MOTHER’S MILK FLOWS 

Money, the mother’s milk of politics, is being spent with abandon. Any candidate, party, or PAC must file mass media reports when one’s spending exceeds $500 within thirty days of an election. These reports must be filed within twenty-four hours of the spending. Therefore this newsletter covers the last two weeks. There were over a hundred filings.

THE DEMOCRATS

Tops in spending as usual are the Democrats. Doug Racine led the spending with $198,246 spent on television buys in just two weeks, another $18,241 for radio, and $65,000 for direct mail. All Democrat mail again this year was done by Bridge Communications.

It is not that their campaign is unpredictable. They do the same thing year in and year out. They use the same vendors. They improve their lists, do research, keep their powder dry, and mail, mail, mail. Throw in some candidate specific television and radio and then they go to the victory party.

Peter Shumlin, the half head, spent $34,028 on television and another $15,636 on radio. Love watching that nose grow a là Pinocchio. Clever and creative folks. Jeb Spaulding, Democrat candidate for treasurer, spent only $1,347 for newspaper ads. Elizabeth Ready spent $1,500 on television.

Your mailboxes will soon be full or your newspapers will be heavy with inserts. The Vermont Senate Victory Fund sent $40,000 to Bridge Communications, the Vermont Democrat Party sent $71,200 to Bridge Communications, and the Vermont House Campaign Committee sent another $20,000 for a total to Bridge of $196,200.

HIDING THE BALL

Not surprisingly, no group but the Democrat Party did any research, polling or focus groups, though the Racine campaign did acknowledge receiving an in-kind contribution of research from the party. In 2000, only Dean for Governor spent any money on research, over $60,000. Yet they all had in 2000 and again have in 2002 a well-researched coordinated message.

Another concern is that nobody who received support via these mass mailings has bothered to file an in-kind mass media expense on his or her behalf. There have been some large mailings supporting all Democrat statewide and senate candidates. If the expense was $30,000 for example and the mailer promoted six candidates, then each candidate has received a $5,000 in-kind contribution and has "spent" $5,000 on mass media.

If they do not file, we never know the money that is spent on their behalf. That gives them the advantage as happened recently with Senator Bartlett where she claimed to only have spent $24,000 in the last election. In fact more than twice that amount was spent on her election if one reported these mass communications by the Vermont Senate Victory Fund, the Democrat Party and the Democrat House Committee.

In contrast, the Republican Legislative Committee itemized what has been spent on each candidate via mass media filings when a slate card or multi-candidate mailer went out.

THE REPUBLICANS

The Douglas Campaign spent $116,124 on television, another $32,390 on radio, and $9,775 on mail. Brain Dubie spent $45,450 on television topping Shumlin by $11,422. He added $11,684 for radio and $5,503 for print.

John LaBarge, Republican nominee for treasurer, spent $7,789 for radio. The Republican Party spent $24,836 on mail, running a glossy mailer supporting their statewide nominees. No in-kind reports were filed by those candidates acknowledging the money spent.

THE REST OF THE FIELD

Last election, there were multiple PACs supporting Democrat candidates. This year only two appeared to have filed a mass media report. One was the Socially Responsible Business PAC headquartered out of the law offices of Shems, Dunkie, and Kassel of Burlington. They spent $5,836 supporting a variety of candidates in the greater Burlington area, mostly Democrats. Another new PAC, Putting Vermont First from the Kingdom, spent $3,800 in what appeared to be an anti six-pack message. The six-pack is the group of Republicans who ran together in 2000 and swept out all the Democrats in those districts.

Anthony Pollina, Progressive candidate for lieutenant governor spent $17,500 on television. Con Hogan, one of the independent candidates for governor spent $30,000 via a San Francisco media firm.

THE SENATE

Ten senate candidates filed mass media reports. Kate Purcell, GOP nominee for a Chittenden County senate seat, led the field by spending $16,655 followed by fellow Republican Diane Snelling with $6,002. The Democrats in the Chittenden County senate race typically have their message broadcasted by the party and their senate fund.

Other big spenders were Matt Dunne in Windsor County who spent $5,880 via Bridge Communications, Paul Giuliani in Washington County who spent $4,324, and newcomer Clare Ayer from Addison County who spent $4,158. Other filers were Bill Doyle, Bill Carrow, Carl Rosenquist, and Norm Wright. Folks say that Windham County’s Wright is the last best hope for the GOP. Vermont’s most liberal county has the new addition of anti-Act 60 Wilmington plus well-known and hard working Wright. But it is an uphill battle, and thousands of dollars of mail will soon arrive supporting his opponents.

