Vt. State Sen. Jeanette White sees much work to be done

By STEPHEN SEITZ
Special to the Eagle Times
PUTNEY, Vt. — Sen. Jeanette White (D-Putney), sees plenty to be done in the next legislative session. 

Responding to an Eagle Times questionnaire, she wrote, “Not being a single issue candidate it is hard to say I have one priority. I believe the overriding issues are preserving the foundations of our democracy, protecting the most vulnerable when the prevailing attitude is to cut, and addressing climate change. Within each of those are many specific issues we must address – health care, mental health, criminal justice, carbon emissions, elections, and open government.”

White wrote that she is keen on better economic development.

“There are many things that I believe we should be doing around economic development,” she wrote.  “One of the biggest is supporting our small businesses and local entrepreneurs. We have so many talented folks here, let’s help them grow by increasing broadband access, eliminating health care as a responsibility of employers, decent supported child care, grant and loan funds for small businesses, increasing internships,and much more. In addition to those issues, in Windham County we need to pay attention to our aging population and making sure that young people moving in (we hope) will have an opportunity to make a decent living here so they stay.”

When it comes to renewable energy, White wrote that communities and their citizens have to do their part, not just government.

“Local communities and individuals also need to address the whole issue of climate change,” White wrote.  “We need to insulate our housing (more money for weatherization), consider our transportation options, review our zoning laws, make sure we keep all options in the conversation — that means solar, wind, hydro.  But perhaps most important is conservation.  The Bellows Falls sewer treatment plant is an example of what communities can do.”

Recently, Bellows Falls overhauled its wastewater treatment plant to improve efficiency and make upgrades. The modernized facility began operations back in September. 

White wrote that she is disappointed with the way Act 46, the state’s school consolidation law, is being administered. 

“I voted for Act 46 with the understanding that there were appropriate off ramps and that local voices would be heard,” she wrote. “I believe the Agency of Education is misinterpreting the act and we need to address that. We also need to relook at how we think of education and schools. We all loved the schools of our childhood, but the world has changed and we need to have more creative approaches.”

White was first elected to the state Senate in 2002.