No Wit; Less Wisdom

Average cost for a gallon of unleaded gasoline in Vermont in January of 2003, the month Jim Douglas became governor: $1.52. Average cost in June: $3.97.

Affordability as an issue in this year's gubernatorial race: Priceless.
    Times Argus

As an attempt at clever writing, that isn't especially adroit.  And the rest the story – the part where the writer does "analysis" – is even worse.    One has to be unusually obtuse to write about Vermont's economic problems, and the "affordability" issue, without even mentioning Acts 60/68.   And if the topic is Douglas vs Symington on "ideas for stemming growth in property taxes," shouldn't the little matter of Act 82 be part of the story? This was, after all, a measure aimed precisely at controlling school budgets and, hence, property taxes.  The Governor proposed the measure.   Symington was for it ... before she was against it.

You'd never know that, however,  from reading this story.

But you did get the joke, didn't you?

Har, har.

Comments

[Greg Willis]

The amount and degree of economic ignorance emanating from numerous quarters in Vermont is truly astounding, and quite disturbing. No adult supervision exists in Montpelier nor at most of the state's newspapers, the Times Argus and Rutland Herald being prime examples. These newspapers and the Dem-Progs spout economic nonesense,utterly failing to grasp the severe difficulties confronting this state. Jobs flee,citizens follow, property taxes go up 8%-10% this year, and all that these people want to do is to shut down VY and impose an Orwellian, totally unaffordable health care contraption upon us, and one that is absolutely not necessary. Republicans, unfortunately, are not much better, with Gov. Douglas and most of the Republicans in office being nothing more than place holders. Rob Roper, who does get it, please help!
Vermont is rapidly becoming a failed state, if it has not already become one. Art Woolf knows this and needs to speak out more forcefully rather than taking cheap shots at the Republicn leadership. Does he have powerful Democrats as paying clients?
Recently I travelled through Georgia on business, and associates and friends of mine have travelled recently through Texas, Oklahoma and the Carolinas. Business is booming, plants are going up, populations increase, new cars and trucks crowd the road. The word recession is not known. People do not even discuss property taxes.
Will our erstwhile leaders in Vermont ever understand any of this. I'm doubtful, but not ready to give up on the state yet - but none of the companies I work for will even consider doing business in Vermont. A pathetic situation here in Vermont.

[Brattleboro_conservative]

The ONLY WAY to make Vermont "affordable" is to get rid of VTNEA, state employee unions and incumbent politicians. Vermont will never be affordable until every special interest with it's hand in the till is gone from the state. Forget about making Vermont attractive to young people unless you get good, private sector jobs back.

[G. Cross]

From the referenced op-ed:
"Here's what's happened to the taxes on one modest Montpelier cape valued by the city at $136,000 while years of the political back-and-fourth have continued: In the 2003-2004 tax year, taxes on that house were $3,971.20. That was the year Vermont's sales tax was increased by 20 percent, from 5 to 6 cents on a dollar, in hopes of taking pressure off of property taxes.

For the 2008-2009 tax year, the levy on that house, still assessed at $136,000, is expected to rise to $4,678.40, if the City Council this week approves the 9.1 percent increase city officials will present to it."

That's an average increase in property taxes of 3.56% over 6 years. Guess Act 60/68 and Act 82 has been working for this porperty.

[Curtis Hier]

I was thinking of posting on this story. Symington's statement about the Governor not having ideas on property taxes really gets me going. The Governor had an idea, caps. The Speaker had an idea, excess spending limits. A compromise came out of the Senate, the "think twice" thing. Both the Governor and the Speaker accepted the compromise. Then the Speaker tried to reneg on it.

Now, to be fair, none of these plans would have gone into effect before this summer's tax bill came out. But, consistently it's been the Dems that have been obstructionists on property tax/ education cost containment reform. And what it comes down to is they're in bed with the Vermont-NEA.