Governor Wants
It Both Ways

Your report on the March 28^th legislative breakfast in Bethel suggests a conflict that is not supported by the actual conversation. Although the governor may still be open to ideas about "school funding," that does not mean he is willing to discuss moving to an income tax as proposed by the Vermont League of Cities & Towns.

It’s too bad the question was not better focused to get his true position on education tax reform. Changes to "school funding" include the proposal to increase the penalty assessed on small schools like those in this district.

The governor is a master at choosing the precise words that suit the needs of the moment. At that breakfast, he proudly announced, "We saved $4.5 million because people were able to stay in their homes" under the new long-term care Medicaid program. I was particularly surprised to hear those words since his own administrators had insisted to my committee that the $4.5 million was NOT savings in the program. Rather they repeatedly told the legislature that the $4.5 million was the result of "overbudgeting" for a new program.

The Commissioner in charge of the long-term care program told us that money was surplus and must be used to fill holes elsewhere in the budget. If the governor spoke correctly in Bethel, then the $4.5 million must be reinvested in the long-term care program. The express terms of the law establishing the program require that "savings" be used to provide services to a larger pool of elderly Vermonters. Since the governor has now recognized the savings, I look forward to seeing the $4.5 million restored to the program.

Rep. Sandy Haas, Windsor-Rutland-2

[Bethel, Pittsfield, Rochester, Stockbridge]