PUBLISHED: January 27, 2009

Vermonters Respond To Governor's Budget

WPTZ-TV | MSNBC.com | Link to article

MONTPELIER, Vt. - A parade of human services advocates Friday railed against Gov. Jim Douglas' proposed budget for the coming year which they charge favors the rich over Vermont's most vulnerable citizens.

Vermonters Respond To Governor's Budget

"The gloves are off," said Richard Davis, a registered nurse who leads the Citizens Campaign for Health. "He put the gauntlet down and we have to respond in kind."

People representing the poor, children, seniors, the mentally ill and land conservationists held a news conference at the Statehouse a day after Douglas' budget address. They say his approach threatens to undo 25 years of social progress.

Douglas told a joint session of the Legislature Vermont is staring at a $201 million gap between projected spending and revenues starting in July and called for "broad sacrifice" in closing the deficit.

He suggested millions be trimmed from human services, forcing higher premiums for many state health insurance programs, including those for the poor and for children, and elimination of prescription drug subsidies that benefit thousands of Vermont seniors.

Douglas said he "took no joy" in making such cuts, but argued once again that Vermonters can't afford any rise in broad-based taxes such as the state levy on gasoline, income or property.

"With one of the highest (tax) burdens in the nation, raising these taxes now would slow the recovery," the governor said in Thursday's speech.

Advocacy groups beg to differ.

"It's time to look at raising additional revenues, with temporary tax increases," said Carlen Finn with the group Voices For Vermont Children.

They released a poll of 400 Vermonters conducted Jan. 17-20 by Macro International of Burlington that asked this question:

"In order to keep Catamount Health, Dr. Dynasaur, and other state health care programs affordable for low income Vermonters, would you support a temporary state income tax surcharge for those earning more than $500,000 per year?"

Of those surveyed, 77 percent said yes, most expressing "strong support" for the idea.

A similar question that instead suggested a $1 tax surcharge on cigarettes was supported by 82 percent of those polled. Macro International did not respond to a telephone message left Friday seeking information about the survey's margin of error.

"We need to find more revenue to fund important programs and it means raising income taxes on those who can afford it," Davis said.

A Douglas administration official dismissed the criticism from advocates, suggesting they did not understand the depth of the state's FY2010 budget crisis.

But the human services coalition plans 10 rallies across Vermont on Feb. 2. The events are scheduled from St. Albans to Brattleboro and are intended to boost opposition to the governor's budget cuts.