Send Jim Lipinski to Montpelier to Protect Vermonters
Many Vermonters are struggling and lofty visions about democracy won’t directly put food on the table, provide for an affordable place to live, or ensure that everyone has appropriate health care, so it is a priority of mine to fight to make Vermont a place where the people come before corporations, everyone has what they need to thrive, not just survive, and costs don’t fall disproportionately on those least able to afford them. We need to shift our policy priorities from profit at the expense of everything else to people first. Instead of basing our definition of progress on corporate profits we need to base it on things like the rollout of fair employment and wage laws that values the work done by Vermonters and which our society depend upon. It means prioritizing investments in children, housing, education, and health.
Here is what I’ll do to protect Vermonters
Shift taxes and fees from those who are least able to pay to those who are better able – click to learn more
We must ask those who are better off to contribute commensurately toward a more equitable community. We should look at shifting things like education away from property taxes and toward more progressive taxes like income taxes. I support increasing taxes on the very wealthy, capital gains, estates, and inheritances. This has to be a priority to provide the resources we need to take action addressing other urgent needs.
Prioritize people over profits – click to learn more
We need to recognize the effect of corporate friendly policies on working Vermonters. We need to understand the unintended consequences of policy decisions and make sure they don’t fall disproportionately on those least able to adapt.
Raise the minimum wage to $20 – click to learn more
The current minimum wage is a policy choice that prioritizes profits over people. Across the country naysayers have been predicting disaster for jurisdictions that raise their minimum wage to one that prioritizes people over profits and the record shows their concerns were unfounded. A vibrant middle-class is the foundation of a vibrant economy and vibrant communities.