Essex Republicans Blog

The Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson reignited impactful debates around abortion policy in the United States. While the decision was controversial, it realigned abortion regulations with our nation's foundational principles of democratic self-governance and federalism. A look at the nuanced reality since Dobbs showcases that abortion remains legally permissible across most of the country, with states charting their own courses based on reflecting the will of their respective populations. The Myth of a National Abortion Ban Polarizing rhetoric fuels doomsday scenarios portraying Dobbs as ushering in a nationwide prohibition on abortion access. However, this premise is simply not accurate. The reality is that a majority of states codified allowances for legal abortion under defined circumstances. According to data analytics from August 2023 (numbers vary depending on the source & definitions): • 13-14 out of 50 states enacted laws severely limiting or ban...

As a conservative, it's natural for concern regarding the resources of our planet.  The narrow discussion around environmental issues focusing on climate change loses focus on other pressing issues.  Systems theory highlights that one input to a system cannot be discounted nor solely blamed on an outcome....but the media hyper focus on emissions loses sight of other pressing environmental challenges that have profound impacts on the health of our ecosystems and communities.  The current scale and pace of environmental degradation is truly unprecedented - and much of it has nothing to do with greenhouse gas emissions despite the political landscape. Plastics & Toxins      Take the issue of plastic pollution, for instance. Our oceans are now awash with trillions of pieces of microplastic. These tiny plastic particles find their way into the food chain, with untold consequences for marine life and human health.  When was the last time you walked the s...

  Rethinking Vermont's School Funding Approach Vermont currently funds K-12 education through a mix of statewide and local property taxes. About two-thirds of the $1.6 billion yearly total comes from homeowners via tax rates and formulas set at the state level. This convoluted system aims to equalize spending across districts, but creates confusion on how increasing revenues tie to per-pupil funding and outcomes. Property tax bills also provide income-based credits for affordability, but these credits lag behind current year taxes owed. This mismatch leaves many families unaware of what drives changing tax burdens. As wages and budgets feel squeezed by taxes going up faster than incomes, public trust in the school funding model has eroded.  Click here for the Joint Fiscal Office Brief on Property Tax Credit There are better approaches. Several states predominantly allocate operational funding to     schools through state income or sales taxes. Others ...

     Vermont residents face a highly consolidated individual health insurance marketplace, with only two carriers offering plans for 2023—MVP Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. This duopoly limits consumer choice and alternative coverage options within the state. Further analysis shows Vermont’s strict control over marketplace participation correlates clearly with premium rates being substantially higher than larger states and even similarly-sized populations. By modifying key regulations and taking gradual steps to allow increased health insurance competition, Vermont policymakers could exert downward pressure on pricing to benefit everyday residents and small businesses. Evaluating Vermont’s Limited Carrier Landscape      According to the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation’s 2023 QHP issuer participation report, MVP Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield Vermont control 86% and 14% market share respectively . No other carriers offe...

       As Americans, we’re often reminded of issues facing our society.  No doubt real obstacles impacting lives of Vermonters. And we must continue pressing forward in addressing these head-on. Trendlines of Improvement - Past Measures      However, we also need acknowledge by nearly any metric - health, education, economic opportunity, personal liberties - the average American lives at a higher standard than nearly any cohort in human history. Diseases that ravaged prior generations have been controlled. Poverty and violence continue declining from peaks in past decades. Individual rights keep expanding to more identities. The trendlines point upward.      Importantly, the rights and reforms we continue to fight for have their underpinnings in the Western philosophical tradition. Concepts of individual liberty, human dignity, and reason that developed from classical Greek and Enlightenment thought still guide our notions of justic...

     It is no secret that Progressive politicians like Senator Sanders and Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George portray our nation's criminal justice system as "broken." The thing of it is, our United States developed a comprehensive system of laws and correction practices to protect public safety and uphold justice. While no system is perfect, our current model plays an important role.      Critics point to high rates of recidivism as evidence of failure. However, the fact that many offenders reoffend does not necessarily mean the system itself is to blame. Little doubt regarding complex societal factors contribute a large share to criminal behavior.  We as a society should definitely consider the substantial costs of incarceration AND the greater costs of crime to communities overall.      While progressives point to high recidivism rates as evidence of a failed justice system, we cannot place the onus solely on society...