THE PROCESS

It sure would be helpful if the campaigns would provide their data via a disc so that the Campaigns and Elections office could post this data on the web quickly for all to see. It would also be helpful if the federal candidates would send along their filings to the Secretary of State’s office for public access. Their reports are on the web but hard to find, difficult to read and impossible to study. It is ironic that those who most avidly support campaign finance reform do their best to avoid its scrutiny. Both Bill Meub and Bernie Sanders did send along reports. 

ERRATUM? 

Barely awake last Friday, we received calls from folks in Franklin County taking us to task for suggesting that GOP Chair Ted Tyler would ever give a plug nickel to a Democrat. We wrote "Senator Sara Kittell, D-Franklin, raised $4,739 including a maxed out $300 in-kind contribution from the Republican GOP Chair Ted Tyler via the Tyler Place and another $300 from a Pixley Tyler Hill." We were told in no uncertain terms that though Ted is an owner of the Tyler Place, that there are other owners who do not share his particular political bent. So though we are technically correct in Ted’s small contribution to Sara Kittell, it was without his permission or knowledge. 

THE BRETHERN 

Way back on June 11th, our Supreme Court heard the arguments in the case of the media versus Dean regarding his failure to provide his daily schedules to the public. Dean lost in the lower court and we had hoped that the high court might rule while it could still be relevant. But that does not appear to be the case. It is not so complicated. The next time someone suggests that the court is not political, guess again.

See the letter from Lawrence Auclair in the Roar of the Crowd section.

UVM GOP 

More good news. For the first time in recent memory, the students are turning out to help local races. Long a mainstay of the Progressive and Democrat movements in Chittenden County, the newly energized and organized UVM GOP are or will be helping with mail drops, canvassing, sign waving, envelope stuffing, and all the usual fun times of campaigning. 

CALL FOR HELP AND DIE 

For the second time in less than a year, a call for help was made to the police, this time by the family of a man who was exhibiting "bizarre behavior." For the second time this year, the man exhibiting bizarre behavior was helped by being shot and killed by those very policemen within minutes of their arrival on the scene. Last time in Brattleboro, this time in Rochester. Patience is not a virtue in the police business? 

NOBEL BACKFIRES 

Ironically, the Nobel Family made its money in the dynamite business. So it is with some satisfaction that their intentional slur on President Bush blew up in their faces. In awarding former President Jimmy Carter the Nobel Peace Prize, the committee let it be known that this was in part to show by example that President George Bush's rhetoric and manner were inappropriate.

"Stopping single handedly North Korea's nuclear weapons program was one of the deeds for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize." The ink was barely dry when the Bush administration confronted the North Koreans with evidence that they had never stopped let alone slowed down their program and now probably have nuclear weapons. 

WHAT’S IN A HEADLINE 

It was exactly same Associated Press story in four different newspapers. Here are the headlines: Prospect of Statehouse’s Deciding Race Looms; Legislature issue dominates lieutenant governor campaign; Shumlin resumes offensive; and Shumlin use character issue on Dubie, Pollina. Can you guess in what paper each ran? A free subscription to the winner. We know that it is free anyway, but go ahead, guess.

Shumlin talking about character is like Clinton talking about honesty. Maybe the Herald of Randolph caught the essence. "...His press conference was called specifically to assault the character of his two opponents, and assumes that Shumlin’s character is beyond reproach.

"Shumlin thundered that his two opponents have 'abandoned' the 'principles of democracy.' It is likely that the Democrat leader realizes that this is hopelessly exaggerated political rhetoric. The possibility looms, however, that Shumlin actually believes that people who do not agree with him do not believe in democracy. That would be not only silly but scary." 

WHY OH WHY 

Parental notification has a 72 percent approval rating. Senator Shumlin has never allowed this bill, passed by the house, to even be debated in the Senate.

Political observers know about the judicial bypass provision of the bill. The bill requires the clinic which is to perform the abortion on a child to inform one of the child’s parents more than 48 hours before performing the abortion. If the child is afraid or unwilling to have her parents informed, she can asks a sympathetic court to hear her plea.

In spite of this, some continue to purposefully misrepresent the facts on parental notification. Inside Track this week was such an example. "A Vermont teenage girl would then be required to notify the father who impregnated her that she wants to abort her pregnancy." Why would Peter Freyne misrepresent the law in his column? Couldn’t be that he is partisan though. Peter has been cleared of ever writing anything partisan by Vermont Business Magazine’s editor Tim McQuiston. Must be something else. 

