"Thousands of Vermont state employees have done their part to help weather our state’s own storm by taking a pay cut. Both teachers and state employees accepted changes to their pension plans. It is always politically unpopular to talk about increasing taxes, but fair is fair."
“As Vermonters rally behind the Wisconsin public employees’ fight to retain their collective bargaining rights, the Vermont Republican Party is inviting the architect of much of what is playing out right now in Wisconsin to come to Vermont and spread his anti-worker, anti-middle-class message here,” said VSEA President Bob Hooper.
"More broadly, the overreach by Mr. Walker and [anti-worker politicians] elsewhere has finally revealed their true agenda to blue-collar voters who either voted for them last year or who stayed home."
"Despite public pressure and internal rumblings in the General Assembly, it appears that Sen. John Campbell, president pro tem of the Senate, and House Speaker Shap Smith have locked arms with the governor on the no new taxes pledge."
“Basically what Vermonters want is fairness — it’s as simple as that,” [Sen. Anthony] Pollina said. “This poll tells me they understand when they’re being ripped off, and that state and federal tax policies aren’t fair.”