The writer is the Republican Party nominee for state representative of District 4 (Putney and Dummerston).
PUTNEY-To all Vermont voting citizens:
Just some of the legislation by the current supermajority Democrat lawmakers:
• A massive property tax increase to nearly 14% for all of us. Voters, how does that affect your budget and your health?
• The Clean Heat Standard (a final vote comes in January 2025). If you heat and cool your home with oil, propane, natural gas, or kerosene, get ready for a guesstimated $.70-to-$3-per gallon fee added to your bills. The fee may even be higher.
Seems they think electric, solar, and wind renewable energy sources are green. Perhaps they don't understand how expensive renewable systems are harvested, produced, delivered, and recycled.
I ask: What about initiatives that promote better insulation for buildings and state-of-the-art furnaces, for example? Voters, how will their mandates affect your lives?
• Voting themselves a pay raise! According to VtDigger, rank-and-file lawmakers are paid almost $812 weekly during the legislative session (January through May), with reimbursement for mileage, food, and lodging. They want $1,000 more per week in 2025, $1,100 in '26, and $1,210 in '27, and allowance for further inflation adjustments!
Add one day of pay for each week the Legislature is not in the 2025 session, which assumes they are working.
Voters, how does your guaranteed and inflation-adjusted pay raise look?
I say no to such legislation.
Lynne Wilkins
Putney
The writer is the Republican Party nominee for state representative of District 4 (Putney and Dummerston).
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