Takes Issue With

Haas Positions

I recently received Sandy Haas’ flier in the mail in her bid for reelection to the legislature. She outlines some of her legislative interests this past session such as advance directives for the dying, prescription drug benefits, long-term care for the elderly, increased child care subsidies and more.

What struck me most about her platform was her shortsightedness regarding the really major core problems that confront our state. In the area of economic growth she favors small or "micro" businesses and opposes efforts to bring larger enterprises into the state. Her opposition to mid-to-large businesses is, of course, in keeping with the social biases of her Progressive Party. Such opposition ignores the ugly truth that a reliance on quaint mom and pop businesses is simply not going to cut it in a state that requires many more jobs and greater economic choices in order to achieve prosperity.

Sandy makes the point that taxes should be based on income and not on property ownership. This may be a valid issue for debate, but she totally avoids addressing the critical tax issue of our time, the actual mechanics of our horrendously complicated, obscure and unfair educational tax funding system.

As for health care, she seems obsessively wedded to a single payer government system, ignoring entirely its potential costs and unfairness to many sectors of our state.

Although Sandy is a truly nice person with a sincere sense of compassion and concern for working Vermonters, we need someone who will be open minded enough to explore ways to address the state’s core problems independent of ideological prejudices. I believe Neal Fox is the most realistic and competent candidate to represent Bethel. Pittsfield, Rochester and Stockbridge in the Vermont legislature.

Ellen Martin

Pittsfield