing to do with honest discussion about the problems; and nothing to do with working together to come up with a better process. What 'permit reform' is about so far is greed." Sounds like an attack to me.

What we find unreasonable is the presumption that business people in Vermont want to go "the way of the rest of the country" as Ms. Smith quotes Mr. Mark Sinclair as having said.

Vermont's business owners simply want a process that is more consistent, more predictable and more timely. Changes to accomplish these goals will add credibility to Vermont's permitting process and maintain our environmental standards. Perhaps it is those who argue against these themes, and in favor of the status quo, that are screaming, as Ms. Smith quotes Chicken Little, "The sky is falling!!" 

THE FACTS REMAIN

»» Rob Towle, Rutland City, in response to the letter by Annette Smith: Although it is true that I got my acronyms confused [in the letter she responded to], the facts are still sound. Usually when testimony is taken by legislators, it can be surmised that the public (if that is indeed who testified) will be heard. Governor Douglas does not need to go door-to-door to check the pulse before he reacts. Actually understanding and talking to the many citizen groups (over 20 last I heard) plus the countless business people (those that don't enjoy watchdog protection such as the group you head) would be good evidence of speaking to the public, which the Governor has done on countless occasions.

I guess the only time government gets credit for listening to the citizens is if there is a photo-op to prove it. 

SALUTE TO CAPTAIN AMERICA

»» Patrice Clark, Williston: I salute Captain America and his response to Annette Smith. Typically, she automatically resorts to calling business greedy and compares her idyllic perception of Vermont with some unidentified location in Pennsylvania, parts of which I have seen and thought were quite lovely. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Vermont has plenty of truck traffic, housing development and transmission lines, all the while farms are dropping like flies, which means more cheap land available for more wealthy flatlanders to continue to mold their Disney wonderland Vermont getaway to their socialist ideology.

Unfortunately, instead of reaping their legacy, this mobile class of elitists builds their trophy homes and lays waste to the working class and moves on to greener pastures to wreak havoc again and again, unable and unwilling to admit their flawed policy reasoning...much like Howard Dean and Bernie Sanders. And Annette Smith is still trying to identify the problem! Good grief! A prosperous community is much more able to address it's environmental issues than stretched government resources and an unresponsive legislature.

I look forward to reading more insights from Captain America. I think he might have a legion of followers -- called the silent majority. 

BLAME THE LAW, NOT THE LAWYER

»» Pete Snyder: In regards to the article about Mark Sinclair, please tell me what "They even have a NGO or two" means?

And while I generally agree with many of your concerns about permit reform, I know Mark and know he is a good man, and obviously a good Lawyer. That's fair and respectable. The real problem with permits is just keeping the process going in a timely manner and nimbyism, which we are all prone to do and are stuck with forever. I don't think that it is any of Marks fault. He's just working the law as it is. Change it if you want to, but don't blame one individual. That's silly.

Editor's note: NGO means Nongovernmental Organization. Project harmony for example is an NGO in the Mad River Valley. They are a nice outfit and all, good jobs, though they don't always hire folks from here.

SENATE WELCHING ON REFORM

»» Doug Richmond, Underhill: My marque sign on route 15 in Essex Junction currently says; "Vermont Senate 'Welch's on Everything.'" Perhaps that sums up the 2003 session. No permit reform, no Act 60 reform, no spending reform.

The whole legislature, Republicrat and Demican & progressive, have circled their wagons to protect their sacred Act 60 and to set it in cement, to avoid any education cost containment or any budgetary constraints, and to solidify State control of our 100,000 young brains full of mush.

Name any legislative power play in the last 40 years that we as citizens have been able to overcome... 

GOVERN BY FIAT? 

»» Paul Chandler, Newport: There is NO SUCH THING AS A CORPORATE TAX. Any 'tax' imposed on business is passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices. It is that simple.

Meanwhile, over in the Senate, the Democratic senators are firmly entrenched, bent on barring any real permit reform. They believe they are serving their constituents. And that they are. Only their constituents live on the other side of the Connecticut River where many a Vermont business chooses to relocate. Maybe the Governor ought to govern by rule rather than by legislation. After all, that is what his predecessor did. 

ROBBING PETER TO PAY OFF PAUL 

»» Mike Quaid, Williston, Vermonters for Tax Reform: Regarding Richard Sims, who the Democrats and Progressives were trotting around Vermont last week on the "Tax Me More" Tour.

He makes the claim that the higher taxing states also are the same states with the highest growth in incomes. Ohio State Prof. Richard Vedder, in his publication Taxes and Economic Growth, has plenty of charts and stats to refute all of Sims' claims. During the Q&A period after his talk, Sims said that we could improve our economy by raising taxes and spending it on government, since most of government spending is salaries.

I recall Liz Ready making a similarly nonsensical claim in the last campaign. Hey - for a really good economy, why not let the government have it all? If you're baffled and confused by statistics, return to principles. Is your life better off if you decide how to spend your money, or if the government spends it for you based on the priorities of the politicians?

As I looked around the room and listened to the comments, I realized that everyone there wanted something from the government and wanted somebody else to pay for it. What has happened to Vermont's sense of independence and self-reliance? I worry that it is becoming rare and endangered. 

