economic health presentation
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www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 1
Grow The Pie!
Vermonters for Economic HealthPresents
“The Truth You Need To Hear”
“The multitudes remained plunged in ignorance of the simplest economic facts, and their leaders, seeking their votes, did not dare to undeceive them.” - Winston Churchill
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 2
Grow The Pie!
Who are Vermonters For Economic Health (VEH)?
VEH is a grassroots, citizen-led organization. Our mission is simple:
To promote economic health and fiscal responsibility in government.
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 3
Grow The Pie!We’ll Examine . . .
A brief overview of our federal fiscal health, and then examine…
Vermont’s:
• Tax Burdens and Trends• Spending and Expenses • Job Growth• Demographics• Solutions and What You Can Do
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 4
Grow The Pie!The State of our Nation
“Arguably the biggest threat facing the U.S. today is our own Fiscal Irresponsibility, and very few people are willing to State the Facts and Speak the Truth.”
“Continuing on this Unsustainable Path will gradually erode, if not suddenly damage, our Economy, our Standard of Living, and ultimately our Domestic Tranquility and National Security.”
-David Walker, Comptroller General of the U.S, 2006 - “Fiscal Wake-up Tour”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS2fI2p9iVs
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Grow The Pie!
In 8 years, Medicare & SS go cash-flow negative;In 20*, all Revenues go to Entitlements & Debt
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
2000 2015 2030 2050
All Other Spending
Net Interest on Debt
SS,Medicare,Mediaid
Federal SpendingAs a Percent ofGross Domestic Product
*Data before Medicare’s Prescription Drug Benefit implementation. Source: GAO’s March 2002 analysis
Federal Revenue Line
Our Children’s Future; Our Legacy to them
Spending
Worker/Retiree Ratio: 4.9 2.8
This piece gets eaten up by the Prescription drug benefit.
An over $50 trillion projected
entitlement deficit.
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Grow The Pie!
The Effect of Medicare’s new Prescription Drug Program…
• As the next chart will show…
• Costs shifted from Private Insurance, Out-of-Pocket and Medicaid to...
• Medicare, thus…
• Exacerbating an already Exploding Entitlement Cost Crisis…
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Grow The Pie!
% Sources of funds for retail prescription drugs
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
PrivateInsurance
Out ofpocket
Medicaid Otherpublic
Medicare
2005
2006
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Grow The Pie!
Our Crisis: Unsustainable & Out-of-Control Spending…
• The next chart will show the effects of Out-of-Control Medical Costs with…
• An aging Demographics with less younger workers supporting a growing elderly population…
• Consuming more of our nation’s resources…
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Grow The Pie!
National Health Spendingas a Percentage of GDP
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesGDP = Gross Domestic Product
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Grow The Pie!
Other Federal Challenges…
The U.S. dollar has fallen in value roughly 50% against the Euro & other major currencies since 2002; a major contributor to our rise in oil prices.
Our national debt stands at about $10 trillion; almost half of which is owned by foreigners; aiding in the continued decline of federal assistance to the states.
The value of hydrocarbon exports from the Middle East and Central Asia is expected to approach $750 billion in 2008. - This is almost Four-Times the level in 2001; a shifting world power is occurring before our eyes; Sovereign Wealth Funds are an example.
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Grow The Pie!
Changes in the Price of Oil,in Dollars, Euros & Gold
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Dollars
Euros
Gold
$100/Barrel Oil
$57/Barrel Oil
$30/Barrel Oil
The value of the dollar is the market’s measure of its confidence that our governmentwill preserve the purchasing power of its debt, almost half of which is held Overseas.Bloomberg/WSJ 1/4/08
Had the dollar remained “as good as gold” since2001, Oil today would be selling at $30 a Barrel,not $100.
Had the dollar remained as strong as the Euro since2001, Oil today would be selling at $57 a Barrel,not $100.
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Grow The Pie!A Hard Truth…
• A “Sense of Urgency” is critical in Vermont.
• The 20th Century was more or less dominated - economically and politically - by the U.S.
• The 21st Century will not be so kind to us…
• It’s time to leave our unsustainable and – more so with Vermont - sentimental visions behind…and make the tough calls.
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Grow The Pie!
