In an interview on WVMT’s Morning Drive, the newly elected Democrat Majority Leader in the Vermont House, Lori Houghton (D-Essex), blamed their historic election losses on (drumroll) poor communications.
Asked by host Kurt Wright what lessons she took from November 5th, Houghton replied, “Vermonters didn’t understand that what we passed will help them. And we need to communicate that better. We need to be able to go to someone, sit at their kitchen table and say this is what we passed, and this is how it’s going to help you. We didn’t do well with that message.”
First observation, this condescending attitude toward the voters – we know what’s best for you, and you’re just too daft to appreciate it – is a very big reason why you got your tails handed to you. How exactly is a 14 percent property tax increase helpful to us peasants? Please do come to my kitchen table and explain! And how is having to pay a dollar or more per gallon for home heating fuel going to help us afford to stay warm in winter? And, while you’re here, your handling of our healthcare situation…. Helpful how? The list of your “helpful” policies is long.
Moreover, Houghton expressed her support for Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) returning to the Speaker’s office and is confident Krowinski will be re-elected to the post, stating that November 5 was “…a really tough election, but that doesn’t mean we walk away from our core beliefs and values.” So, translation: We still know best. We’re not changing direction. Message not received.
As for the notion that Vermont Democrats have a communications problem given the fact that the Vermont press corps acts essentially as their PR arm, and they have the mega-funded special interest groups of VPIRG, VNRC, Energy Action Network, et al out their pushing their environmental agenda to the public, the VTNEA, Let’s Grow Kids, et al proselytizing for their education agenda, and the behemoth that is UVM Medical Center making the case for their healthcare agenda, etcetera and so on, how much bigger a megaphone can they possibly require?
Maybe… just maybe… The Clean Heat Standard, Renewable Energy Standard, a $100 million plus payroll tax to subsidize childcare, banning ICE vehicles, the idea that the Green Mountain Care Board is a good way to control healthcare costs are all just turds that can’t be polished.
But, speaking of communications problems – real communications problems – let’s turn to the Vermont Republicans for a moment.
After winning 18 (potentially 19) house seats the caucus held its first press conference this morning (12/4/24). Maybe tomorrow will bring more stories (not holding breath), but so far, the only one I’ve been able to find is from VPR – a grand total of 191 words. The gist of the story is that House Republicans will vote to sustain the governor’s vetoes.
Uhh…. Okay.
There must be more to the story than this, I thought. There must be a press release outlining an agenda that goes into more depth about what message House Republicans took away from the election, or video of the full press conference posted. So, I searched. I went to the Republican House Caucus’ Facebook page. The last thing posted there is from February 15, 2022. They have a Twitter account! Last post: August 25, 2021. The VTGOP? Nope. Nada. Though the VTGOP did post a notice on December 3rd that newly elected Senate Minority Leader Scott would be appearing on VPR, and a press release announcing Beck’s election on November 26th, so I have to believe if the House Caucus had a press release or a statement of some kind the VTGOP would have posted it in a timely manner.
I mean, come on, guys!
The challengers who stepped up and just knocked off a dozen incumbents, including two committee chairs, as well as those who won competitive open seats ran on a very strong message, promising to kill the Clean Heat Standard, eliminate the lawsuit provision of the Global Warming Solutions Act, and to end the endless property tax increases. If you want to keep those seats you just won after 2026 – let alone pick up more — you better be communicating to the people who elected you – every day between now and then – that you are fighting aggressively to do these things. You better have legislation pinned to the walls of committee rooms come January, and if the Democrats refuse to take any of it up, scream bloody murder until they do. If they still don’t, you better hold them very publicly to account.
The Vermont media is not going to help you. So, Vermont Republicans, if you don’t communicate your vision, what you’re doing to implement it, and what’s stopping you, the people who elected you are going to be asking themselves if YOU got the message of November 5, 2024.