OXYMORON: DEMOCRAT AND HONESTY 

We and the Herald have taken Peter Shumlin and Doug Racine to task about truth in advertising their political views.

Here comes Senator Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, sharing his views on honesty in Democrat’s campaigns. In 1996 he appeared on the Don Imus show shortly before the elections. At the time he was Chairman of the Democrat National Committee. "Eight more days and I can start telling you the truth. It’s killing me, I’ll tell you. I have to lie through my teeth to you every time I come on this show. It is driving me nuts." 

THEY DID! 

Wow! The Herald of Randolph this week took the varnish of Racine’s evolution and held it up for all the voters to see. In an editorial entitled "Time for a Change" M. Dickey Drysdale told it like it is.

"...only Jim Douglas fulfills the essential need to reexamine the policies, personnel, and regulations that have accumulated during the 11-year reign of Governor Howard Dean.

"Reexamination and change will not happen under Doug Racine, because he has neither the inclination nor the stomach for it.

"Change will not happen under Independent Con Hogan either because he cannot be elected...

"Why does Vermont need change? Because it is hemorrhaging jobs and part of the reason is a state government that still does not understand business. Because education costs have risen a whopping 40 percent in the four years since Act 60 was passed and schools are strangling in regulation. Because part of the state bureaucracy, including much of Act 250, has become arrogant in office and takes its marching orders from lobbyists like the Conservation Law Foundation and the Vermont Education Association (whose endorsement this year did not include a single Republican.)

...Douglas views state policies and personnel through a different prism from the one used by the Democrat administration of the last 11 years... Racine has been part of the Democrat ascendancy in Montpelier...hanging out on the left side of most issues... Dean has kept a tight rein on the liberal wing of his party... Racine, however, has been the darling of those folks...

"Racine now says that he has changed many of his older positions, on taxes, highways, raiding the unemployment fund, and same-sex marriage, but we doubt it. We doubt it because of what he says now. Twice in an interview last week, he said that he finds it ‘unacceptable’ to have to choose between cutting programs and raising taxes. He will not do either, he said; instead he will find inefficiencies in existing programs and get rid of them. This is a flagrant case of fuzzy or wishful thinking, of wanting it both ways. It is precisely the attitude that Vermont cannot afford in a chief executive....

"In Jim Douglas, Vermonters will find someone scrupulously fair...who takes a moderate approach to every issue, and whose gentle sense of humor is a promise of perspective in office. In Douglas, Vermonters will have someone who can and will make decisions."

For the complete editorial, go to http://www.ourherald.com/ (should be posted by the weekend)

DISINGENUOUS INK FLOWS 

There are some things in politics which boggle the mind. The Times Argus/Rutland Herald’s endorsement of Con Hogan for Governor is one of them. Many of Hogan’s positions run contrary to the stated values and beliefs of the paper.

Take for example Act 250. When the Republican house passed meager reforms of Act 250 including reducing the rights of appeal by non-affected parties, the Times Argus/Herald howled that they were "gutting" Vermont’s best law.

Hogan says the law is old and needs to totally redone to reflect the new millennium. Even the Herald/Times Argus acknowledges that in writing, "he insists administration of Act 250 requires a complete overhaul."

So what is this about? Do you think that if Hogan was the Republican nominee against Racine that it would endorse him? No way, Racine represents all they have held near and dear. Today a Hogan endorsement is safe. He does not threaten those cherished values because he cannot win, which they acknowledge. The endorsement does seemingly gain for them a bipartisan image of going against the grain, of supporting a fresh face, of almost being moderate. But this is disingenuous; it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But you already knew that, our dear sophisticated reader. 

HEMINGWAY’S VERMONT 

Go to http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/Columnists/Sam/newsindex.htm

Read all about Sam’s world. "When the powerful exercise their power, that’s news... That’s often what I write about in my news column...if it shakes things up a bit, so be it."

On September 25th Sam wrote about the "powerful", Senator Tom Bahre, and gleefully repeated accusations which have now been found to be untrue by a jury of his peers. Sam would not be one of those.

