BRATTLEBORO -- When it comes to Vermont's push toward universal, publicly financed health care, Windham County Sen. Peter Galbraith is requesting some straight talk. <\/p>\n
Specifically, the Townshend-based Democrat says lawmakers need to put forth a plan for financing the massive new care system -- a plan that, Galbraith says, will inevitably lead to \"the largest tax increase in Vermont history.\" <\/p>\n
Though his fellow senators on Thursday deleted Galbraith's tax proposals to fund Green Mountain Care, he said residents and businesses deserve answers that, so far, have not been forthcoming. <\/p>\n
\"Let us be honest with our constituents. If we are not willing to raise $2 billion -- if we are not ready for a payroll tax, for a doubling of the income tax, for a doubling of the sales tax and for a premium tax -- let's say so,\" Galbraith said. <\/p>\n
The state is scheduled to implement a publicly-funded health-care model by 2017, and Gov. Peter Shumlin had been bound by statute to deliver a financing plan more than a year ago. That has not happened, and the governor is taking heat for it -- though Shumlin on Thursday declared that \"I'm not reluctant to share anything with Vermonters,\" VTDigger.org reported. <\/p>\n
\"My problem is that we don't have it right yet, and one thing I've learned about health-care reform in the last few months is it's better to get it right than to pick an arbitrary date or, in my case, have it picked for you and have to meet it,\" Shumlin said. <\/p>\n
The governor said attempts to find the right financing formula have proven difficult. Galbraith, however, disagrees with that assessment. <\/p>\n
\"Raising the approximately $2 billion needed for Green Mountain Care is a big decision but not necessarily a complicated one,\" Galbraith said. \"In fact, the very size of the amount that needs to be raised greatly reduces our options and therefore simplifies our choices.\" <\/p>\n
He proposed three financial mechanisms: <\/p>\n
-- A payroll tax of 11 percent on employers and 2 percent on employees. This is easily the single-biggest revenue generator, raising about $1.45 billion. <\/p>\n
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Senator wants financial answers for health care<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BRATTLEBORO -- When it comes to Vermont's push toward universal, publicly financed health care, Windham County Sen. Peter Galbraith is requesting some straight talk. Specifically, the Townshend-based Democrat says lawmakers need to put forth a plan for financing the massive new care system -- a plan that, Galbraith says, will inevitably lead to \"the largest tax increase in Vermont history.\" Though his fellow senators on Thursday deleted Galbraith's tax proposals to fund Green Mountain Care, he said residents and businesses deserve answers that, so far, have not been forthcoming. Continue reading