To all,
The Vermont Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE) held an informal question and answer period with the candidates for Governor and Lt Governor. Each candidate was asked similar questions from a pool compiled form input from various Chamber members.
Here is a smattering of notes, half sentences, sound bites and prepared statements from each of the candidates. Each candidate was given 30-40 minutes to respond to prepared questions and to take questions from the floor. Candidates met with VACCE member one at a time. I realize that all that I share may not make sense, I tried to get as much as I could.
First I'll briefly restate the questions and number them for reference.
Q1. What do you hope to accomplish in the area of economic development?
Q2. Tourism spending has been flat - how do you see us achieving greater results in this area?
Q3. Neighboring states are offering economic development incentives - what strategies do you recommend for attracting businesses to Vermont?
Q4. Vermont Health Connect has left a lot to be desired. What do we do for Phase 2 to regain the trust of Vermonters?
Q5. How will we fund a single payer health care system.
Q6. Cost of education continues to rise while student population declines. What will you do to effect cost controls across the state?
Gov. Peter Shumlin (D), incumbent, has not fully announced his intent to run for re-election and does not intend to campaign until late July.
Q4. We chose to build our own program because what the feds had to offer was less generous than what we had planned for Vermonters. We found out that it is very complex and had never been done before. Not like shopping for a book on Amazon.
Q5. Greatest barrier to growth in Vermont is the cost of healthcare. We are being told that the cost to operate a one payer system in 2017 is $2.3B. Our plan is to reduce that cost to $1.6 - 2.0B. We will build a system based on ability to pay. In order for a single payer system to work we must reduce spending. Should healthcare continue to be tax deductible? Still working on it. Change has to happen - let's figure it out.
Q1&Q3. $4.5M offered in new business incentives. Increase in downtown tax credits. Creation of VTjobs.com to promote jobs. Broadband to every last mile. Revolutionizing education - now can get a free year of college while still in high school through CCV. Last year paid for if you stay and work in Vermont for 5 years. The energy sector now makes up 4.5% of our workforce.
Q6. We are down 30K students with the same administrative infrastructure. We need to respond to the student population and help school districts right size.
Scott Milne (R), North Pomfret - Gubernatorial candidate.
I am a sixth generation Vermonter and come from a family who has served the State in various political and public service roles. I believe that we have a hard time raising our kids living and working in Vermont. And we have a tougher time convincing our children to do the same.
Q4. Compared to New Hampshire, Vermont Health Connect stinks. they were able to take advantage of the Fed program and implement it for $8M and it runs perfectly from day one. We spent over $80M and we got a piece of crap.
Q3. One third of the national economic growth is generated in small businesses. We need to set a business friendly tone in Montpelier. Every job is a good job. I just announced my campaign manager and he started a new campaign management company as a result. I can at least take credit for one new job in Vermont.
Q6. We must address the education issues by increasing leadership in the legislature. We must increase the quality of education K-12.
Q5. he does not claim to have a solution to the funding of the healthcare system. Believes that it must be fixed before it can be promoted further.
He is not pushing an agenda but rather listening to what people have to offer.
Lt. Gov. Phil Scott (R) - incumbent.
Q4. There have been many problems with the system and it has not been tested properly. Recommends more testing and an opportunity to work out the bugs before making businesses comply. He is skeptical but open minded that the system can be fixed. Referenced NH's success at $8M. We need to do better than what we have done.
Q5. We have not been shown anything regarding the single payer model - no answers to this point.
Q1. I am business focused. Every day is a struggle for VT businesses. There is a crisis of affordability across the state. he is disappointed with the property tax reform direction.
Q6. In the short term, he recommends closing smaller schools and increasing class sizes. The state is not growing - we are losing people in the 25-35 age group and our population is aging. We need to adjust accordingly.
Q1. We need more incentives to encourage other companies to enter Vermont and we need to take care of our current businesses. If a company is lining up items to compare cost of doing business in different states, Vermont has to look better. It is difficult to make a long-term investment in Vermont with so much uncertainty.
We need to be practical, understand the issues and vote for what is right.
Dean Corren (Progressive seeking Democratic nomination) - Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate
Spent 8 years in the VT House, has a degree from NYU in Philosophy and Physics, masters thesis on how to get off fossil fuels.
Q1. In order to create great jobs we must have a plan to create a high tech center, increase pay, increase quality of life, educational opportunities, and centers of excellence. Get together and talk about creative solutions for economic development. Create tax breaks to do business in Vermont. Work to keep our young people in the state.
Q5. Move healthcare burden off small businesses in Vermont "Healthcare will set us aside." Control costs and improve efficiency.
Q6. Education is a formula of cost vs. quality. Quality is paramount - need to get people together to talk about how best to approach this issue.
Did not have an answer regarding tourism and special education concerns - would get people together to talk out the issues.
Believes that technology, statistics, data, and group discussions are the keys to success.
Epilogue
Eight questions were submitted by Chamber members as a result of our recent survey. All eight were represented in the final set of questions in one form or another. You are being heard.
Dave Southwick
Executive Director
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