Gov. Peter Shumlin thanked Brock for his service as state auditor and his tenure in the state Senate before he launched into a recapitulation of his pledge to right Vermont’s economy, invest in renewable energy, “get off our addiction to oil,” create an affordable health care system and create more jobs.
“I understand my job as governor is to work for you,” Shumlin said. “We are leading the country out of the worst recession (in decades) and we’re on track to deliver high-speed Internet in 2013. We’re going to deliver on the promise.”
Health care, as is often the case, is Shumlin’s touchstone issue, and Tuesday night was no exception. The governor told supporters: “We’re going to be the first to have a sensible, affordable single-payer health care system where health care is a right not a privilege. We’re going to do it together. Don’t doubt my resolve to deliver on the promise.”
Shumlin alluded to the state’s budget gap of $50 million to $70 million this coming year and quickly shifted to his successful record on unemployment — Vermont has the sixth lowest rate in the nation.
“In 2011, Vermont is the only state that saw economic growth, it was only 4 percent, but 4 percent is better than the rest of America,” Shumlin said.