Healthcare For All
Ethically we need to be sure that no one is deprived of healthcare. I want to help bring about a State of the Art Healthcare Plan for all Vermonters. A huge challenge but we can do it if we try. One we can be proud of, leading the nation. We may want to unhook healthcare benefits from employment; this will especially help our small businesses. Ultimately a single payer, universal healthcare system will be less costly than the layers of paperwork we now have. My chemistry /biology background and training as a social justice minister will be helpful dealing with these issues.
Energy Efficiency
The most effective way to reduce energy consumption and cost is with energy efficient improvements. Reducing the demand for excess energy helps the supply and cost for all of us. We need to have more focus on renewable energy, fossil fuels are time limited, so will become more & more expensive.
Funding of Education
Perhaps we need to find a fairer way to fund our schools, instruction, special needs education, and preschool education. Would it be less regressive to fund State Education with a graduated income tax than property tax? Local funding could be added as the local school district determined it needed. I think it is time to look at the best way to fund it. Our funding of higher education also needs to be reviewed. Both public preschool and increasing our funding of higher education will improve our society and economy.
Send me to help us get the most we can for our tax dollars.