Democrats Robert Forguites and Alice Emmons have represented Springfield in legislative district Windsor-2 for several years now, and are looking forward to serving two more years, if voters support them again.
www.eagletimes.com
Forguites, Emmons look forward to next Vermont Senate session By STEPHEN SEITZ Special to the Eagle Times 3 hrs ago SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Democrats Robert Forguites and Alice Emmons have represented Spring-field in legislative district Windsor-2 for several years now, and are looking forward to serving two more years, if voters support them again. Both said in a recent interview that much of the state’s difficulties center around money. “You asked an interesting question,” Forguites said. “What do you do with $1.6 billion [the current Megamillions jackpot]? The state would get $800 million of that. As soon as the [House] appropriations committee was formed, I would tell them, ‘You have this money because of me.’” Forguites said he would ask that $100 million be designated for teacher pensions, $250 million to clean up the state’s water, and send the rest into the state’s rainy-day fund. Emmons said she was more worried about property tax reform in the next session. “Act 46 is still being played out,” she said. “We could move to an income tax base, or some hybrid of income tax and property tax, but there will be winners and losers.” Forguites said, “I anticipate work in raising the minimum wage, paid family leave, and legislation to tax and regulate marijuana.” Emmons said that there will invariably be what she calls a “sleeper issue” which will turn up unexpectedly. “It might be a court decision, or something that requires urgent attention,” she said, “but you don’t know what that issue is.” Emmons did identify one of her main worries: the opioid crisis and what happens down the road. “This could be a national sleeper issue,” she said. “Opioids affect different parts of the brain than marijuana or alcohol. Even if an addict stops taking them, there is serious neurological damage.” Younger opioid addicts, she said, might never recover. “Opioid addicts who are in their teens and 20s might not be able to hold down a job in their 40s,” she said. “That will hurt us economically.” Another problem, she added, is that trade employment is suffering: infrastructure jobs like water treatment and construction, truck drivers, and the like. “I recently went to Windsor and saw no fewer than four signs seeking CDL drivers,” she said. “That’s another sleeper issue for the whole country.” Forguites and Emmons are running against challengers George McNaughton (Progressive Party) and Elizabeth Gray (Republican). Voters go to the polls on Nov. 6.
I had to laugh at Bob Forguites' plans to solve the financial problems Vermont faces. Mega Millions? It's just another reminder that Forguites has no real answers.
ReplyDeleteThe knowledge of all the buttons, levers and relationships among agencies and entities that facilitate or impede progress is bred in Bob Forguites' bones as a result of having served as town manager for so long. For example: He was the only person who knew that for the town to have its employees covered by a single payer health care plan would save us $500,000.
ReplyDeleteIf you always do what you always did….you will always get what you always got. Remember this when you vote Nov. 6th
ReplyDeleteInteresting that they are looking forward to the next Senate Session while running for the House of Representatives. Bob Forguites works hard at what he is asked to do by constituents, the problem is he has to be asked. Alice Emmons demonstrated at the last candidates meeting that she basically has no grasp of the effects of the legislation which she supports, so its sort of hit or miss. If the Democratic leadership happens to support something that helps Springfield then she supports it, if it happens to adversely affect Springfield she will still support it. When the adverse impact then becomes public like it has with Act 46 then the response is always well we intended to tweak it, or when the concern regarding Act 250 starts to become a roar then the answer is a prolonged recitation of past history with no specific or real proposal for reform. The result being that the tweaks and specific reforms come from Representatives of other Towns, and Springfield just follows along in the train whether the change is what is needed in Springfield, or something that fits a City up north.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, George, I think referring to the legislative branch of government as "the Senate" is a typo on the part of this sites author, or someone else. At least Alice Emmons understands the difference between alcohol and drugs. What say you, Chuck?
DeleteThis error originated at the Eagle Times not this blog. See:
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Apparently no one there noticed the error until it was too late to stop the presses but they were able to correct the online version at least.
To be honest, the editor of this local news blog more or less just mindlessly copies headlines and opening lines from other news sites so nothing wrong was noticed until it was pointed out above.
Seeing that there has never been any positive strong movement in Springfield speaks volumes of what these two have not done and will not do in the future. They are both just go with the flow, smile, glad hand and pass the buck democrats. Make your votes know on Nov 6th.
ReplyDeleteRoger and I do not usually agree, but I agree with his analysis on this one. There is no good explanation for their votes on Act 46 other than Alice was following instructions from the then Speaker of the House who was an ardent supporter of Act 46. It may prove a costly move to Springfield.
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