According to Bahre’s home town newspaper, the Addison Eagle, "Negative politics played a role in the recent lawsuit brought against Senator Tom Bahre and his family... Outrageous news releases were distributed, sent to selected media outlets, making accusations against Bahre that were later proven untrue by the jury. E-mails were sent to every senator and representative repeating these false accusations. Even the timing of the trial is suspect to us, coming on the docket a short time before the elections when it could cause the most political damage..."

Sam writes that "when something bad or tragic happens, that’s news." It was bad and tragic that Sam proceeded to repeat what became false accusations before the jury had a chance to render its decision and just before the election. Has he updated his readers now that the truth will out? Not that we found. Has he apologized? Not that we found. 

DID THEY OR DID THEY NOT 

The Valley News led with a wishy washy editorial. Did they endorse Hogan as well? Entitled "Man with an agenda," it belittled Jim Douglas as a "featherweight" and condemns Racine with faint praise by writing that he is "informed and prepared but it is still hard to grasp just what he want to do as governor." Maybe because if he fleshed this out, it would be so at odds with his new evoluted persona as to make that persona not credible.

However it does not actually endorse Hogan. They write, "Hogan has done an excellent job of using the first part (jessum, almost two years) of the campaign to make a convincing case that he has a good grasp of what needs to be done...what he should concentrate on doing in the last ten days of the campaign is...to be more specific about what changes should be made to allow the state to better serve its residents."

With only eleven issues to go before the election and so many candidates in its two-state region to endorse, why would they waste this opportunity? 

DEMOCRATS ARE LOUDER! 

»» Joe Clough, Saint Johnsbury: When I pick up the local paper or the Free Press it seems there are more letters touting Democrats. Perhaps the VT-NEA does a good job at motivating educators to write letters. Maybe the Democrats have too much time on there hands.... or maybe the Republicans are too busy working to sit down and compose a letter to the editor. Whatever the reason.... We only have several weeks to get our message out! Sit down tonight and write your letter to the editor! Then go to: www.vtgop.org - click on "Vermont Media" on the right. You can "copy & paste" your letter to over twenty newspapers in less than twenty minutes.

If you don't know how to do it.... ask your wife, husband, daughter, son or grandchildren... Or call your local Republican Party and ask them to do it for you. Some guidelines: Most papers have a two hundred word limit. Also, many papers will require your address and phone number to verify that you wrote the letter. They won't publish your letter without this information.

It is a heck of a lot more fun to be a cheerleader now - than a whiner later!

We have a real chance of winning this year! Make a pledge to write your "letter to the editor" tonight! 

THE COURT IS NOT POLITICAL 

»» Lawrence Auclair, Brattleboro: Remember when the newspapers sued Dean for access to his daily schedule? That Dean lost in superior court, appealed to the VT Supreme Court - who then heard it on June 11. Well, it's been over 4 months now, and like the legislature, the supreme court may be part-time too. But still, if Dean's daily schedules are part of his official activities, how could it not be a public record - as defined in the law? How complicated can this be? They should be able to rule on this over lunch.

On Jan. 31, 1997, Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy outlined his goals as Chief Justice. "I shall judge my success - or lack thereof - against three objectives."

"First - and by far the most important - did I contribute to the faith of Vermont citizens in our judicial system and to their trust in the character of those entrusted with its authority?"

"Second did I, as Chief Appellate Judge of Vermont, contribute to a body of law that clearly and concisely communicates to litigants, lawyers, and trial judges the standards to be used to achieve the just and timely resolution of disputes."

Swearing-in Ceremony Speech: "I had so many people to thank, I didn't know where to end. But I still know where to start: Thank you Governor Dean." 

That should have been thanks enough.

Lawrence Auclair is the Editor of "Gov. Howard Dean: A Satire": http://www.sover.net/~auc/gov.htm Visit for more information and links to related news articles.

ON-LINE CARNIVORES 

»» Lawrence Auclair, Brattleboro: The same fellow who runs the Dean fan club at: http://dean2004.blogspot.com/ is now naming us as "bitter detractors" and "vicious online enemies" of our soon-to-be-gone Gov. Dean at another site he's involved with. Nice to be noticed, huh?

