Primary voters: What would you ask the candidates?

Two questions (4.00 / 1)

Given the poor economy in Vermont, how do you see the role of social services in the state over the next decade?  Do you think they need to be reduced, increased or restructured?

Jim Douglas has been re-elected by comfortable margins in every election since he first took the office.  How is your approach to unseating him any different than those who tried before you, and how do you think you'll succeed where others have failed?

Musician, Web Designer, Photographer

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by: JulieWaters @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:23:52 PM UTC

Two questions, too (0.00 / 0)

And I'll probably think of others. (I'm glad you are doing this, btw.)

1. A lot of younger voters in Vermont were introduced to politics by becoming involved in the 2008 presidential campaign. How will the candidates transfer that momentum to the state level and address the concerns of young Vermonters?

2. Will you ask our Congressional delegation to actively campaign around the state for your candidacies? (They didn't for Symington in 2008.)

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by: JayV @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:58:29 PM UTC

Jim Douglas advocates to weaken environmental regulation. (4.00 / 2)

Despite evidence that suggests that we were spared much of the worst of the real estate bubble precisely BECAUSE regulations require us to look before we leap; he claims that these regulations are discouraging "quality" businesses from locating in Vermont. How would you respond to this argument, and how strongly will you defend the ability of affected individuals and local grassroots groups to access the Act 250 system in order to challenge projects with potentially significant environmental and economic impacts for their communities?

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by: Sue Prent @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 14:06:02 PM UTC

Last Time (0.00 / 0)

Questions:
The last time few "big name" Democrats worked really hard for Symington.  1. Do you agree that a hard fought primary is the best way to energize the party to defeat the encumbant?  2. What will you do to ensure that all the 'big names" get behind the final Democatic candidate?

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by: Older is better @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 16:04:06 PM UTC

Eyes on the Prize (4.00 / 3)

Will you pledge to campaign "primarily" against the Republican candidate rather than against the other Democratic candidates? And if you lose, will you actively campaign and raise money for the successful Democratic nominee?

What is your stand on extending the working life of the Entergy Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant? Under what conditions and for how long?

If Yankee closes in 3 years, what steps will you take to ensure that Vermonters will not see steep hikes in electric rates? How will you deal with limitations on Vermont's capacity to accept more power from Hydro Quebec?

What changes should be made to the Catamount Health plan to make it more accessible, affordable and responsive to Vermonters' health care needs?

How will you fund retirement obligations for state employees and teachers?

NanuqFC
Politics is the science of who gets what, when and why. ~ Sidney Hillman (1887-1946, American Trade Unionist)

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by: NanuqFC @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 18:09:39 PM UTC

Does Susan (0.00 / 0)

Bartlett have a website for her campaign that I am somehow missing searching with Google?

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by: jjem @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 21:03:12 PM UTC

Advanced Info (0.00 / 0)

Of course, by posting questions in the comments, we're giving the candidates plenty of advanced warning about our concerns -- since we know they or their surrogates read the site (Ms Markowitz says she does not read the blogs, but that one of her campaign staffers does).

NanuqFC
I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat! ~ Will Rogers (1879-1935)                        

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by: NanuqFC @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 22:34:39 PM UTC

I don't see a problem with that (4.00 / 2)

We do intend to send them a list of questions; this isn't Final Jeopardy where we gauge them based on their ability to come up with the correct answer in a speedy fashion.  I want them to take their time to think about how they answer these.

Musician, Web Designer, Photographer

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by: JulieWaters @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 22:47:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Energized answers (0.00 / 0)

An effective primary is one that energizes the base.  Nothing wrong with having energized answers. 

I agree that I'd like to see the most substantive interaction on these questions possible.  

sláinte,
cl

-- Religion is like sodomy: both can be harmless when practiced between consenting adults but neither should be imposed upon children.

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by: Caoimhin Laochdha @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:43:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

She used to read 'em (4.00 / 1)

Or at least that's what she said to me a couple times.

Hey! I don't wanna ambush 'em. Let 'em read and know what we're thinking. We're all on the same team. Heck, they should drop in and suggest questions!

Nullius perfectus est

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by: odum @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 00:39:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jail (4.00 / 2)

Do you support moving more Vermont prisoners to the private jails? Would you build a big prison in Vermont and create jobs? Why are we sending our money to Kentucky? Didn't Vermonters say they liked our prisoners coming out better? Do you have any stock in a private jail chain?

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by: HSTGonzo @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 00:23:25 AM UTC

Candidate Question (0.00 / 0)

Vermont was recently ranked 7th out of the 50 states for the worst 2010 budget gap.  Considering that the Federal stimulus funds will run dry and that the Legislature seems determined not to cut a significant amount of spending, how do you intend to pay this deficit?

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by: Marek Hirsch @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 03:30:57 AM UTC

where would (4.00 / 4)

you guys be without your rankings?

the percentage is a function of the General Fund only; it excludes Education & Federal Funds (regular, not stimulus), both of which are larger than the GF; and it excludes the Trans. Fund too; are you sure this measure has meaning and is apples to apples? do you care?

