“The governor should have done his homework and submitted a budget that is within the realm of what we can live with,” Lisman said, adding that increased taxes on Vermonters would exacerbate significant economic issues.
Lisman called on the Legislature to send a budget back to Shumlin and said existing taxes should not be raised. He said budget growth should be limited to 2 percent over the next few years to bring spending in line with revenue.
He said as governor he could find efficiencies by dumping the state health care exchange, auditing state contracts and the Medicaid rolls, and integrating programs across agencies.
In asserting that he could find real savings in Medicaid, Lisman pointed to North Carolina, where auditors found potential for $180 million in savings over a biennium. He said his Medicaid reforms would not unfairly strip benefits from those in need.
“Let’s not summarily say because it’s expensive we should therefore take it away from people,” he said. “Let’s do the work.”
In a news conference of his own Thursday, Shumlin defended the rising price tag of Medicaid, which could require an additional $60 million in the upcoming fiscal year.
“Our budget challenges are simply because we made the good judgment of embracing the Affordable Care Act, expanding Medicaid so that we virtually have universal coverage for health insurance in Vermont,” Shumlin said. “And we continually refuse to pay for it.”
Lisman’s proposals were broad, and he didn’t detail exactly where he would cut and expand spending if he were governor. But he spoke favorably about state investments in a number of areas, including drug treatment and environmental regulation.
Asked if he would pursue any new sales, property or other taxes, Lisman said taxes weren’t the answer and that the budget was so large because money has been spent badly.
“Have I examined other more creative ways to tax people? ‘How much do you have? Give it to me,’” Lisman said. “Is that a creative way to do it?”
He brushed off potential revenue from commercial marijuana sales and said he was against legalization.
Lisman has been the most vocal gubernatorial candidate in criticizing Shumlin, who isn’t running for re-election, and he said Thursday that the governor “isn’t competent.”
“If I were governor I’d have a completely different approach,” he said.
Lisman, who started an advocacy group, Campaign for Vermont, several years ago, has never held elected office.
As part of a grand introduction tour, Lisman said he has traveled 14,000 miles across the state and met 3,000 Vermonters. He has also sunk more than $188,000 into television ads, more than any other candidate in the race so far.
Lisman’s sole Republican primary challenger is Lt. Gov. Phil Scott. So far, two candidates have entered on the Democratic side, Matt Dunne and Sue Minter.
