It’s the holiday season and I’m thinking about Thanksgiving, stockings at Christmas and, maybe even New Year’s resolutions. As outgoing chairman of the Vermont Business Roundtable, I want to send thanks, my wish list, and some potential resolutions to all the Santas and their elves around the state, but especially those in Montpelier.
First, I give thanks for what we have here in Vermont — friendships and civic-minded fellow Vermonters who have emerged from a relatively clean election season. So, what will it be — switches and coal in my stocking or, what I really want, which includes:
1. A green energy future beyond 2012 that includes both nuclear energy and large hydro.
Renewables (i.e., small-scale wind and hydro), efficiency, and demand side management programs should be our first choice for new energy supplies, but cannot realistically fill the enormous gap that would be created if Vermont Yankee’s and Hydro-Quebec’s licenses are not renewed.
These two sources comprise about 70 percent of Vermont’s energy supply. Vermonters don’t want their energy future stockings filled with lumps of smog-producing coal.
2. A government that shows leadership by making our energy future more palatable by reducing the regulatory barriers for those who want to adopt renewable energy practices.
Can you imagine if we have to wait as long for renewable energy in Vermont as we have for the Circumferential Highway?
3. A Legislature that gives Catamount Benefit Plan a chance to be implemented and monitored before introducing further large scale health care reforms.
The enormous number of separate reform initiatives that are incorporated under current law, need to be fully designed, implemented, and monitored to determine if the desired or intended outcomes have indeed been met.
Let’s see if what has passed actually begins to put downward pressure on the rate of health care cost increase while, at the same time, making Vermonters healthier.
4. A policy goal that identifies investments in the state’s human capital as its primary economic development strategy.
Educational attainment correlates positively with personal income, personal health, state tax revenues, civic engagement, and higher levels of satisfaction around quality of life issues. Let’s address the issues that are preventing Vermont’s families and our education system from nurturing the development of educational aspirations or preparing all students to enter the work force ready to succeed.
5. An agreement that Vermonters will first undertake a serious discussion of education expenditures and the cost drivers of our system before delving into the creation of a new formula.
Research shows that over the past 20 years, new funding formulas have had no sustainable impact on the rate of education spending. We have declining enrollments, yet our rate of spending is increasing at twice the rate of inflation. It’s time for a constructive conversation around systems thinking.
6. A commitment by the Legislature to begin the lengthy and necessary process to amend the Vermont constitution and adopt four-year terms.
Vermont is one of only two states in the nation without a four-year term for governor. No executive, in either the public or private sector, should have to plan his staff and future with only a two-year window. It’s time to begin the dialogue.
7. An agreement that Santa spends within his means.
Vermont’s combined taxes are by most accounts some of the highest in the country. We need to recognize our small working population makes for a fiscal challenge. If the state needs to spend more, it must grow the number of companies that will pay taxes, rather than raise the taxes on the existing base. If it can’t grow the number of income-producing businesses, it should spend within its means.
8. Elected officials who pay attention now to the demographic, changes in Vermont’s future.
Vermont will soon have the oldest average age in the country, if trends continue. We will also have many fewer school-age children. We need to plan to fill the needs of our aging population while keeping in mind that our schools will have many fewer students.
9. An era of true leadership from our state government.
We need our elected officials to move beyond simply managing government to creating new vision, making informed choices, setting clear and well-funded priorities, taking certain risks, and making things happen.
Being decisive has not been the hallmark of our recent history. Let, our officials lead from the top. Enlightened leadership is worth the risk. Rudolf is living proof.
10. A celebration of business in Vermont.
In my experience, we have some of the finest businesses in the nation. In general, businesses are socially responsible, environmentally conscious, and have goals consistent with the Vermont ethos. We contribute greatly to the quality of life in our communities and state, yet, at times, it seems as though our efforts are not recognized. Let’s celebrate business and the jobs and prosperity it brings to all Vermonters.
As chairman of the state’s leading business organization focused on long-range policies, I urge all the Santas and their elves to maintain a reasoned and balanced approach to the examination, discussion and development of policy in 2007. Our citizens deserve nothing less.
Best wishes for the future of Vermont and to all Vermonters in this holiday season.
The writer is chairman of the Vermont Business Roundtable’s board of directors and president of Lang, Lion and Davis
