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Governor's Calendar
8:30 a.m. VtSHARES Campaign Kick-Off, Cafeteria, State House, Montpelier
10:00 a.m. STAT Meals on Wheels, Randolph Senior Center, Randolph
12:00 noon Vermont Retired State Employees Association 41st Annual Meeting, Montpelier Elks Country Club, Country Club Drive, Montpelier
5:30 p.m. Vermont Fuel Dealers Association Fall 2007 Conference, Jackson Gore Inn, Ludlow
7:00 a.m. STAT Coffee Hour, Rosie’s Restaurant, Route 7 South, Middlebury
12:00 noon STAT Small Business Roundtable and Brownbag Lunch, Bennington Free Library, Silver Street, Bennington
5:30 p.m. Vermont Forum on Sprawl Reception, Main Street, Burlington
7:15 p.m. Addison County Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser and Auction, Basin Harbor, Ferrisburgh
9:00 a.m. American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries Annual Meeting, House Chamber, State House
1:00 p.m. Vermont/New Hampshire Bankers Convention, Equinox, Manchester Center
2:30 p.m. Green Mountain Senior Games 25th Anniversary Opening Ceremony, Castleton State College, Castleton
6:00 p.m. Cathedral Square 30th Anniversary Celebration, ECHO, Burlington Waterfront, Burlington
Governor Douglas Praises Federal Court Decision Upholding VT Emission Standards
September 12, 2007
Douglas Administration Rules Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Automobiles
Montpelier , Vt. – Governor Jim Douglas today praised the federal district court of Vermont for upholding the strict greenhouse gas emissions standards for automobiles adopted by his administration.
Defending itself against a lawsuit brought by the automobile industry, Governor Douglas said his administration was very pleased its tougher standards were upheld. Read More
Official Statement of the Governor September 11, 2007
September 11, 2007
Today we pause to recall September 11th, 2001—the most poignant experience of a lifetime for many, and an attack we will never forget.
The work day stopped. We watched with horror and great unease as the day unfolded. We made calls to loved ones far away to check whereabouts and wellness. Read More
Governor Announces State Parks Commission -- Gov. Douglas, ANR Secretary Crombie announce bold plans for parks’ future
August 23, 2007
Smuggler’s Notch, Vt. – Governor Jim Douglas and Natural Resources Secretary George Crombie today announced the creation of the Governor’s Commission on the Future of State Parks, an initiative that will usher in the most significant changes in Vermont’s State Parks in decades.
“Our state parks play a crucial role in keeping us connected to our environment,” Governor Douglas said. “In order to ensure that these resources remain accessible to future generations of Vermonters, this commission brings together leaders in business, education, social services, the environment and others as it embarks on the largest state park renewal effort in the state’s history.”
Win Smith, the owner and president of Sugarbush Resort in Warren, and Tom Hark, the founding president of the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, are the chairman and vice-chairman of the commission, which has been charged with developing and implementing a new path for state parks. Their recommendations to the governor are expected by January 31, 2008. Read More
Official Statement of the Governor on House Democrats’ Proposal to Create a New Income Tax for Education
August 21, 2007
Note: The Brattleboro Reformer today published a report outlining an effort by House Democrats to create a new income tax for education. Governor Jim Douglas issued the following statement in response:
In March, I expressed concerns about disconcerting signs—including a commitment from Speaker Symington herself—that the House majority would pursue an income tax hike.
The Speaker and other supporters of the Democrats’ new income tax for education will no doubt argue that increasing our income taxes will somehow reduce the tax burden. Vermonters know better than to accept such a claim from the same people who gave us Act 60 – along with a promise that it would lower property taxes. Frankly, claiming that higher income taxes will result in a lower tax burden is misguided at best.
As Vermonters know all too well, we don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. If we do not address the root of the problem by allowing the property tax caps passed last session to have the desired effect, our taxes—whether income or property—will increase year after year with no relief in sight.
There are many reasons why we cannot afford to raise income tax rates.
For example, according to the Legislature's own joint fiscal office, there's no way to transfer to an income-based system to fund education without significantly increasing the income tax on middle-income Vermonters.