VERMONT TAXES
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Where Vermont Generates Its Tax Revenues
Federal Revenues-30%
Education Tax-20%
Income Tax-15%
Service Charges-12%
Other/Misc Taxes-12%
Sales & Use Tax-8%
Meals & Rooms Tax-3%
30%
20%15%
Source: Vermont Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Fiscal year ending 6/30/06.Total Revenues were approximately $3.8 billion
12%
12%
8%
3%
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Why Should You Be Concerned?
17.3% 19.6%
41.1%
53.7%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
5 Yr. Growth Rates 2001-2006
Inflation
VT Per Capita Personal Income
VT State Expenditures
VT Taxes
17.3% 19.6%
41.1%
53.7%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
5 Yr. Growth Rates 2001-2006
Inflation
VT Per Capita Personal Income
VT State Expenditures
VT Taxes
Source: State of Vermont Comprehensive Annual Financial Report FY 2002 – 2007; Consumer Price Index
VTs gov’t payroll & employee
benefit costs grew 70% since
2000. (BFP 3/19/08)
School spending has grown
from $813 million in 1999 to
$1.3 billion in 2007”; a 60%
increase. - R. Herald, 2/1/07
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Grow The Pie!VT’s Tax Burden Ranking
Year Tax Burden Rank
2000 13
2001 14
2002 14
2003 16
2004 5
2005 3
2006 3Source: The Tax Foundation; Bureau of Economic Analysis; Commerce Department
Vermont Is Now the 3rd Most Taxed State In The Nation
(1 = Highest Burden)
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Grow The Pie!
The Gap Between Vermonters’ Taxes and the Average
American’s is at a 28 Year High
The difference between VT’s 13.2%* share and the national 11.3% share amounts to $372 million more in VT taxes, or $1,500 per household, than if our taxes were at the national average.
* Increased further to 14.9% in 2007.
Based on 2005 data. Source: The Vermont Economy Newsletter and The Tax Foundation
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Grow The Pie!
Every Revenue Source Is Being Squeezed
0.0%
1.0%
2.0%
3.0%
4.0%
5.0%
6.0%
7.0%
8.0%
9.0%
1959 1969 1990 1994
Rooms &Meals Tax
Source: VT Department of Taxes
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Grow The Pie!
Cumulative % of Income Taxes Paid: By Income
Level & Number of Filers
$300K & higher
$150K - $300K
$100K - $150K
$75K - $100K
$50K - $75K
$25K - $50K
$10 - $25K
$10K & lower
26% of Taxes Paid,2,113 Tax Filers;0.69% of Filers
38% Paid,6,970 Filers; 2.29%
49%15,200; 4.99%
98%185,534; 61%
60%27,632;9.08%
75% Paid58,415;19.20%
91% Paid121,827;40.04%
100%304,254;100%
Source: Vt. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2007
$75,000 & up pay 60% of Taxes
Start here,move clockwise…
Top 5% pays about 50%
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% Share of State Income Taxes Paid by Income Level
0
5
10
15
20
25
1996
2005
$300K& More
$150-$300
$100-$150
$75-$100
$50-$75
$10-$25
$25-$50
$10K& lower
Out ofState
Source: Vt. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2006 Data from Taxable Year 2005
Vt’s Public Assets Inst. found a net lossof folks in 2006; yet the incomes of those coming in were 18% higher vs.those who left. (BFP 3/24/08)
The % of $75,000 & up filers has doubledWhile the lower end has fallenHow long can this trend last?
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Grow The Pie!
Consequences Of These Tax And Social Policies
• Rather than create jobs & its wealth effect, Vermont imports its wealth through the importation of wealthy people. Thus, Vermont creates its own income-disparity as it redistributes that wealth.
• Social Mobility is obstructed and prevented – No need for Job Creation. No Opportunities…
• Ultimately creating a ‘Voting Block of Dependents’ and the kind of “Class-Warfare” of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ that politicians can then run on. Culminating in John Edward’s “Two Americas” scenario.
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VERMONT SPENDING
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How Does Vermont Spend its Revenues?
Education
Human Services
Transportation
People & Prop Protection
Business Type
General Government
Natural Resources
Commerce & Community
Employ. & Training
Debt Interest
39%
36%
75%
7.5%
6%
5%
Source: Vermont Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Fiscal year ending 6/30/06.