Excerpt: "Dean sure does have some bitter detractors in Vermont. Between The Dwinell Political Report and Gov. Howard Dean: A Satire, he's got some vicious online enemies. The latter, in a bit of projection, refers to MyDD as a possible sycophantic Dean zombie." -- http://www.mydd.com/archives/000144.html#000144 

SHALLOW SANDERS 

»» Katheryn Conner, Bennington: I'm really angry about Bernie Sanders' refusal to debate with Bill Meub live on the WCAX series of debates. This kind of childish and dishonest behavior needs to get more attention from the main stream media. I called WCAX and suggested that they let Bill Meub come and answer questions from the panel in order for Vermonters to get acquainted with Meub and his stance on issues. They told me that they couldn't do that...some election regulation they said. Is it my imagination or do I remember poor Ed Flannagan debating himself (or rather a photo of Jim Jeffords) in 2000 live on WCAX at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland? Perhaps if Meub would bring a photo of Bernie, Marcelius Parsons would permit him to meet Vermonters in a meaningful forum. What do you think? 

NO FAN OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK 

»» Betty M. Ferraro, Rutland: When are people going to wake up to Shumlin's escapades and realize he is definitely not the candidate who would "honorably" represent Vermont in the State Senate. Open your eyes, Vermonters and see the obvious candidate with integrity, honesty, a family man with principles - Brian Duibie. What an asset he would be to our Senate chambers. 

NO FAN OF VALLEY NEWS 

»» Mary Daly, Fairlee: I agree with Laura Brueckner of Waterbury Center and am very concerned about the blatant bias of the Vermont press. I have sent letters to the Editor of the Valley News re. Republican issues and not had them published. They publish a token letter supporting Republicans every now and then but they are mixed into so much Bush bashing it is hard to find them. I will be sending one more letter letting them know I will not renew my subscription and why. Then I will subscribe to the Caledonian Record as they are much friendlier to the issues. We all need to work hard this year to Get Out The Republican Vote so we can slow this Tax and Spend Ship Down. Love the Dwinell Report each week. 

WE WERE THERE 

»» Marselis Parsons, South Burlington: re: no footprints in the snow [When Dean was here to endorse Doug Racine for Governor]. We WERE there for the Dean endorsement. You must have missed it. Here is the script:

"Raising the alcohol tax is a problem for Doug Racine. The Democrat WHO WAS ENDORSED BY GOVERNOR DEAN MONDAY [emphasis added] believes a more efficient state government is the first step toward solving money troubles."

... We don't normally cover expected endorsements. It's news when a union endorses Douglas... news when the auto dealers don't endorse Racine... but what kind of news is it when Howard Dean (head of recruitment for the Democrat Governor's Association?) endorses his Democrat lieutenant governor? 

DEMOCRATS OFF-BASE 

»» Richard Lachapelle, Huntington: Although not a dedicated Republican, I sympathize with their candidates having to fend off the outrageous comments and tactics voiced by certain Democrats and their backers concerning the way Vermont handles elections for Governor and Lt. Governor when no candidate breaks the 50% barrier.

- It is entirely reasonable that the founders of the State of Vermont felt that if no candidate gathered more than 50% of the total vote, then by definition, the people have failed to indicate a clear choice.

- I believe that the authors of the Vermont Constitution had sound reasons for determining how the election should be decided in the absence of a clear choice. Perhaps they envisioned that some day in the future a small corner or pocket of the state would dominate in population and assume a particular ideological or political slant resulting in this region running roughshod over the rest of the State. I believe that Chittenden County is now an example of this with it's six member Senate district.

- The Democrats have had ample opportunity over the past two decades to begin the process of amending the Constitution to remedy what they suddenly claim is a system where "votes are stolen". Instead they chose to retain the power of the Legislature to intervene in the election process.

- The poll undertaken by Vermont Public Radio indicating public disapproval for the process of having the Legislature decide the outcome of the race is often cited by Democrats. It is really not a referendum on how people feel about the process, but is tainted by partisan preference and in reality asks the question of how people feel about the expected result.

- I believe that the authors of the Vermont Constitution included this intervention of the Legislature in the electoral process as part of the balance of power between the Legislative and Executive Branches. To provide balance, the power is granted to the Governor to replace members of the Legislature or other Statewide elected office who are unable to serve out their term. Governor Dean on at least one occasion replaced a Republican Legislator with a Democrat. He also replaced the Republican Attorney General with a Democrat.

- The Democrat mantras of "the right thing to do" and "the will of the people" ring hollow and hypocritical. During the debates for Act 60 and the Civil Union Law, widespread public opposition was ignored by the Democratically controlled Legislature. They knew what was best for us. 

MISSED ONE LETTER & ONE CANDIDATE 

»» Matt Dunne, Hartland: A friend mentioned I showed up in your report for fundraising prowess. Thanks for the compliment of American Idol. Given spending in 2000 for the same race, I assumed this was the level necessary to be on an even playing field and it was good to get it out of the way early.