I also take issue with your assertion that the Leg. has not cut a significant amount of spending.

BTW - The amount of $ wasted on health care admin. is likely 4 - 5 times as great as the estimated budget gap (up to 30% of $4 billion and going up every year even after we come out of this recession). Do you care about that and the impact on the economy and our families & businesses?  

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by: Doug Hoffer @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 04:17:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

First question (4.00 / 1)

Who is your opponent?  If the answer isn't Jim Douglas, then don't bother going any further.

Second Question

How are you going to use the internet in your campaign and how are you going to get the 50 and younger voters activated?

It is great so many interesting people want to run and good to have a deep bench of Dems.

At this point I have my favorite and will see if that holds as the campaigns progress.

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by: Linda in the Northeast Kingdom @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 13:43:45 PM UTC

Question (4.00 / 1)

How do you respond to people who claim that government is not being responsive to the voters and taxes are too high?

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by: greenvtster @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 17:31:32 PM UTC

Public Service Board (4.00 / 2)

How quickly will you remake the PSB to reflect the concerns of the citizens of Vermont rather than those of the companies it supposedly regulates?  Will you demand resignations or wait for terms to end?  In the meantime,

How will you deal with the threat of bankruptcy by Fairpoint in order to begin negotiations about reducing service level agreements?  How soon after you are elected will you require Entergy to fully fund the decommissioning fund?  What will you do to re-introduce competition in cable television to keep a check on Comcast?

Gee, that's 5 questions, and we've hardly gotten started.  I'd love to be on the PSB for the next decade or so...  :)

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by: Tom C @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 20:19:59 PM UTC

On the economy (0.00 / 0)

Small businesses are the backbone of Vermont's economy.  How do you propose to further enhance and support existing and start up companies?

Nate Freeman

Northfield, VT

natefreeman@gmail.com

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by: mydog @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 20:58:59 PM UTC

an important issue (0.00 / 0)

however, "support" typically requires resources
and since much of our public resources are devoted to policies & programs that don't work, the predicate question is "will you insist on rigorous objective performance reviews of ALL economic development programs"? (as is requirted by law but ignored in practice)

only then can the Leg. make informed decisions about how to allocate resources

all of the candidates need to hear from us on this

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by: Doug Hoffer @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 21:48:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

redirecting resources (4.00 / 1)

I suppose I didn't ask the question very well and perhaps I am leading the question.  My thought is that the Dept. of Economic Development and VEDA need to be overhauled.  

But as I said, that's leading the question, isn't it?

Nate Freeman

Northfield, VT

natefreeman@gmail.com

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by: mydog @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 17:31:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I thought (4.00 / 1)

your question was fine

but I am afraid of potential puff responses that don't acknowledge the shortage of funds (e.g., "we will do x, y, and z" but not identify the funding)

in my experience, most elected officials are terrified to ask or answer hard questions about econ. dev. for fear of being labelled "anti-business"; as a result, there is very little substantive discussion about the efficacy of existing programs and the range of alternatives

so without context, your (perfectly reasonable) question is just an opportunity for some candidates to say almost anything that they think you want to hear

many agree that we need an overhaul; you and I might or might not agree on the details but I think we both want to hear the candidates get serious about this

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by: Doug Hoffer @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 17:50:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My two questions (4.00 / 3)

1) Exactly what will you do to help make Vermont capable of producing most of the food it eats?

2) Exactly what will you do to help make Vermont capable of producing most of the energy it needs?

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by: bill mckibben @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 01:36:33 AM UTC

Good ones. (0.00 / 0)

I'll second those questions.

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by: Sue Prent @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 03:14:34 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

two more from a while ago (0.00 / 0)

2 questions I had jotted down a while ago - where do you stand on touch-screen voting, and on the  2-vote school budgets?

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by: greenvtster @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 03:34:41 AM UTC

a few more from me (0.00 / 0)

1. What will you do to improve the efficiency of Vermont's health care system?

2. If national health care reform includes an option for states to experiment with reform on a local basis with some support, would you have Vermont participate, and what changes or approaches would you implement?

3. As Governor, would you continue to have Vermont languish near the bottom in terms of support to higher education?

4. What changes would you make, if any, to the current system of economic incentives and tax breaks in our state?

5. How would you strengthen the job market in Vermont?

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by: greenvtster @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 03:41:07 AM UTC

Governor's Pay (4.00 / 1)

Vermont is one of the smallest states in the union in area and in the bottom 6 or 7 in population. Yet the governor's pay is 12th highest in the nation ($143,957, based on data from 2007). Would you take a pay cut as governor, as so many of the rest of Vermont's workers have had to do?

NanuqFC
I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor, I was needy. Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy, I was deprived. Then they told me deprived was a bad image, I was underprivileged. Then they told me underprivileged was overused, I was disadvantaged. I still don't have a dime. But I have a great vocabulary. ~ Jules Feiffer

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by: NanuqFC @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 15:07:23 PM UTC

Yes! (0.00 / 0)

Great question!

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by: Sue Prent @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 21:09:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]