This is what a Progressive agenda looks like

[cali]

<snip>

But the case for leading from the states comes naturally to Shumlin, who has pursued a dizzying agenda in Vermont, stocked with big ticket Democratic priorities that wouldn’t stand a chance on Capitol Hill. His national sales pitch is a variation on an argument Republicans have made since 2008, when Obama’s first election prompted the GOP to turn outside Washington for leadership.

<snip>

Shumlin has put Vermont on the path toward a single-payer health care system, setting up a robust insurance exchange called Green Mountain Care and pledging to unveil — at a later date — funding mechanisms for universal, government-backed care. He has trumpeted the cause of gay marriage and pushed for immigration and child care reforms that would stand little chance on the national level.

The governor has pushed for what looks like a wish list of national liberal goals, only some of them related to jobs: He has expanded broadband Internet access, banned hydraulic fracking and opposed the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. In the current legislative session, he is arguing for issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented agricultural workers, decriminalizing marijuana and legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

<snip>

“The contrast has never been more clear, in terms of what Democratic governors are offering versus what Republican governors are offering,” Shumlin said. “They are imposing policies that will cut taxes for their millionaires and billionaires at the expense of creating jobs and prosperity. … We are investing in infrastructure, roads, bridges [and] education.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/peter-shumlin-look-to-states-for-progressive-action-87917_Page2.html#ixzz2LdnfsF3h


good to have a chair of the Democratic Governors' Association who is speaking out- and is Governor of a state with one of the lowest unemployment rates and the highest hs graduation rate.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I'm truly thinking of moving to Vermont.

[cali]

3. That article made me laugh

because by Vermont standards-like who we have serving in the Senate and House- Shumlin isn't wildly progressive, and Shap Smith who is the Speaker of the Vermont House, makes note of that in the article. We also have a bumper crop of young(ish) progressives in the legislature.

Vermont gets Fs from virtually all business groups with our "onerous" regulations and high taxes, but we have a 5.1% unemployment rate. We have more small businesses than any other state. We're the only state without a balanced budget amendment and we always balance the budget.

It's a good place to live if you can stand winter lasting for months; beautiful and wonderful, friendly people and a sense of community that encompasses the entire state. The locavore food scene here is amazing. We spend more of our food dollar on local food than any other state.

I do worry about some things here, like the state turning into some cutesy little place for rich people and that young people who grew up here don't stay, and we're not attracting new folks. Outside of Burlington and a couple of other places, there's very little diversity.

[Romulox]

2. A national sales tax isn't "progressive" in any way. As Politico tells you: Republican idea.