Speaker Symington’s Anti-Jobs, High-Tax Record is Chief Barrier to Governor's Pro-Environment, Pro-Jobs Agenda

Colchester, VT - Governor Jim Douglas was joined at Severance Corners by Robin Jeffers from S.D. Ireland Concrete Construction and Bart Frisbee, President of Sterling Construction to talk about barriers to job creation and pro-environment development in Vermont.

Against opposition from House Speaker Gaye Symington, Governor Douglas has consistently advanced a pro-environment, pro-jobs agenda that balances our environmental ethic and our economic prosperity.  While Governor Douglas has worked to empower business leaders with the tools they need to grow good jobs and a healthy economy, Gaye Symington has stood in the way.

Bart and Robin and businesses large and small - from IBM, to SD Ireland to Sterling Construction - have made it clear what they need to grow good jobs and a healthy economy in Vermont.

They need a streamlined, consistent, expeditious and predictable permitting process that allows for pro-environment, pro-job growth projects like Severance Corners;  affordable electricity costs and access to reliable broadband and cell phone coverage; reliable infrastructure - like the Circ Highway to help move goods around a growing Chittenden County;  a well-educated, well-trained workforce; homes that employees can afford - near where they work and where their children go to school; and they need their government to hold the line on taxes, because, as you know, Vermont ranks first in the nation in taxation. 

That is why Governor Douglas has advanced a pro-environment, pro-jobs agenda that is consistent with the needs of Vermonters all across the state. 

"Unfortunately, in order for me to carry out the people's agenda - I need a willing partner in the legislature.  And for the last four years, my opponent, House Speaker Gaye Symington has been a road block to progress.  She has fought against these important initiatives, focusing instead on fringe issues that favor special interests," said Governor Douglas. 

In 2004, when a bi-partisan coalition of legislators worked to craft an Act 250 permit reform bill with the Douglas administration, Symington voted against that effort at every turn (House Journal, 4/11/04; House Journal 4/27/04).

The Symington/Shumlin "Yankee Tax" has worried business leaders because it is arbitrary and unfair; it singled out one company with a new $25 million tax - leaving many to wonder if Symington and other Democratic leaders are willing to do this to Yankee - is their business is next?  This new tax would have certainly been passed on to rate payers - increasing electricity costs for all Vermonters (Burlington Free Press, 5/7/07; Rutland Herald, 5/25/07). 

Speaker Symington is opposed to the circ highway, the Bennington Bypass and other important projects that communities need to grow and prosper (Eagle Times 9/14/07, Bennington Banner, 9/15/07). 

A well educated workforce is critical for businesses.  That is why when Speaker Symington recently tried to cut funding for college scholarships as part of our Next Generation initiative, Governor Douglas fought to have that funding restored (Burlington Free Press, 4/19/08). 

When Governor Douglas proposed his New Neighborhoods housing initiative to streamline the regulatory process and build more moderately priced homes that middle-income Vermonters can afford - Speaker Symington was once again at odds with the priorities of Vermonters.  The housing bill that she proposed was so restrictive and so narrow in scope that we estimate it would have allowed for the creation of only about a dozen new homes.  Her proposal was clearly and intentionally a "no neighborhoods" bill (Bennington Banner, 2/27/08).

Vermonters are among the most heavily taxed people in the country.  And still Gaye Symington looks to raise taxes with little regard for the impact they would have on struggling Vermonters. 

Not only is Gaye Symington one of the chief authors of Act 60 - she has fought a number of meaningful reforms to the law over the yeas.  And most recently she flip-flopped on the "two-vote" cost containment bill that was passed last year and even tried to have it repealed this year (Burlington Free Press, 2/27/08).  Because of Gaye Symington's support for Act 60 and her failure to lead on this issue, Vermonters will see a 7.5% increase in their property tax bills - businesses will see almost a 10% jump.

While businesses - especially companies like SD Ireland and Sterling Construction - are struggling with high gas and diesel prices, Gaye Symington supported higher taxes on fuel, a 20% hike on gasoline and a 24% hike on diesel fuel (Rutland Herald, 4/17/08). 

Even as Vermonters worry about the winter and the high cost of heating their homes, Speaker Symington supported a tripling of the weatherization charge on home heating oil (Valley News, 1/29/08). 

Symington has also supported higher taxes on income and property transfer, and a new payroll tax (Rutland Herald, 2/25/06; Brattleboro Reformer, 8/19/05; VPR, 2/29/08).

There's no doubt - these are tough times for Vermonters.  We are not isolated from the effects of the national - even global economy.  That is why who we elect to represent us in Montpelier matters now more than ever.

Vermonters will have a crystal clear choice this November between a Governor who has led the fight to bring down the cost of living and doing business in the state we all love.  And Gaye Symington who has advocated for and consistently supported higher taxes and policies that make this state less affordable.

Businesses large and small have been clear about what they need to be successful and yet Speaker Symington opposes common sense reforms.

Dennise R. Casey
Douglas for Governor
802.223.3412 office
802.233.9436 cell
802.229.1864 fax

dennise@jimdouglas.com

Paid for By Douglas for Governor