By Representative Jim Eckhardt
posted
Oct 18, 2012
We have all heard the expression "sheep" or "tow the party line"
or perhaps "what are they drinking that makes them vote that way?"
Before serving my first term in the Vermont House of
Representatives, I too heard these expressions, but refused to
believe their meaning. In my mind, legislators would take the time
to read proposed legislation and make decisions based on what was
best for their constituents. Oh sure I heard the occasional "they
vote the way their party wants them to" or "they're in the pocket
of special interests." I refused to believe that in little and oh
so quaint Vermont, where everybody knows everybody, the legislature
would partake in this type of activity; after all we are different
than the rest of the country. If legislators were told how to vote
or a bill's fate was essentially predetermined, wouldn't the
Vermont press be up in arms and splashing this disturbing news all
over your morning paper? It turns out I was a bit naïve in the
workings of the Legislature.
Vermont continues to face serious challenges. We have a
projected budget shortfall of $55 million dollars and that doesn't
include the shortage we face in the education fund. We are
embarking on large-scale health care reform without knowing the
details of how it's going to be funded. These challenges and others
will require more objectivity and less party politics as we truly
serve the best interests of the people. Bills should be debated,
not just for the appearance of a debate, but to discuss and argue
the salient issues from different perspectives. That's democracy
and it's in short supply in Montpelier.
I'm a firm believer that one political party does not have a
monopoly on good ideas. I've worked hard as your Representative to
vote without the filter of party politics. I concentrate on
communicating with my constituents and their concerns regardless of
party affiliation.
This picture with the word "NO" displayed was taken last
session; it's the House Majority Leader's desk, which my colleagues
walk past as we enter the House Chamber. It's a "cue" for my
friends across the aisle on how to vote. In one word we are able to
throw away all the debate and conversation about how good or bad a
bill is for Vermonters. I'm positive when Vermonters send their
representatives to Montpelier; they want more then cue card
reading. We can do better.
An example of this type of politics in action would be the $21
million dollar loan that CVPS was to repay to CVPS customer upon
the sale of CVPS to Gaz metro. I sent an email to my constituents
seeking their input on this repayment and received a huge response
back that my constituent's wanted their money back. We had some 80
legislators agreeing that they were in favor of amending a bill to
get the money back to rate payers. That's when the special interest
lobbyists and party politics kicked in. It's also when, in a sense,
another note was placed on a desk ending debate and subsequently,
the will of the people. In the end a political party was served,
special interests were served, a large foreign corporation was
served, but unfortunately the people of the State of Vermont were
not. I think Vermonters deserve better, I know my constituency
does.
Rep. Jim Eckhardt is running for re-election in Rutland/Windsor
1
Photo submitted
House Majority Leader Lucy Leriche's desk in the legislature
