Issue Position: Seven Days Response/Elaboration

Issue Position

In the SevenDays article this week, the Chittenden District 6.1 race is featured. Space is always limited in newspaper articles, so I would like to elaborate on points that did not get "adequate" coverage. I say adequate with the " ", since I am willing to talk for an hour or two on policy issues.

First let's get something on the record. I have only the greatest respect for Bill's service and experience. I did not raise, nor did I have knowledge of his attendance at the legislature. Frankly, as someone 30 years younger who has probably a half-million miles as a professional driver, there are days I would not want experience the challenge of Bolton Flats!

As most of you know, although I was elected to Five terms as President and Board Chair of the Vermont State Employee's Association, my real "career" was as a Social Worker/Probation Officer for the Department for Children and Families (formerly SRS). Holding those roles simultaneously, gave me the opportunity to become a master juggler and multitasker.

Now lets talk about "stuff". I mentioned my strong point was that I was prepared to go to Montpelier and do some of that "stuff" stuff.

As I have noted in my webpage and Facebook pages, one of the primary things I would like to advance, possibly my first legislative action, would be to ask for a specific appropriation to the City of Burlington to help to deal with infrastructure repair for the economic engine that our waterfront, bike path and other assets that make Burlington one of our country's most livable cities, and a magnet for tourists who flock for our events, festivals and attractions. NOT an ongoing appropriation, but when thousands of people come to town for use of our streets and bikepath for the marathon or a lake front festival-and a large portion of the proceeds go to the rooms and meals taxes of other municipalities and the state, a little help from FRIENDS is appropriate. It really IS an investment in a cash creating asset for the state, so allegations of charity are not appropriate.

Health Care is also a significant "stuff" issue. The term SINGLE PAYER has become a lightening rod in recent years-unfortunately. While a lot of people believe single payer is the solution to our healthcare problems, it is a second step consideration. UNIVERSAL COVERAGE is the goal we should be focused upon. Single payer is probably one of several mechanics of funding options to reach that goal. To me, the funding mechanism for reaching the goal of universal coverage needs to be one that forces EVERY Vermonter to have some skin in the game, so a simple payroll tax on earned income is simply not good enough. I see no reason to exempt UNEARNED income, which is already taxed at a lower rate (if at all) for most taxpayers.

As a mechanism for benefit distribution and cost containment, the system may very well be BEST benefited by a SINGLE PAYER platform. The state of Vermont system uses a single provider which manages a "plan" formulated by the employees and the administration during collective bargaining. They "hire" a single entity to process all claims and do so on a per-transaction fee basis. That system has enjoyed rate increases significantly LOWER than the industry increases with comparable deductibles and copays. Rates remain low.

I don NOT fear the move toward a system of healthcare that is being broadly discussed by the ACA or Vermont. We currently pay exorbitant TAXES on our salaries for healthcare at work, and if you are not fortunate to be a member of a group plan, you really suffer both high rates and deductibles. Placing EVERYONE into a pool with a good benefit structure, reasonable cost and minimal deductibles makes some sense to explore to me. Most cost variation seems to be driven by the deductible and copay components of the plans. HOWEVER, much discussion and examination of plan structure and utilization in other jurisdictions is necessary before rushing to implementation. Anything we do will be impacted by the implementation of the ACA.

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