Besides being unfair and regressive, placing more of an income tax burden on low and middle income families would also slow growth in our economy, undermine our economic security and threaten the prosperity of future generations. Middle income earners need real relief from our tax burden—the highest per capita in the country—not the shell game proposed by Democrats.
Income tax rates are also one important measure used by employers to determine where they will locate and where they will create jobs—Vermont’s are already among the highest in the country. The Democrat proposal to increase the income tax burden would result in the creation of fewer good paying jobs.
By the Democrats’ own admission, the current system is already structured to allow most Vermonters to pay their education taxes based on income. In fact, a document produced recently by the House Ways and Means Committee and released by legislators notes, “Since Act 60, the majority of Vermonters can pay school taxes on the basis of their income. In addition, for decades, as in many other states, total school and town property taxes have been capped for low income Vermonters.”
Shifting how we pay for education from one pocket to another is not a solution to our problem, it will only make our spending problem worse by increasing the capacity of Montpelier’s tax-and-spend majority to raise both the property tax and the income tax in the future.
As I said in my inaugural address in January, any proposal to increase income taxes on Vermonters is completely unacceptable and entirely unnecessary. I will not support a new or higher income tax for education—period.
Instead, Vermonters can count on me to propose a set of real reforms to provide immediate relief from the property tax while we implement the property tax caps passed last session. I urge the Legislature to embrace this more responsible course. Read More
Governor Speaks Out Against Bush Administration Proposal to Gut Children’s Health Care Program
August 21, 2007
Montpelier, Vt. -- Governor Douglas today issued the following statement in response to the Bush Administration’s new proposal to restrict funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to children below 250% of the federal poverty level:
“I am disappointed and dismayed by the Bush Administration’s recent actions regarding SCHIP and by the shortsightedness that seems to continually emanate from Washington.
“In Vermont, we have long recognized the benefits of ensuring health care coverage for children and we rank first in the country in terms of number of children with health care coverage. While in Vermont we are moving ahead and leading the nation in our health care reform efforts, Washington seems stuck in a mire of partisan politics and stalemate.
“If the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposals are implemented, over 2,100 Vermont children could potentially lose coverage and the state could lose $3.8 million in funding. I will do all I can – through my leadership role in the National Governors Association and working with our Congressional delegation – to ensure that this unconscionable reversal of federal policy never happens.” Read More
First Lady to Highlight Habitat for Humanity Projects
August 17, 2007
WHAT: Mrs. Douglas to Tour Habitat House in Burlington
Burlington, Vt. – Vermont’s First Lady Dorothy Douglas tomorrow will tour a Habitat for Humanity project on LaFountain Street in Burlington to highlight the completion of the homes roof and the role of the program and other organizations in addressing housing issues in Vermont.
“I’m always pleased to support the Habitat for Humanity mission, and look forward to thanking all the volunteers who have helped make this particular project successful,” Mrs. Douglas said. “Tomorrow we will not only celebrate the completion of the roof, but we’ll also be applauding efforts all throughout Vermont to put an affordable home within reach of every family.”
WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 2007 – 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: 33 LaFountain Street, Burlington
Governor Announces ‘Set the Agenda Tour’ -- Launches Wide-Ranging Outreach Effort to Hear Vermonters Priorities for Next Legislative Session
August 16, 2007
Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Jim Douglas today announced a wide-ranging public engagement process that will help set the agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
Governor Douglas said in addition to his regular meetings and public events schedule, his outreach effort—dubbed the ‘Set the Agenda Tour’ (STAT)—will include coffee hours at restaurants and diners, roundtable discussions and brownbag lunches with small business owners, casual conversations at the state’s county fairs and a special component for Vermont’s seniors.
“I am looking forward to spending the next several months hosting events all over the state, listening closely to Vermonters and hearing their priorities for the coming legislative session,” the Governor said. “It will be an important part of ensuring that our Legislature is focused on those issues that are most important to the people of Vermont.”
The Governor said he wants to hear people who understand the day-to-day challenges confronting Vermont’s families and small businesses.
“From getting the kids out of bed, fed and off to school, to the demands of working and the financial pressures of providing for our families, Vermonters are confronting some very serious challenges,” the Governor continued. “I want them to tell me the areas they want Montpelier to focus on in the next legislative session in order to overcome these obstacles and achieve the prosperity and peace of mind that is within our reach.” Read More