Vermont: It isn’t just for the middle class anymore

By: Hoyre Ving

In a press release today Governor Shumlin cited fear of upper bracket income flight and his pledge not to increase taxes on the 435 high income taxpayers currently residing in Vermont. He earlier lamented the state’s lack of flexibility concerning raising their taxes and said in part "…frankly my job is to take the 435 high income tax payers in Vermont and grow that base grow our customer base so that we have more revenue."

In support of that customer base the Governor announced his successful personal effort to prevent two couples from fleeing Vermont. He reassured both couples still uneasy and reeling after the near repeal of the Bush era tax cuts that another tax burden at the state level would not be thrust upon them.

Vermont Tigger couldn’t be more pleased that Governor Shumlin not only hasn’t fallen prey to the left’s popular “tax fairness” fallacy but has taken to heart the stewardship of so called “gang of 435” and is wisely expanding his outreach.

April 1, 2011 MONTPELIER-Governor Shumlin explains his intention to explore selective tax incentives designed to retain high earners and reach out of state high income earners who may wish to move here.

As part of his effort to keep 435 high income taxpayers in Vermont and grow that base Gov. Shumlin proposed a new initiative. Named Vermont: It isn’t just for the middle class anymore it builds on his earlier program known as: Shumlin says: “Please don’t move”. Both efforts at retaining and luring high earners are built around the pledge not to raise taxes on those most able to afford them and to maintain a base program of raising middle class income taxes, statewide fee increases coupled with yearly service and budget cutbacks.

In an April 1st state house ceremony the governor took the unusual move of publicly thanking two couples, Devin Canach, his wife Claire Lee Riche of North Bluesprings and Mr. and Mrs. Newton Belast of Carriage Trade Center. They were personally lobbied by the governor and have agreed to “stay-on” in Vermont.

An exhuberant Claire Lee Riche said, "We just had a really good feeling about the whole thing and decided to go with it. We are extremely pleased with the way the whole process has developed.” Mr. Belast who manages his families’ businesses spoke more philosophically “Let’s not punish my success ,my attitude has always been that if the economy’s good for our people at the top, it’s good for the remainder of society."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickle-down_economics