It is important that we back away from the shift toward the implementation of a state-run education system. Responsibility for the critical education decisions required to maximize student success while containing costs must be made at the local level.
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The State of Vermont has the nation’s healthiest children. This is due in large part to our Dr. Dinosaur program. Through Catamount Health, the State leads the nation in providing affordable health coverage for those who can not afford health insurance. We must meet our full financial commitment to these programs must be met by providing adequate state funding in our General Fund budget.
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Vermont’s transportation system is at a cross roads. Each year, not enough money is appropriated to maintain the existing system. Many bridges are unsafe and need to be replaced immediately. We need to refocus our state resources on the basics and provide the resources needed to bring the transportation system up to standard. To jump start this effort, I support bonding to provide enough funds to ensure our safety.
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For 2008, Vermont balanced its budget my making slight cuts and reallocating unused funds. That will not be possible next year. Critical decisions will be made about our ability to raise the 4+ billion dollars necessary to support state government and how these funds will be allocated. They must first be allocated to support the basic services necessary to maintain a safe quality of life for all Vermont citizens. This means “funding what we have done” and not to create new initiatives that will consume dwindling revenues. This will mean putting some initiatives on hold for a couple of years until the economy rebounds.
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We cannot back away form our historic commitment to protecting our environment. This does not require new initiatives, but to effectively implement the array of regulations and policies already in place. Now is not the time to be changing policies that might discourage investment in Vermont that will hopefully add quality jobs and much need revenue to the state.
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Watch this space for other issues the concern the Northeast Kingdom and the state of Vermont.
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