SCHOOL TAXES 

»» Craig Averill, Goshen: What is all of this Bull about raising taxes for the schools? Didn't we raise our Sales Tax from 3 percent to 4 percent, to go to Education and help relieve the Property Tax Payer?

Didn't we raise our Sales Tax from 4 percent to 5 percent, to go to Education and help relieve the Property Tax Payer?

Didn't we get involved with Tri-State Mega Bucks for the sole purpose of raising money for Education and helping to relieve the Property Tax Payer?

My property tax for schools has risen from $0.87 per hundred to now a whooping $1.84 per hundred, since 1985. Also understand that my property assessment has gone from $55,000 to $127,000, same older house, same property, fewer trees, older deck, cracked boards etc, you do the math. Now add the cost of living percentage and see the runaway difference. Where is the money going? Now I hear static in the air about reforming Act 60 and raising the Sales Tax to 6% to support schools.

Why don't we just lay off 3/4 of these superintendents and then stop this who-rah about smaller classrooms and put 30 kids back in the class, with only ONE teacher and then end all of these stupid non-career classes and the BIG ONE, charge insurance companies for the medical special needs of the special ed kids.

We could also make all of these education folks pay for a share of their insurance, as all other working suckers do and we could make them pay some co-pay as well. Then we could report their earnings as it is reported on their tax forms and not as they report now, with dental insurance blacked out and what have you.

We need to send the V.E.A and the N.E.A back to the corner and eliminate any unions where the money comes directly from the taxpayers. Having a union stand between the taxpayer and the recipient of the money seems to be a bit illegal for proper taxation and representation. It seems that these people work for us, the taxpayer and we don't need any Unions telling us what we will and won't pay, fire them all and start over.

Example: Otter Valley Prof Salaries in 99-2000 were $2,084,111 now for 2001-2002 with 8 fewer students, $2,455,916, and let's not forget the fringe benefits: Health Insurance for teachers in 99-00, $263,968, and in 2001-2002, $362,264.

Someone once said to me, "The cost of education outweighs the cost of ignorance" so I went home and felt terrible and I started to think about that statement. What is the cost of education? books? yeah, paper and pencils? yeah, the classroom? How long does it take to pay for that classroom and what is it attached to? Do the classrooms ever get paid for? If one teacher stood in front of 30 kids and she earned $30,000 per year, our cost per student would be $1,000 plus operating expenses. We don't need to raise taxes, we need to do a good house cleaning. 

SHAME 

»» Leon King, South Burlington: Crossing New England last weekend during holiday travels, we saw hundreds of businesses with large signs proclaiming support for our troops in Iraq. The state roads were lined with homes displaying flags and yellow ribbons. In Maine we spoke with an 81-year-old widow with flags and ribbons on every fence post across the front of her home. She said it was the least she could do.

Crossing back into Vermont, such symbols became rare. We lost the radio station describing how Iranians are jubilant at the fall of the genocidal Iraqi regime and greatly admire President Bush for his courage. In Vermont all we could tune in was a whinging chorus of disgruntled Al Gore supporters critical of Bush's every move. What a shame. 

THEY LIKE US 

»» Ralph F Colin, Jr., Manchester Center: A particularly strong, timely and articulate effort this week. Good focus. Well done!

»» Neil Vallencourt: You do a great job. Please continue.

»» James Barrett, Burlington: It is with great pleasure that I support your newsletter. You are the glue that binds us. 

LEAHY'S DIRE PREDICTIONS FAIL TO MATERIALIZE 

"It is possible that the President’s advisers will be proven right, and that a war will be over in a matter of weeks. That the Iraqi army will crumble like a house of cards. That Saddam Hussein will not blow up his oil wells and refineries. That he will not use chemical or biological weapons. That our troops will not become bogged down in hand-to-hand urban combat. That there will be few Iraqi civilians killed. That predictions of massive unrest throughout the Muslim world in protest of a U.S. military invasion of Iraq, and increases in the number of terrorist attacks against Americans, will be proven groundless. That the ethnic and religious factions within Iraq, some of which hate each other, will put aside their differences and join together to build a representative, democratic government. And that the President’s grand vision ­ about which we have no details ­ to democratize the entire Middle East, will be off to a successful start.... But it is also possible that any one of these dire predictions could come true..." -- Senator Patrick Leahy on the Senate floor, 3/3/03 

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200303/0303b.html

"FOR WHATEVER REASONS" 

"For whatever reasons, too many prominent Americans wish for America's failure - and claim to find evidence of it everywhere they look." --Clifford D. May 

http://www.defenddemocracy.org/in_the_media/in_the_media_show.htm?doc_id=164356 

ONE FUNDAMENTAL REASON 

"I have a confession: I have at times, as the war has unfolded, secretly wished for things to go wrong. Wished for the Iraqis to be more nationalistic, to resist longer. Wished for the Arab world to rise up in rage. Wished for all the things we feared would happen. I'm not alone: A number of serious, intelligent, morally sensitive people who oppose the war have told me they have had identical feelings." --Salon executive editor Gary Kamiya, arguing that he would have preferred more casualties to the 'larger moral negative' of a military victory boosting President Bush's political base.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2003/04/11/liberation/index1.html

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