Now that the 2014 election cycle has come and gone, I’d like to cut through some of the political noise and take a moment to applaud and thank our governor, Peter Shumlin, for the great work he has done for Vermont as our governor. Recently, there has been a lot of attention given to issues that are going to be taken up in the Legislature, and some opinions expressed in local media that have cast negativity and doubt on Gov. Shumlin.
If we are going to keep the pace of progress in our state and continue moving forward, we need to stand with Gov. Shumlin. I want to remind Vermonters that this is the governor that helped us recover and rebuild after Irene.
This is the governor that has given Vermonters the right to know what is in their food, with the new GMO labeling law, the first bill of its kind in the nation. This is the governor that has tackled opiate addiction by getting treatment for those suffering and cracking down on those who bring drugs into our state. This is the governor that has given every child access to universal pre-K, ensuring kids can arrive at school ready to learn and succeed.
Let’s make no mistake. During this election, the governor and the Legislature heard a very clear message about education spending/property tax, the cost of health care, cleanup of Lake Champlain and other issues. There is no doubt in my mind that Gov. Peter Shumlin will work with the Legislature to solve these problems that face Vermont. He has been up front and assertive about education spending, and he has pushed hard to get Green Mountain Care details and funding options to lawmakers ahead of schedule. He is working hard to present another balanced budget under very difficult circumstances. And I for one will be supportive of Gov. Shumlin’s efforts and ambition to help continue to make Vermont the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
William Northrop
Vergennes