Ten advocacy groups held a press conference Friday morning at the Statehouse and their message was clear: Gov. James Douglas' budget proposal "is a direct attack on the programs that help vulnerable Vermonters."
Headlined by the Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security, members of the groups urged the governor to consider raising new revenues - such as an increased income tax on the wealthiest Vermonters - instead of cutting programs that help out the poor, disabled and elderly.
"The governor is known for his soft-spoken gentleness," said Rabbi Joshua Chasen of the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue. "And while we appreciate his personal gentleness, we are longing to see it reflected in his budget."
The groups also unveiled the results of a scientific poll by the company Macro that shows Vermonters would be willing to see some tax increases if it meant keeping state health care programs open to the poor.
The first question asked, "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?"
About 56 percent of Vermonters said they would strongly support that and another 21 percent said they would somewhat support that plan. A similar polling question - this one asking about an increase of $1 on the tobacco tax - had even stronger support, with 70 percent saying they strongly support it.
Christopher Curtis, a staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid, said Douglas' budget proposal is built on the backs of low-income Vermonters. He said the administration has already cut by $400,000 the Reach Up program, which is aimed to get Vermonters off welfare and back to work.
"It's amazing that he thinks it is a good idea to cut a program that helps move Vermonters off welfare," Curtis said. "This is a program that works and cutting it will just cost us more in the long run."
Messages from other advocates were just as dire. Elise Annes, the vice president for community relations for the Vermont Land Trust, said Douglas is "dismantling the Vermont programs in place that have helped Vermonters in need." Karen Schwartz, the executive director of the Vermont Disabilities Council, said Douglas is "sacrificing our future."
Richard Davis, the executive director of Vermont Citizens Campaign for Health, bristled with anger at the press conference Friday. He said this is a budget proposal from "someone who hasn't had a job outside of state government."
"He's taking the easy way out, " Davis said. "Budget cuts are the easy way."
The organizations are calling on Vermonters concerned about the cuts to join them in a serious of protests across the state on Feb. 2. Under the banner of S.O.S. Save Our State, rallies will be held in Burlington, Montpelier, St. Johnsbury, Bennington, Hardwick, St. Albans, Brattleboro, Randolph, Middlebury and Rutland.
-Dan Barlow
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