The attached e-mail was sent today to all AHS/ESD employees. Seems some private contractor wasn’t doing its job, and now some Vermonters and ESD staff will be paying for the contractor’s error.
Good to see a governor who is willing to introduce a not-so-popular tax hike in order to prevent state employees from having their salaries cut by 5 % across the board.
"Governor Douglas said himself (cited recently in the Times Argus) that if ‘Challenges’ doesn’t go through, the only choice is to raise taxes. So, let’s raise taxes on those who can afford to pay a little more."
Unions, environmentalists and (judging by the AP story) the public support generating revenue through a plastic bag fee, but legislative leaders are unwilling to even entertain the idea. It’s possible the fee could generate $6-$9 million for Vermont, while helping our environment.
Q. Why do you think [Challenges] happened so fast?
Poirier: I think for two reasons: Gov. Douglas is accomplishing what he’s wanted to do for years, which is cut programs and cut the workforce. No. 2, it’s an election year and we have so many people running for governor or lieutenant governor that everybody wants to look like a fiscal conservative. That doesn’t help the men and women and children who are going to be hurt by this.