issues

This website is paid for by Friends of Rachel,
78 1/2 Pitkin Street, Burlington, VT 05401
John Patrick Tracy, Treasurer

“Government should look
like the face of America.
That’s why we need young
people in office. Rachel
brings the energy, new
ideas, and dedication to be
an effective legislator.”
- Governor
Madeleine Kunin

The cost of energy is too high for our pocket books and our
environment. We must decrease our dependency on foreign oil
and develop safe, sustainable alternatives such as solar, wind,
and bio-fuels (including corn, soy, and cow poop!). Moving to
clean energy will energize the economy and create new,
high-paying, Vermont-based jobs.

The cost of living in Vermont is increasing faster than wages. If
you work hard, you should be able to support yourself and your
family. Vermont needs a Livable Wage so that all families can
meet their basic needs. The legislature’s increase in the
minimum wage last year was a step in that direction. I support
community investment to create jobs with livable wages.

I believe in celebrating diversity. Vermont opened her arms to
refugees and made history by legalizing Civil Unions. We must
protect civil rights and liberties. I support equal marriage rights
for gay couples, banning discrimination based on gender
identity, and ensuring that health decisions remain between a
woman and her doctor.

All Vermonters deserve affordable healthcare. The Legislature
made progress last term by addressing the largest cost-driver –
chronic diseases – and also took us a step closer to universal
coverage. While I'm proud of the advances made, we still have
much work ahead of us in fixing healthcare. This remains a top
priority.

Vermont faces a statewide shortage of affordable housing. We
must preserve safe and affordable housing options. Last
session, the legislature invested in low-income housing stock
and helped low-income renters become home owners. We must
examine all of our housing funding and incentive programs and
develop a long-range housing plan.

Outrageous property taxes are a symptom of the greater
problem of unfair taxation. Let’s move beyond political rhetoric
and carefully examine our tax policies. Those earning more
should pay higher taxes. I advocate for shifting the burden onto
the wealthiest taxpayers and corporations, and off of middle-
and low-income Vermonters.

It’s a fact: Vermont is gorgeous. But it’s not by accident -- we
take care of our environment. Now we need to strengthen
efforts to clean our streams and lakes, particularly Lake
Champlain. The Sierra Club and Vermont Alliance of
Conservation Voters endorsed me, and I’ve signed VPIRG’s
clean energy pledge. I’ll fight to keep Vermont green.

Fifteen years ago, for every dollar we spent on our
prisons and jails, we spent three dollars on higher
education. Now, for each corrections dollar, higher education
gets 80 cents. Meanwhile, our prisons are overcrowded and
our staff is overwhelmed, while many violent crimes have
increased. Let’s spend wisely and address the root causes of
crime.