Tag: rob roper
Tax Land

TCI Interstate Carbon Tax Is Imploding

The ink wasn’t dry on the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) memorandum of understanding before Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) declared it a “boondoggle” that his state would never support. That first domino fell hard, now several others are teetering. In Connecticut, Governor Ted Lamont (D-CT), who has an approval rating of 24 percent and is already Read More…
Tax Land

How Will Vermonters Afford This Agenda?

The Vermont legislature returns in January with a long list of daunting challenges, all with potentially astronomical price tags for Vermonters, who are already some of the most highly taxed people in the United States. Among this list includes a projected 6% increase in property taxes to fund an education system already topping $2 billion Read More…
Business & Economics

Yes, We Do Need to Focus on Our Business Climate

Governor Scott recently took some heat from the media over a statement he made following the announcement by Energizer that they would be closing their Bennington plant and moving its operations to Wisconsin. The governor said: “This decision [by Energizer] is an unfortunate example of why those of us in Montpelier need to work together Read More…
Tax Land

The Authoritarian/Totalitarian Plastic Bag Ban

By Rob Roper Activists and politicians around Vermont are preening with pride about having passed the nation’s broadest ban on plastic bags and plastic products, with a promise (in the form of a study committee) of more to come. As citizens of an ostensibly free society founded upon the principle of limited government, this is Read More…
Op-Ed Statehouse

Niceties Aside, It’s an Authoritarian Police State

by Rob Roper In a recent commentary featured on Vermont Digger, Steering Clear of the Shoals of Socialism, David Moats urges his fellow leftists to avoid the negative stereotypes of the socialist label by calling their ideology, of all things, “Democratic Capitalism.” Yeah, nice try! He says, “One way for Democrats to protect themselves from the deeply Read More…
Business & Economics Energy

Green Reality: Ripping Off the Poor to Subsidize the Rich

by Rob Roper VPR is doing a terrific series on state programs titled, Did It Work?, going back to see whether or not the promises put forth by government programs actually delivered. So far, they have examined three such programs, none of which met expectations. I wish I could say I was surprised. One story Read More…