Editor’s note: Peg Coutermarsh is a truck driver who describes herself as a tea party activist. She asked Sen. Peter Shumlin at a recent forum in Bradford to explain his zero rating with the National Federation of Independent Business. Coutermarsh was a GOP candidate for the Vermont House in 2008.
National Federation of Independent Business is the largest organization of small (many family owned) businesses in Vermont with nearly 2,000 members across the state. It assigns grades to every state legislator based on how they voted on issues that affect its members such as higher taxes, burdensome regulations and irresponsible government spending.
At a recent campaign event Sen. Peter Shumlin, who is running for governor, declared that NFIB/VT’s vision and values don’t reflect what he represents and disagrees with NFIB/VT’s perspective. “I’m proud of the fact that I got a zero; if I had gotten a better score I don’t think I’d be representing the hard-working middle class of the state of Vermont,” he said.
Really? Most of Vermont’s workers are employed by small businesses; and the majority of all new jobs created are by small businesses. Members of NFIB/VT encompass every business sector across Vermont including farmers and foresters.
Vermont’s economy is limping along with thousands still unemployed and despite the recession Peter Shumlin voted to support legislation that makes it more difficult for small businesses to survive. Even worse, he’s bragging about it.
At a time when we’re facing serious budget deficits, we need a governor who prioritizes job creation and economic growth.
Who does Shumlin think he is, anyway? Certainly not the person leading Vermont out of this recession. No wonder NFIB/VT recently endorsed Brian Dubie for Governor. Don’t be fooled, look closely at the candidates before you vote.
Editor’s note: Green Mountain Daily, a blog that promotes the Democratic Party, recently ran a story about a letter Coutermarsh sent to the Times Argus. The letter, Rama Schneider alleges, is identical to those published by tea party activists around the country.