Not that it is a big deal, but Dunne has an "e". Our branch maintained the traditional Irish spelling. On a different subject, Lester Corwin is also a Republican Candidate in Windsor County and working very hard even if he hasn't raised any cash. 

»» G. Lester Corwin II, South Royalton: [Re. campaign finance report reviews] There are TWO Republican Windsor County Senatorial Candidates. Henry Holmes and yours truly. John Campbell [Democrat/Republican] is not now, nor has he ever been a Republican. He told me that himself. He is however on the Republican ticket. I have not yet filed a finance report because by the time of the deadline I had neither raised nor spent the magic $500. 

A TRUE VERMONT INDEPENDENT 

»» Bill Stritzler, Smuggler's Notch: What a surprise to find my self mentioned in your report. Never did I imagine that the operator of a small resort would make it into your newsletter. I do support Democrat Susan Bartlett because she is a rare Democrat as she is fiscally responsible! Just to keep the political record straight Smugglers' also sponsored a fund raising brunch attended by over 100 people for Jim Douglas. 

COFFEE AND DANISH CHARGES 

»» Senator Vince Illuzzi, Derby: [Re. campaign expenditures in Denmark] I went to a Renewable Energy Conference in Denmark. The State of Vermont did not pay, but my campaign covered a few incidental expenses. Touring trash to heat and electric plants in the middle of the summer isn't exactly my idea of a fun time. However, the Danish are really into renewable energy. 

THEY LIKE US 

»» John Churchill, Lyndonville: Thanks very much for your dedication and persistence in countering the extremism and elitism the state's major newspapers. Please continue to forge on--we need an independent voice and balance to the major press in this state that seems more interested in opinion leading than in honest news reporting. 

ARROGANT COST SHIFTING
by Bernier Mayo 

Vermont’s property tax paying sheep are about to be forcibly shorn by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In a move whose callousness is equaled only by its arrogance, Governor Dean has proposed taking $8 million from the state education fund to balance the general fund. The state education fund, you will remember, is the product of the last forcible shearing that we were treated to when Act 60 removed education funding at the local level in favor of a statewide property tax. The fund is the collected property taxes that all property owners send to Montpelier to be redistributed to school districts to establish equity.

Bottom line: the state education fund is supposed to fund education, not state government, i.e. the general fund. But the general fund is deep in red ink because our legislature has not, like the grasshopper of the fairy tale, ever worried about and prepared for the stringencies of a fiscal winter. Led by the liberal canon that more, and more expensive, government is always the right way to go, our legislators, with the governor’s signature on their expensive appetites, have blithely passed this and that social program without much worry about how to pay for them. Now, it’s time to pay the bill, and guess who’s going to pay.

Being a prophet is having the ability to read the present so well that you can foretell the future. I predicted at the time Act 60 hung the statewide property tax around our necks that, sooner rather than later, the administration and the ruling party would raid the education fund to save their butts, just as they have repeatedly raided the highway fund. I can't claim to be a prophet, though. You’d never ascribe prophecy to someone who successfully foretells that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, because it is so utterly predictable. So, too, was the fulfillment of my speculation utterly predictable.

And here is a new prediction that isn't prophecy either. If this precedent of raiding the education fund to rescue the general fund happens, it will become an annual event, and property taxes, the time-honored way of paying for our schools, will become re-baptized into general fund taxes.

When the Supreme Court of Vermont acknowledged the inequities of our education funding mechanism and mandated equity in funding, our legislators and governor rushed to judgment with Act 60, a move that has become a fiscal and social disaster. The liberal and controlling party, though, ardently desired Act 60 because, far from being about education, it is in essence a scheme for the redistribution of wealth. And that has been a goal of the liberal wing of that party since early on in Ralph Wright’s populist career.

Governor Dean’s proposal is callous, arrogant, and immoral. It is callous because he knows that property tax rates and bills in Vermont are at an eye-popping high and growing, yet with amazing insensitivity he intends to raise them even higher by raiding the education fund. It is arrogant because, for the sake of expedience, he is culpably ignoring the intent of the law. And it is immoral because he is picking our pockets to pay for the excesses of his liberal fellows.

There is an election very soon. Vermonters should grill all those running for office about where they stand on this imminent shearing and run, not walk, to vote against those who support it and for those who oppose it. 

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE 

"In Iraq they don't have hanging chads, they just have hangings." --Secretary of State Colin Powell 

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