Shumlin for governor

The Burlington Free Press editorial board recommends Peter Shumlin, the Democrat from Putney, for governor of Vermont. The critical characteristic is that he will get things done. Shumlin’s promise to run state government in the most open way possible is the precondition for anyone who seeks the state’s highest elected office.

Vermont continues to struggle to rise above the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. A steady hand to maintain the status quo is no longer sufficient to move this state forward — socially and economically. This state can no longer afford a governor who would see blocking legislation as the major accomplishments of his tenure.

As Senate President Pro Tempore, Peter Shumlin has displayed considerable legislative skill in bringing about results on the biggest issues, an advantage he holds over his main competitor, Republican Brian Dubie of Essex Junction.

Shumlin was a driving force in Vermont becoming the first state to grant marriage equality to gay and lesbian couples without being told to do so by the courts.

Shumlin was a legislative leader in the 2009 budget fight with Gov. Jim Douglas that led Douglas to veto the budget and the Legislature to override that veto — both a first for a state budget in Vermont.

Shumlin can claim credit for the 26-4 vote this year that led the Senate to deny Vermont Yankee a chance to seek from the Public Service Board an extension of its operating license for 20 years beyond 2012.

Regardless of whether you agree with Shumlin’s agenda, there is no denying the senator from Windham County has built a record of bold action in the Legislature.

Shumlin’s platform is equally full of bold initiatives — from his proposal to reduce Corrections costs by focusing on keeping nonviolent offenders from returning to prison, to his push for a single-payer health care system for the state.

Shumlin’s platform shows a politician unafraid of controversy in his search for solutions to challenges facing Vermont. To shy away from trying new approaches to the state’s fiscal problems is to go back to simply cutting services the state provides to Vermonters to bridge the budget gap.

Shumlin will bring his experience gained in the Senate helping to build state budgets in an environment of reduced revenues to work with the Legislature on solutions that are fair to Vermonters.

In politics, the safe route is to stick to generalities and avoid leaving a public trail that could come back to haunt a candidate. In the general election campaign, Shumlin’s willingness to speak out on contentious issues and talk about specifics of his platform leaves him open to equally specific criticism. He has been direct. Again, this is part of being open and accessible as a representative of the people.

Shumlin exposes some weakness when delving into details of some of his proposals. He stumbles to make himself understood on his Corrections plan. He reached too far in claims of cutting taxes. And people will argue about how realistic his plan is to pay for his agenda without raising taxes, especially when he will face a $110 million-plus budget gap on day one as governor.

But throughout his campaign, Shumlin has been consistent on the issues and has remained the man Vermonters have come to know during his legislative career. With Shumlin, his legislative record and his willingness to delve deep into his proposals mean Vermonters know who they are getting as their next governor.

Shumlin pledges to look out for the interest of Vermonters who need help.

Shumlin offers a nuanced approach to Vermont’s budget challenges that avoids a simple-minded policy that more resembles hacking away at spending with a dull ax.

Shumlin’s platform recognizes the importance of investing in education as a way to boost the economy and tackle our social problems.

Shumlin has pledged to run an open administration, and work to reduce the barriers to public access that permeates Vermont laws. This is the only way to run state government, and the only way elected officials can be held accountable. Openness is the most important promise to Vermonters the next governor must keep.

Vermont needs a doer.

Peter Shumlin of Putney will be that governor.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20101024/OPINION/101023016/Voice-of-the-Free-Press-Recommendation-for-Vermont-governor

There are many differences between Brian Dubie and Peter Shumlin. Our new ad, which you can see here, highlights their different stance on taxes.  Peter Shumlin is a small business owner who wants to build our economy from the ground up.  Peter plans to give tax breaks to the hard working middle class who need it the most and support our small businesses.  Brian Dubie, on the other hand, is a self described “George Bush Republican” who plans to give tax giveaways to the wealthiest 1,400 Vermonters and cut regulations for large, out of state corporations.

The Plans:

Peter Shumlin will continue his work to reduce taxes for the middle class and support our small businesses.  As governor, Peter will get health care off the backs of our employers, make credit more readily available to small business owners and get government spending under control.

Brian Dubie intends to cut the top marginal rate, resulting in tax cuts for the 1,400 wealthiest Vermonters and slash regulations for large out of state corporations.   It is these types of George W. Bush policies that led us into the mess we are in today: skyrocketing deficits, rampant joblessness and bankrupt families.

The Records:

In 2009, the Douglas/Dubie Administration proposed the largest property tax increase in Vermont’s history in order to balance the budget.   In response, Peter Shumlin and Speaker Shap Smith asked the wealthiest to pay a little more – responsibly balancing the budget and reducing income taxes for the hardworking middle class by $6 million.

