Pollina to hold press conference about state budget cuts

Independent gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina will hold a press conference today at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the state budget, job cuts and his energy plan.

The meeting will be at the River Garden, 153 Main Street in Brattleboro.

“With the winter heating season coming up it simply amazes me that the Governor and Legislature would make hard times even harder for low-income seniors,” Pollina said in a statement Tuesday. The recent decision to cut services to frail, low income elderly Vermonters will hurt seniors who are already struggling. And it will likely end up costing the State of Vermont more.”

Pollina criticized the Douglas administration for cutting $500,000 from the Choices for Care program and spending more money on public relations people as part of his staff.

“These cuts will hurt, plain and simple,” Pollina said. “More elderly Vermonters will suffer and need emergency services and some will be driven out of their homes and into nursing homes. I expect these kinds of cuts from the Governor, but I am deeply disappointed that the Legislators would quietly go along.”

Pollina faces incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) and House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho).