Issues

Healthcare

Every Vermonter deserves access to quality and affordable healthcare. For too many families, the cost of insurance premiums, deductibles, and prescription drugs creates impossible choices between medical care and other basic necessities. Addressing healthcare access means supporting community health centers, expanding coverage through state programs, and holding insurance companies accountable for fair pricing.

Vermont has been at the forefront of healthcare innovation, exploring models that prioritize patients over profits. Strengthening the state's healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where provider shortages are most acute, remains a critical priority. Mental health services, substance use treatment, and preventive care programs must receive sustained funding to serve communities effectively.

Fair Wages

Vermont's working families deserve wages that allow them to live with dignity. The push for raising the minimum wage reflects a commitment to ensuring that full-time work provides enough income to cover housing, food, and basic living expenses without relying on public assistance.

A fair minimum wage benefits the broader economy by increasing consumer spending in local businesses and reducing employee turnover. Small businesses, which form the backbone of Vermont's economy, thrive when their customers have disposable income. Phased increases give employers time to adjust while providing workers with meaningful improvements to their standard of living.

Environmental Protection

Vermont's natural landscape is both an economic asset and a sacred trust. Clean water, healthy forests, and fertile farmland sustain tourism, agriculture, and the quality of life that defines the state. Protecting these resources requires strong environmental regulations, investment in renewable energy, and support for sustainable agricultural practices.

Climate change poses particular risks to Vermont, from more frequent flooding events to shifting growing seasons that affect the state's agricultural sector. Transitioning to clean energy, improving flood resilience, and maintaining water quality standards for Lake Champlain and other waterways are essential components of a responsible environmental strategy.

Government Accountability

Vermonters should never have to wonder whether their elected officials answer to them or to corporate donors. Strengthening campaign finance regulations, increasing transparency in government contracting, and protecting whistleblowers who expose waste and fraud are essential to maintaining public trust.

Vermont's tradition of direct democracy through town meetings and accessible local government provides a model for civic engagement. Preserving and strengthening these democratic institutions ensures that government remains responsive to the people it serves rather than powerful special interests.

Economic Development

Building a stronger Vermont economy means investing in workforce development, supporting small businesses, and creating conditions for sustainable growth. Vermont's economy benefits from its distinctive identity, including its agricultural heritage, craft industries, and growing technology sector.

Rural economic development requires targeted investment in broadband infrastructure, transportation, and business support services. By connecting Vermont communities to markets and resources, economic development efforts can create opportunities across the state rather than concentrating them in a few urban centers.