After listening to the small business owners up and down the Connecticut River, Peter led the effort to eliminate the sales tax on clothing and shoes.  When Peter was no longer in the Senate, the Douglas/Dubie Administration increased the sales tax from 5% to 6%.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Shumlin called on his Republican rival, Brian Dubie, to denounce an advertisement released Thursday by the Republican Governors Association — an ad Shumlin said distorts his record on taxes.

“All I ask is that we be accurate with the facts in this campaign,” Shumlin said at a hastily called news conference.

Shumlin also asked Dubie to join him at 7 p.m. Sunday at a location of Dubie’s choosing for a debate on tax policy: “If Brian Dubie wants to have a conversation about taxes, I welcome that opportunity.”

The Dubie campaign neither developed nor paid for the ad, but by late Thursday afternoon Corry Bliss, Dubie’s campaign manager, had reviewed it. He said he saw nothing inaccurate in it.

He also said Dubie wouldn’t agree to “this gimmick at 7 p.m. on Sunday.” Bliss noted Dubie wasn’t free Sunday night because he would be dining with the president of Senegal, who is visiting Vermont.

Bliss said there was a debate scheduled for today, broadcast at 9 a.m. by WDEV, as well as numerous other scheduled forums between the two candidates, “There will be plenty of time to talk about taxes,” Bliss said.

The Republican Governors Association’s 30-second advertisement starts by quoting Shumlin saying he wants to be judged not by rhetoric, but by his record.

The voice on the ad then says, “Well, as a proud architect of Act 60, he’s raised your property taxes. Last year, Shumlin led the effort to raise over $20 million in taxes on the working families of Vermont. This year he voted to raise taxes again, on farmers and manufacturers. Leaders should be creating jobs, not raising taxes. He says to judge him on his record. So call Peter Shumlin and tell him ‘We’ve had enough.’”

Speaking about the ad, Shumlin said, “Is there anything in there that is true? The answer is no.”

Read more: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100917/NEWS03/9170302/Shumlin-says-new-ad-distorts-his-record#ixzz0zou7EpYr

“As governor, I will market Vermont as I have marketed my own small business — with enthusiasm and pride,” said Shumlin, one of five Democrats vying for his party’s nomination to be governor in the Aug. 24 primary. Shumlin criticized Republican Brian Dubie for suggesting in some of his advertising that Vermont is a “bad place to do business.”

Shumlin’s proposals include an online business mentoring forum and a database for graduates of Vermont colleges who want to be notified about in-state job openings in their fields. He also promised to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to promote Vermont.

Shumlin said he could carry out his marketing initiative without spending additional tax dollars. He would use existing money differently, such as advertising regionally rather than spending money on trade missions to Asia.

Read more: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100804/NEWS02/8040312/Democrat-Shumlin-offers-marketing-plan#ixzz0ve6vg6i0

“Brian (Dubie) made comments on VPR last week that I am really concerned about… and I don’t think… they don’t reflect what we need from the next governor,” said Peter Shumlin, Democrat running for governor of Vermont.

Shumlin disagrees with Republican candidate Brian Dubie’s assessment of a new report about Vermont Yankee. The Public Oversight panel found last week the nuclear plant has a corporate culture problem and does not consistently spend enough on safety.

“What Brian indicated was that he trusts Entergy Louisiana, that he thinks they can change and that he thinks the report indicates that the problems are minor and can be overcome. That isn’t what the report says,” Shumlin said.

“I stand by what I said,” Dubie said. “I quoted the report.”

Republican Brian Dubie has stayed out of the spotlight. He does not have a primary race. Dubie supports Yankee and says if it’s proven safe it should keep operating and he thinks the report supports that.

“I’m not here to defend Entergy,” Dubie said. “What I’m here to say is we need to look at safety and we need to look at the importance of jobs, and when I give a pink slip to a fellow Vermonter I’m going to make sure all the questions are answered.”

All five Democrats for governor want Yankee to close in 2012. But Shumlin is the first to attack Dubie, trying to set the tone that he’s a frontrunner… already looking to the November election. But Shumlin needs to win the Democratic primary first on August 24. He admits it’s a tossup.

“It’s a wide open race,” he said.

Shumlin also said Tuesday that if Yankee closes in 2012, he would tax the plant to store its nuclear waste in Vernon. Brian Dubie’s campaign says it will have to study the issue but that Dubie supports having Entergy pay for clean up and maintenance of the site.

Kristin Carlson – WCAX News

http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=4979452&topVideoCatNo=63459&autoStart=true

By Daniel Barlow
Vermont Press Bureau – Published: July 20, 2010

MONTPELIER – More than 60 House members and 12 senators received perfect 100 percent rankings on the first legislative scorecard issued by the organization Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.

The progressive business organization, which has more than 1200 members, ranked lawmakers on seven key legislative votes, such as Vermont Yankee’s relicensing, the establishment of same-sex marriage, health care reform and the fix for the state’s unemployment fund.