75% of Revenues Go Towards Education and Human Services
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Grow The Pie!
How Has Various VT Government Spending
Grown Recently?
Spending Growth Rates FY 2002 - 2007
56.6%
47.6% 45.1%
17.3%
-13.1%-4.7%
-20.0%
-10.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
GeneralEducation
People andProperty
Protection
HumanServices
Employment &Training
Commerceand Commun
Develop
Inflation
Source: Vermont Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Fiscal year ending 6/30/06.
* A 2003 Census study showed VT has about 50% more state employees per capita
than the national average.
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Grow The Pie!
Student Enrollment Down - Employment and Costs Up
Source: Summary of the Annual Statistical Report of Schools (SASR) FY 1997 - 2006
Student Growth = -9.1%; Teacher and Staff Growth = +20.8%
106,341
96,63615,783
19,069
94,000
96,000
98,000
100,000
102,000
104,000
106,000
108,000
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
15,000
16,000
17,000
18,000
19,000
20,000
Students
Teachers and Staff
1997: Act 60 Implementation
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VT’s Student : Teacher Ratio Is Now The Second
Lowest In The Country
Source: U.S. Department of Labor NCES Publication 2007-352
Student : Teacher Ratio National RankU.S. Range 10.7 - 22.1
U.S. Average 15.7Vermont 10.9 2
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As Vermont’s Roads and Bridges
Crumble…
• “A report, prepared by the Legislature's fiscal analysts for the House Transportation Committee, predicts that at current funding levels, the state will face an annual budget shortfall of $203 million for maintaining its transportation system.”
• “Over the next 30 years, the state could face an overall shortage of $6 billion in transportation revenue, according to the report.”
- Times Argus, 1/13/08
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Grow The Pie!
VT Taxpayer’s Looming $3.5 Looming Liabilities
Road/Bridge Repair
Water Systems
Bonded Debt
Pension/Medicaid
Other Expenses
Chit. County Landfill
New Highway Const.
School Construction
New Mental Hospital
State Parks Repair
Repairs to Dams
Collidge Connector
Catamount Health
$451M
$1.3B
$451M
$400M
$90M $75M $43M $18M
$161M
$200M
$45M
New Highway Const. Projects include the Circ, Bennington & Morrisville Bypass. See Web Site for details on all projects.
$300M
$1.3B
$438M
$451M
$438M
$400M$300M$200M$161M$90M
$75M$45M$43M
$18M
$38M
$38M
$3.6B
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Grow The Pie!
VERMONT JOBS
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 30
Grow The Pie!
2007 Year-End Review of Vermont Business
Jobs LostMetroGroup - Rutland 200Dirigo Mill - Gilman 115Qimonda - Williston 135Standard Register - Middlebury 112Omya Industries - Protor 50Vermont Plywood LLC - Hancock 35Northern Power Sys. - Waitsfield & Barre 60TD Banknorth Inc. – Various Locations 30Specialty Filaments - Middlebury 180Neo EMS - Brandon 20Wausau Mill - Northumberland 35Total Job Losses 972No job gains reported; Only “plans” for future jobs.Standard Register was acquired by Connor Homes; 65 of the 112 jobs returned. Specialty Filaments was acquired by Monahan; about 120 of the 180 lost jobs returned.Source: WCAX’s / BFP ‘07 Review on VT Business
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Grow The Pie!
Let’s Play: Jeopardy!
Answer: 0%
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150
170
190
210
230
250
270
Total VTPrivateSectorJobs
Source: Public Assets Institute
Since 2001’s recession, private sector job growth inVermont has essentially been 0%.
(In thousands)
Question: What Was VT’s Private Sector Job
Growth From 2000-2006?
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What Kinds Of Jobs Are Being Created?
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Vermont’s Job Growth March ’06 – March ‘07
• Private-Sector Jobs = Lost - 442
• Government Jobs = Gained + 445 Net + 3
Source: Vermont Economy Newsletter, December, 2007
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Grow The Pie!
