I thought I would offer up some of the comments that struck me as interesting from last night's gubernatorial debate on Vermont Public Radio. The participants were Republican Gov. Jim Douglas, Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington, indepdent Anthony Pollina and Liberty Union candidate Peter Diamondstone.
Douglas was asked why he had lost faith in local school boards -- as evidenced by his support of the two-vote on a budget requirement that some school districts will face. He responded that he did respect local voters, "but we have to have respect for the taxpayer. Property taxes are out of control." Aren't taxpayers local voters?
Symington was asked why she first supported while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Douglas the two-vote requirement, then flipflopped. "I supported the two-vote mechanism as a compromise" in the final hours of the legislative session. She said the House always intended to dig deeper into how it would work. The House Education Committee did, didn't like what it found, and proposed something else. "These arbitrary voting mechanisms are not what we should be doing," Symington said.
Pollina made a reference two his two-percent investment fund proposal to raise money to invest in renewable energy projects. Douglas commented, "What we don't need is a two percent tax." When Pollina got a chance to respond later, he shot back that his proposal wasn't a tax, it was a proposal to ask Vermont institutions with endowments to consider investing two percent in a fund that make loans available for renewable energy projects. Raising his voice, Pollina said, "I really don't like the fear mongering coming from the governor, making you think there is going to be money coming out of your pocket."
Diamondstone agreed with Pollina's call to close the capital gains tax loophole -- somethinig Douglas proposed. Of course, they all have different ideas about what to do with the money. Douglas wanted to give it back to a different group of taxpayers. Pollina would invest in roads and affordable housing. Diamondstone agreed with Pollina on investing in infrastructure and said, "Anthony is right about closing loopholes, but there are more loopholes than that." Would his proposal to clamp down on wealth drive the well-to-do out of Vermont? He repled,"What a wonderful way to solve the housing problem."
Perhaps you've already seen my report on how the candidates responded to the question of what they would want to see if none of them (or the other three gubernatorial candidates) received more than 50 percent of the vote. Symington didn't answer, Pollina and Diamonstone said let the Legislature carry out its assignment and make the pick. Douglas said he thought Vermonters would expect lawmakers to pick the person with the most votes. The Symington campaign put out a fact check sheet today suggesting Douglas has flipflopped. Symington's staff pont to a quote from Douglas in 2002 when polls showed him trailing Racine. "I'm going to let the General Assembly decide how to exercise their power."
By the way, a group of legislators at the debate suggested to me that only the House makes the decision about who becomes governor in the event no one has a majority. Not so, said House Clerk Donald Milne. It's a Joint Assembly decision.
A Pittsford librarian had wondered if any of the candidates would commit to giviing local libraries $1.6 million next year. Not likely, but only Symington said it clearly. Given the current state of the economy and state revenues, she said, "It's difficult to imagine funding new programs." Diamondstone said it would depend. "When I see everything laid out, I could make a decision." Douglas said, "This is a difficult time for our state," then repeated his four criteria for deciding who and what get money.
Have you heard about Douglas' question of Symington asking if she supported the Bennington Bypass, Circumferential Highway and a Walmart in St. Albans? Kind of an interesting way to put her on the spot with some regional voters. Her answer, by the way, was to suggest the priority should be on fixing the road and bridges that we have -- which is the same priority Douglas has promoted. As for Walmart, Symington said that's a local decision.
There was more. It lasted 90 minutes, afterall, but it's time to start thinking about money -- how much the candidates have amassed since their last reports.
-- Nancy Remsen