The scoring on those votes indicated strong support for the business group’s agenda at the Statehouse, with 62 House members receiving 100 percent rankings, meaning those lawmakers voted with VBSR on all the main issues the group identified.

Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, was one of the 12 senators to have a perfect record with VBSR. She said she doesn’t consider rankings such as these when casting her votes, but she appreciates the support afterwards.

“I’m proud to have 100 percent ranking,” Cummings said. “It’s always a bit of a surprise. I vote my conscience. But Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility have been a very positive and proactive organization at the Statehouse.”

Will Patten, the executive director of VBSR, said the organization will do these scorecards every two years now for each Legislative biennium. Starting the scorecard was in response to member businesses that wanted to see how local lawmakers were voting on business issues the company’s cared about, he said.

“I think there are a lot of couragous legislators who are pro-business, but don’t neccesarily get acknowledged for that,” he said. “It’s worth pointing out their longterm support for businesses in Vermont.”

VBSR’s ranking is a lot different than the scorecards put out by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the other major business group in the state.

That organizations 2009-2010 rankings have not yet been released, but in its 2007-2008 rankings, for example, the Chamber gave Cummings a 50 percent score. Lawmakers with high scorings for the Chamber tend to be Republican; high scores for VBSR tend to be Democrats or Progressives.

Rep. Pat McDonald, R-Berlin, had a VBSR scoring of 17 percent – one of the lowest in Washington County, where she lives.

McDonald, who is retiring from the Legislature this year, said votes at the Statehouse on key issues are not always as cut and dried as the scorecards make them out to be. For example, she said she voted against S.88 – the health care reform bill – after the House added in new provisions.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Vermont and the votes I took supported small businesses in the state,” she said.

The VBSR scorecard ranked several lawmakers seeking higher office this year.

Senate President Peter Shumlin of Windham County and Sen. Doug Racine of Chittenden County got 100 percent rankings and Sen. Susan Bartlett of Lamoille County got 83 percent. All three are Democratic candidates for governor in the Aug. 24 primary.

Sen. Ed Flanagan, D-Chittenden, a candidate for state auditor, scored 83 percent. Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, a candidate for lietenant governor, scored 33 percent. Rep. Steve Howard, D-Rutland, also a lieutenant governor candidate, scored 83 percent.

Rep. Chris Bray, D-New Haven, a candidate for secretary of state, had an 83 percent score.

Full Article: http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100720/NEWS02/707209909/1003/NEWS02

Daniel.Barlow@timesargus.com

Peter has been recognized by the Teamsters for his vigorous efforts to put Vermonters back to work and help working Vermonters and their families. Peter received the endorsement from the Teamster’s leadership team, led by Ron Rabideau, the principle officer of the Teamsters at Champlain Cable in Colchester. Champlain Cable recently received a multi-million dollar contract that will create dozens of jobs at the plant and give a boost to the local economy.

“I have personally appreciated Peter Shumlin’s leadership as he is a straight-forward politician, said Ron Rabideau. “With Peter, you always know where you stand and that’s the kind of leadership we need in order to tackle the tough challenges that face Vermont. Peter has a record of getting tough things done while considering working Vermonters lives and livelihoods.”

After the endorsement, Peter took a tour with members of the Teamsters of Champlain Cable and saw a great deal of the work that this local Vermont business with international reach was doing to create jobs and a fantastic product for the American work force.

Peter’s strong record on universal health care, creating good paying jobs in Vermont and supporting Vermont workers is why organized labor and small business owners are uniting to support our campaign to get our economy moving again.

Jeb lauded Peter’s work to reform our tax system to spur economic development as well as his efforts to keep the regressive sales tax low and eliminate the sales tax on shoes and clothing to help businesses on the New Hampshire border.
Jeb also talked about Peter’s ability to gets tough things done.  The Treasurer put is very simply: When it comes to fiscal responsibility and balancing budgets and getting tough things done – “Peter Shumlin fits the bill.”

State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding (D-VT) endorses Peter Shumlin for Governor on Tuesday, June 22nd on the steps of City Hall in Burlington. (C) Shumlin for Governor

As State Treasurer, Jeb Spaulding has been Vermont’s fiscal watchdog. He has won five statewide elections in Vermont and has been Vermont’s Treasurer since 2003.  As Treasurer, Jeb serves as the State’s banker and chief investment officer, accounting for the receipt and disbursement of public funds and the short and long-term debt.management for the state.  Through these actions, Jeb has established a record of being fiscally responsible with Vermonter’s money.

Jeb Spaulding’s endorsement of Peter’s campaign for Governor sends a clear message that Peter will focus on controlling costs and making government more efficient and effective.

Click here to watch Jeb endorsing Peter!