The Paradox Of Our Self-Fulfilling
Prophesy
• Vermont is literally “Eating its Own” as it replaces Private-Sector taxpaying business with government and non-profit (non-taxpaying) entities…
• Resulting in greater tax burdens on our shrinking private-sector economy and existing residential property taxpaying citizens.
• Our Legislature then steps in with its social assistance to fill this void.
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Grow The Pie!
What Vermont’sPublic Assets Institute
says…
• “Many of Vermont’s new jobs are low-paying service jobs.”
• “What’s needed in Vermont are good-paying jobs that take full advantage of [its] work force assets.”
• “This would require our Government & Community leaders working together to develop an economic environment that makes the use of these assets a State Priority.”
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What Others Say: Vermont Doesn’t Need Higher Taxes, It Needs a Broader Tax Base!
• Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan concurred with the following statement:
“Over Time, Tax Revenues Are Determined By Economic and Productivity Growth.”
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Why Economic & Productivity Growth is Key to our Economic
Survival
• Money is wealth to people because it allows them to buy stuff with it: Groceries, cars etc.
• Money may not be wealth to a Nation if the Production of Goods and Services does not keep pace with the claims against them.
• Trillions of dollars of debt and trillions more in retirement dollars from baby-boomers will be “cashed in” someday to buy “stuff”.
• If there’s not enough “stuff” to go around; claims become worth less & Inflation occurs.
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“Truth And Consequences”
Presents “Growth And Consequences”…
• Vermont has got to get serious about creating private-sector jobs and wealth through economic and productivity growth…
• Our transportation infrastructure, entitlements and other claims on our economy are growing faster than our economy…
• These rising outlays against a shrinking pool of wealth will lead to lower living standards and personal hardship for our families.
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Grow The Pie!
What Vermont Businesses think of the state of Vermont…
• The O’Neal Group, a nationally recognized “Brand Identity” firm, was retained by the state of Vermont in August of 2000
• They conducted a review & analysis of the Vermont brand from the perspective of existing businesses in Vermont.
• Its findings…
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What Vermont Businesses think of Vermont; Its findings…
• “There is a sense among business people that Vermonters view business growth as a threat to their quality of life.”
• “This mindset underlies the obstructionist & capriciousness associated with the permitting process and regulatory establishment.”
• Reforming the permitting process is the thing Vermont businesses want most from State government. More tax breaks are next.
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Vermont Demographics
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 43
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VT’s Population Growth Is Less Than Half of the
National Average
Population Growth 1997 - 2006
4.5%
9.8%
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
Vermont U.S.
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VT Retirees Double In 25 Years While The Work
Force Shrinks
0
50
100
150
200
250Over 65,(Retirees)
Age 6-18,(school age)
Total Population
Age 20-65,(working age)
Source: Center for Research on Vermont, Art Woolf. (Indexed to 2000 = 100)
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Grow The Pie!
Vermont’s Demographic Crisis…
• Vermont’s young people leave our state at 4 times the national average.
• Vermont has one of the lowest birthrates in the U.S. and in 2005 became the 2nd oldest state in the nation
• “The New England 2020” report released in 2006 found Vermont’s share of people aged 25-29 was the lowest while its share of people aged 50-54 was the highest in the nation.
• Nearly 1 in 4 Vermonters receive some form of Medicaid, and many others receive other kinds of state and federal assistance.
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 46
Grow The Pie!Summary
• Among the Highest Taxed State in the nation • Spending at roughly 3X the Inflation Rate over the
past 5 years in many areas (Education & Human Services; making up 75% of our budget)
• 0% Private-Sector Job growth over the past 8 years• Vermont faces Billions in Unfunded Expenses• Losing our young people at 4X the National Average• With the Medicare and Social Security crisis, VT
cannot expect Federal assistance to bail us out• Bottom Line - We Have Lived Beyond Our Means For
Far Too Long
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VERMONT SOLUTIONS
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Grow The Pie!Wanted: A Plan
• The Pew Center on the States released its 2008 Report Card on state management.
• “Pew strongly agrees that the state needs to do a better job of looking at the big picture when it comes to managing, not just people, but everything.”
• “Poor strategic planning is the theme running through Pew’s report card for [Vermont].”
