In this 40-minute radio conversation about the 2011 legislative session, Davis and Galloway talk about the down-ticket races, health care reform and party politics. Davis suggests that Sens. Randy Brock, R-Grand Isle-Franklin and Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, will likely run for statewide office. Brock, he said, who is the former state auditor, might run for that seat again if Tom Salmon runs for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Bernie Sanders. Brock might also challenge Beth Pearce, the state treasurer who was appointed by Gov. Peter Shumlin. She has never campaigned for office.
Galloway says it seems unlikely that the Shumlin administration would approve a tax increase in the next legislative session in the run up to the 2012 election, even in light of the state’s $70 million budget gap and federal budget cuts. Davis countered that he believes the governor and the legislature will shift the tax base from taxable income to adjusted gross income, as suggested by the Vermont Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission. This change, which would result in lower tax rates, would give Democrats an opportunity to increase income taxes slightly, Davis said.
