The Issues

Fiscal Responsibility

Legislators have the duty to govern in a fiscally responsible manner.  A 13.8% property tax increase over the span of one year adds a serious financial burden to Vermonters.  Only out of touch legislators who lack the constitution for tough decision making enact double digit tax increases.  All across Vermont, citizens are feeling the burden of this increase, whether you're a renter or a property owner.  

Common Sense

Common sense must be resumed in all aspects of governance.  This applies to every issue, whether it be crime, DMV inspections, or regulations on heating or stormwater.  Violent repeat-offenders should not be immediately released to terrorize the community again.  People shouldn't face costly repairs on vehicles because an emission sensor failed; inspections should be focused on safety issues.  Additional taxes and other surcharges shouldn't be added to fuel when citizens are already suffering from COVID-related inflation, and merely need transportation for work, or heat for their homes.  Abrupt stormwater mandates shouldn't bankrupt Vermonters. 

Housing

Housing is the primary issue facing Vermonters.  We simply need more of it.  The solution is codifying Permanent Primary Residential Housing (PPRH).  Permanent in the sense that the units constructed are permanently deed-restricted to serve as someone’s primary residence, where they receive mail or deliveries, and the place they associate with, for the purpose of tax residency.  These could be multi-family residential units, single-family homes, or any other type of unit that serves as primary residential housing- not short-term rentals or second homes.  Developers of PPRH shall be incentivized.  Tax breaks, streamlined inspections, waived permit fees, and other incentives should be implemented to encourage this type of development.  

Development and Small Business Regulations

Development and small business regulations are important issues.  Taylor Craven first-hand experience trying to navigate the maze of permitting and business requirements.  People should be incentivized to add to the community by starting a business or creating housing and other developments that lead to economic growth.  Vermont has a very narrow economy, and overly restrictive zoning regulations don't help that situation.  One look at a zoning map and local zoning regulations makes it abundantly clear that if you don't already have it, or own it, you probably will have a hard time attaining it.  We don't need to open the zoning flood gates, but we do need provide more space for multi-unit housing and business.

Abortion and Social Issues

Freedom of choice is paramount. A women’s right to choose should never be infringed upon. This concept extends to other human rights, including transgender bathroom use. No individual should be persecuted or incur stress for simply exercising their right to live a happy and full life, no matter the decisions they make, or the path they take.

Core Responsibilities of a Legislator

No one demographic should be the focus.  All Vermonters deserve representation and governance that leads to prosperity for all.  The core responsibilities of an elected official should be to respect the environment, and respect others.  First and foremost, this means good value for money because the government takes an enormous portion of everyone's income.  It means creating efficient agencies that don't waste time and energy.  It also means auditing past legislation to eliminate waste and inefficiency. 

The Second Amendment

All citizens have a right to self-defense. It is one of the most inherent and important rights that an individual is born with in this country. At times this may be controversial, but we should all seek to understand the greater importance, and the bigger picture. The right to bear arms holds equal importance to the right to free speech. Unfortunately, there are times when law enforcement cannot respond quick enough, and citizens must protect themselves, as well as loved ones. The United States has a bold tradition of firearm ownership for self-defense, hunting, and sport. Taylor Craven will never seek to confiscate lawfully owned firearms, impose undue burden on lawful gun owning citizens, or vilify those who wish to hold their own protection paramount. Only violent convicted felons, who have proven a danger to society, should be prohibited from firearm ownership. The safe storage and use of firearms, including clinics and training should be encouraged.

Simple Policy Guide

(Nobody agrees on everything, but everyone deserves transparency when choosing representation)

For

·         Fiscal responsibility

·         Common sense

·         Abortion and a woman’s right to choose

·         Contraception

·         Catastrophic healthcare in the form of Medicare for all at the federal level, with elective procedures and other care provided as supplemental- no one should go bankrupt from a medical emergency

·         Incorporation of a jobs program that works in tandem with state assistance programs to elevate people from poverty and address homelessness

·         Law and order, especially regarding violent crime and repeat offenders

·         Involuntary admission to drug rehabilitation for fentanyl, heroin, injectables

·         Enforcement of ADA regulations regarding the obstruction of sidewalks and other public areas

·         Second Amendment

·         Clean air and water

·         Wildlife protection

·         Policies that increase the energy supply and reduce kwh pricing, including hydroelectric, solar, wind, biomass, residential-scale production

·         Streamlining the permit process and combining various aspects of required construction inspections, to eliminate redundancy 

·         Housing and development, while maintaining restrictive policies prohibiting ridgeline development of sensitive wildlife areas 

·         Permanent Primary Residential Housing

·         Exclusion of overtime hours from increased tax rates- working harder should not be disincentivized

·         Small business

·         Creation of a tiered system of business requirements and regulations, based on business size, to relieve the disproportionate burden placed on small business, especially those with fewer than 5 employees

Against

·         Sudden and drastic property tax increases

·         Raising taxes on individuals earning under $150,000/yr (adjusted per inflation henceforth)

·         Divisive rhetoric by major political parties

·         So-called “harm-reduction” techniques; handing out free needles and perpetuating hard drug addiction, while failing to rehabilitate drug addicts

·         The monopolization of healthcare and subsequent reduction of private practices

·         Legalization of downtown camping

·         De-funding the police

·         Soft on crime policies, including elimination of enhancements

·         Policies that act to punish hard working citizens, such as mandates to eliminate existing exterior furnaces that provide affordable heat

·         Overly stringent vehicle inspections

·         Bullying in schools

·         Cell phones during school hours

·         Pouring money into failing small schools

·         Zoning regulations that restrict business development to the downtown village district for small businesses

·         Over-regulation of small business, and the ABC test implemented by the department of labor.  Citizens and small business need increased freedom of choice, with regards to how they choose to classify their employment 

·         Allowing destructive tenants to ruin housing units and perpetually burden property owners with costly and time-consuming evictions, over and over- this serves to dissuade investment from residential housing, and increase rental prices for all

·         Race or gender-based policy making