TO THE EDITOR: THE NORTHFIELD NEWS ANTHONY POLLINA, candidate for Washington County State Senate, says it’s time for Vermonters to declare independence from unfair taxes, banks too big to fail and industrialized food.

Pollina is well known in Washington County as an organizer and advocate for farmers, workers and the environment. He is the founder of Rural Vermont, former Executive Director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and former Senior Advisor to Bernie Sanders. He is running for one of Washington County’s three State Senate seats.

Pollina is using the July 4th holiday to call on Vermonters to make investing local a priority.

“It’s time for a real Buy Local, Hire Local policy. Time to invest in local renewable power. Time to increase support for local businesses and farms. And, time for new ideas like a Vermont Credit Card and Vermont Investment Fund to keep more of our dollars in Vermont,“ he said.

I want my tax dollars spent in Vermont whenever possible. We go out of our way to buy local. The State should do the same. Layoffs and program cuts are short sighted. Investing locally is sensible long-term policy.

Ask yourself, “What would Ethan Allen do in times like this?” The answer: build a strong local, Vermont economy. And, if Ethan Allen were around he would carry a Vermont Credit Card.

Vermont institutions still serve meat and milk from elsewhere; Vermont utilities buy wind power from New Hampshire, big construction projects use workers from out of state and Governor Douglas actually opposed legislation to make buying local a priority. For Douglas and Lt. Governor Dubie, Buy Local is only a slogan, but you can’t bring slogans to the bank.”

Pollina said strengthening our local economy will help cut the state’s budget deficit.

“First, let’s remember that the budget of every Vermont family is as important as the state budget,” he said. “Then we can balance the state budget without hurting average families, seniors, people with disabilities and other struggling folks, with no tax increases on average income families and no more shifting of state costs onto local communities.

Lowering health care costs is part of the solution. Health costs are bankrupting state and local government, businesses and families. A single payer “Medicare for All” system cutting bureaucracy and controlling costs will help take pressure off all our budgets.

And we need fewer closed door budget meetings and more citizen voices at the table when decisions are being made about how we raise and spend money,” he said.

Pollina says his proposed Vermont Credit Card will invest in local farms and renewable power every time it’s used. And his 2% for Vermont Investment Fund has public institutions like UVM and Fletcher Allen targeting 2% of their investment portfolios to lending to local businesses.

“We need to get new ideas on the table. I look forward to hearing voters’ ideas as I meet with folks across Washington County in the days ahead.”

ANTHONY POLLINA

Montpelier