At a press conference today to announce Gov-Elect Shumlin’s pick for Treasurer, a question was asked about VSEA members’ agreement in 2007 to make changes to the pension system that then-Treasurer Spaulding said "would make the system sustainable." In response to the question, Spaulding grabbed the microphone and said "that was then, this is now."
Ouch! How quickly they forget!
"It isn’t hard to recognize this move as part of an effort to push America further into banana republic land, with a small and wealthy elite controlling the government and a greatly disproportionate share of the wealth."
Q. What do you think of the modernization process (for applications for food stamps, general assistance and the state’s subsidized health care programs)?
Smith: I don’t think you can describe it any other way than as deeply troubling.
Vermont receives a D+
“With state legislators making painful political budget decisions, corporate tax breaks should be completely visible so spending for economic development should be transparent,” says Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First.
"In this economic crisis, Vermont should have raised taxes on the rich instead of cutting public services and public jobs, which has needlessly hurt Vermonters and is prolonging the recession."
Report is a little late to the party, but every little bit helps!