Mark Shepard for Congress and for Vermont

Focusing on Vermont

Bennington Banner Letters to the Editor

Focusing on Vermont

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/Letters?previousNews2809901=07%2F06%2F2006+02%3A00%3A00+EDT

July 6, 2006

In her June 13 letter, Linda Putney makes a good point that deserves further discussion. Of course, "national issues" should be the key concern of anyone running for a U.S. House seat. However, some "national" issues impact Vermonters a lot, and others do not.

As a Vermont state senator, I have seen firsthand how important it is that our federal representatives remain focused on issues that impact us locally. It is the job of Vermont's member of the U.S. House to go to Washington to represent Vermont, and Vermonters' interests.

Between the hundreds of thousands of dollars of out-of-state political action committee money pouring into Martha Rainville's and Peter Welch's coffers and the intense interest in this seat from the DC power brokers for the sake of parties keeping or gaining power, the interests of Vermonters are getting lost.

While Rainville and Welch are concerned whether Donald Rumsfeld should have a job tomorrow or not, Vermonters are much more concerned with whether they'll have a job themselves tomorrow or not.

Vermonters struggle to afford health insurance, yet there is federal legislation that would allow Vermonters to buy much cheaper health insurance across state lines, saving the average Vermont family thousands of dollars a year. Why aren't candidates discussing this?

Recently Sen. Leahy was successful in putting language regarding temporary worker visas, which is critical for Vermont's tourism and agricultural industries, into a Senate version of immigration reform bill. Why aren't the candidates discussing how they'll make sure this language passes in the House?

How Vermonters get to use, preserve and protect public land and our outdoor traditions is largely determined in Washington. We better make sure that the laws passed reflect the interests of Vermonters, not those of some California-based special-interest group.

I believe these kinds of national issues need to be the focus if we're going to use the office of United States congressman as a tool for bettering the lives of the people here at home.

I was raised on a farm in Vermont, I learned a blue collar trade in Vermont, I'm raising a young family in Vermont, I'm running a small business in Vermont, and I've served Vermonters in the Senate. All these experiences connect me to life in Vermont in a way that keeps my focus on what will help the people of this state. This race can be about empowering Democrats. It can be about empowering Republicans. Or it can be about empowering Vermonters. I'm running for the U.S. House to empower Vermonters.

SEN. MARK SHEPARD

North Bennington

"... many politicians talk the talk about doing something tangible about new jobs and it doesn't go much further. Sen. Shepard walked the walk."
"Sen. Shepard's big accomplishment, and it is a significant one, lies in the major role he played in bringing the Bennington Microtech Center into being."

Bennington Banner State Senator Endorsement Editorial, October 29, 2004