Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dottie Deans, who is chair of the Vermont Democratic Party.
[A]s we wind down 2014 and look ahead to 2015 and our upcoming legislative session, I wanted to share a few thoughts. The holidays and the end of the year are not only a time for celebration and spending time with friends and family, it is the time of year where we have a moment to reflect, take a breath, and get ready to move forward in the year ahead.
Nationally, there is good news on the economy. Job growth is the highest in years, gas prices are plummeting, wages are up across the board, and there are lower numbers of health care uninsureds; all numbers not seen since the Clinton years. All this despite the ongoing national effort by Republicans to thwart every positive initiative put forth by President Obama to move the country forward.
In Vermont, we still struggle with the negative dynamics of stagnant population growth and aging of the workforce. This plays out in our ability to maintain our quality schools, provide health care for all, afford clean air and water initiatives, and lower the cost of public higher education. Despite economic headwinds, Democrats raised the minimum wage, balanced the budget, passed a significant economic development bill, insured that Vermont consumers will know what is in their food, expanded net metering to promote renewable energy, addressed the opiate addiction crisis, provided shore land protections for lakes, expanded pre-K to improve education outcomes, and banned hand-held cell phones for increased public safety.
Gov. Shumlin is working hard to present another balanced budget under very difficult circumstances, and I applaud and thank him for his efforts.
Once the embarrassing distraction of a Republican candidate for governor who has not accepted the result of the election ends in early January, the Legislature and administration will get down to serious business. Make no mistake, the governor and the Legislature heard a very clear message about education spending/property tax, the cost of health care, cleanup of Lake Champlain and other issues.
Gov. Peter Shumlin will work with the Legislature to solve these problems. He has been clear and forceful about education spending, and he has pushed hard to get Green Mountain Care details and funding options to lawmakers ahead of schedule. He is working hard to present another balanced budget under very difficult circumstances, and I applaud and thank him for his efforts.
Vermont Democrats heard you during the election, and we listened. Democrats will now roll up their sleeves to make Vermont continue to be the best place to live, work and play in America.
Onward to 2015!