- Rutland Herald 4/7/08
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Grow The Pie!Vermont’s Solutions…
1. Identify the problem
2. Change the culture = Electing credible Public Officials who represent your priorities
3. Grow The Pie: More high quality, private-jobs = less tax burden for all
4. Contain spending
5. Remove obstacles to private sector job growth and housing
6. It’s Not Too Late – With YOUR help we can right the ship!
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 50
Grow The Pie!Identify the Problem
• As detailed in this presentation and other credible studies, the problem facing Vermonters is a “Perfect Storm” of:
• Excessive spending; living beyond our means
• Anemic private-sector job growth • A rapidly aging population while losing our youth
• And the resultant unsustainable rise in Vermonters’ tax burdens & living costs’; particularly in the cost of housing
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 51
Grow The Pie!Change the Culture
• The climate in Montpelier has increasingly catered to special interests and no longer represents the average, hard-working, middle class Vermonter
• Lawmakers who continually target business & housing & discourage even responsible growth cause VT to lose credibility with potential employers and taxpayers alike
• The status-quo can no longer remain: Changing the makeup of much of our Legislature and its culture must be a priority!
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Grow The Pie!Grow The Pie!
• Being attentive to Vermont’s Economic Health and Growing Private Sector Jobs enables us to:– Be good stewards of the environment– Support the most vulnerable members of our
community– Provide the opportunities which keep our children and
grandchildren in Vermont– Broaden the tax base to ease the burden on low
income Vermonters and those living on fixed incomes– Create meaningful opportunities for those who want to
work hard to create a better life for themselves and their families
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 53
Grow The Pie!Contain Spending
• Persistent spending at 2-3 times above the average Vermonter’s income growth is unsustainable and irresponsible
• You would be jeopardizing your own future if you conducted your own affairs this way, so why elect public officials who endorse this behavior?
• Encourage a reversal of the decision making process: Instead of deciding what is needed and then how we can afford it, let’s decide what we can afford and then make the difficult decisions required to allocate the available resources
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Grow The Pie!
Remove Obstacles to Private Sector Job Growth
• Excessive regulation and permitting has many negative consequences:
– It raises the cost of everything from housing to the premiums you pay for health insurance
– It makes it difficult for local businesses to compete with more business-friendly locales; which leads to fewer job opportunities and fewer goods purchased locally
– It requires greater bureaucracy to maintain, which diverts much needed funds away from the most vulnerable members of our communities
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To Our Legislature and Governor…
• Vermont does not need new Incentives to attract new Business and Housing
• It needs to take away the Disincentives
• Vermont does not need to Stimulate its Economy and Housing sector…
• It needs to Liberate it!
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Grow The Pie!What Can You Do?
• Become Informed – decide for yourself what YOUR priorities are• Sign the Petition (www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org) and
join VEH’s mailing list – there is strength in numbers!• Refer your neighbors, co-workers, friends and families to our Web
site so they can view this presentation and sign the petition• Vote in this fall’s elections and encourage others you know to do the
same• Run for Office – We cannot change the current culture in
Montpelier without changing the composition of the Statehouse• Write Letters to the Editor expressing your concern with the
direction VT is headed• Write your State Legislators and let them know that their priorities
are not YOUR priorities• Become a Volunteer with VEH And…
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S.O.S.(Save Our State)
• Make a Donation to the Political Action Committee (PAC) which VEH has set up to:
• Recruit, Promote and Fund…• Candidates in this November’s elections who
want to Save Our State through VEH’s economic- health agenda
• Checks can be made out to Vermonters For Economic Health or (VEH)
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 58
Grow The Pie!Vermont’s State Motto, 1778
• Vermont resident and writer Dorothy Canfield Fisher wrote the following…
• “The Vermont idea grapples energetically with the basic problem of human conduct…
• How to reconcile the needs of the group, of which every man or woman is a member,
• With the craving for individual freedom to be what he really is.”
www.VermontersForEconomicHealth.org 59
Grow The Pie!It’s All About…
Culture and the rebalancing of our
“Freedom and Unity”
And the Need to Change…
Our Priorities, Institutions & Economic Policies through sound Strategic Planning
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Grow The Pie!
• If you would like a copy of this Presentation or,
• If you would like this Presentation presented to your Town…
• E-mail Tom Licata at: