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.