Living and Working in Burlington Vermont

State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan recently announced the appointment of a Special Deputy State’s Attorney to oversee his office’s investigation into the Burlington Telecom debacle. I applaud that decision.

First of all, the choice of Robert Simpson as the Special Prosecutor is a brilliant move. As a former prosecutor and regulator, Mr. Simpson is uniquely qualified to assume oversight of the investigation. Additionally, his reputation as a fair arbiter of facts is beyond reproach. While he held elected office as State’s Attorney, his tenure was non-partisan and the decisions coming out of his office were based on the rule and interpretation of law. Whatever the outcome of his review of BT, no one will be able to point to the decision and charge political motivation.

The second reason to cheer this move is that it is high time to put this issue to rest. This city and our region have been caught up in the morass of BT for far too long. It has dominated the press and the City Council and has hampered efforts to move forward on other critical issues facing the region. The Moran Plant, tax burden, broad-based economic development, and the city’s credit worthiness have all been touched by the lack of resolution on this matter. Reputations have been impugned and the cloud of mistrust that has emerged between elected officials has no place in Vermont or in the City of Burlington. On a related note, the employees of BT have worked diligently and with professionalism under the glare of an unflattering spotlight. Their fortitude has been incredible and they deserve better.

So, our thanks go out to State’s Attorney Donovan for moving this investigation along and we eagerly await the outcome of Mr. Simpson’s work. Whatever the result, we must be prepared to move on.

As we go about our holiday preparations and celebrate with family and friends, please take time out to consider those who are without the support systems that many of us take for granted. Consider those who live out on the streets, cold and without shelter in the worst of Vermont’s winter. Homeless shelters are at critical mass; food shelf programs are stretched; more Americans than ever are on food stamps; the food line at the Salvation Army extends around the block. On my way to work earlier this week with the thermostat hovering around 20 degrees, I witnessed a homeless person huddled and trying to sleep in the doorway of a vacant office building.

Vermont has always prided itself on the depth of its private sector philanthropy. We have stood tall even in the toughest of economic times ensuring that the most needy had basic services to survive. It is more important now to give than ever before.

I forgot who said it, but to paraphrase: "A society is measured by how well it takes care of its most needy." So, during this season of giving, let’s prove once again that the Lake Champlain Region will be judged well by those that come after us. For if we do, our holidays will be most certainly joyous.

As noted in a recent article in The Economist, the French author and philosopher Victor Hugo remarked that “nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.” Prophetic words as we contemplate what the Vermont legislature has before it this year. In fact, there are a few ideas whose time has arrived and we will all be watching and participating in the debates. First and foremost, state government will need to return to a sustainable spending trajectory. Unless we significantly increased the presence of value-added businesses and the tax revenues that are derived from them, programs near and dear to someone will have to be curtailed or cut. We have many promises to keep to our most needy, to our civil servants, to our youth, and to the elderly. Keeping those will require tough choices on other fronts. We cannot tax our way out of this situation.

Speaking of taxes, another idea ripe for coming to fruition is a restructuring of our tax system. It has served us well over the years and the cobbling done by administrations and legislators to meet immediate and exigent needs deserves our thanks and respect. But all systems mature and finally outlive their ability to be massaged. Such is the current reality. The Blue Ribbon Commission will release its recommendations soon and we will all find things to like and dislike among their suggestions. Every one of us has an affirmative obligation to consider the common good and put aside purely territorial imperatives. In the long run we will all benefit. The time has come to take the long view - one that extends beyond the two year election cycle.

Finally, the issue often described as the third rail, health care reform, cannot be ignored. Rates rising 20% per year, state sponsored programs that are not self-supporting, providers reimbursed at less than 50% of actual costs, and deductibles at $5,000 and above cannot be condoned in the greatest country and greatest economy in the world. Solutions will be elusive and no one can expect to be held harmless from change.

For the Chamber’s part, we commit to working towards a collaborative solution. We will have to compromise, whether it is on state budget issues, tax policy, or health care. We hope and expect that others bring the same openness to the debate.