Common Sense Radio: Vermont’s Affordability Gap After the Election with Dave Soulia
Monday, November 9, 2026, Common Sense Radio, with Bill Sayre, weekdays, 11 o’clock till Noon.
Dave Soulia — publisher of FYIVT, and keen analyst of Vermont public policy issues — joins Bill to evaluate how the changes in the composition of the Vermont legislation, and other factors, will affect Vermont public policy that in turn, affects the cost of living for Vermont households — particularly young families — and the cost of doing business for Vermont entrepreneurs — and their willingness and ability to grow, hire, and invest. With Special emphasis on the affordability gap.
Potential Questions and Issues
How do you describe the results of the election last week, and what will be the key effects on affordability for Vermont families, particularly young families — and affordability for Vermont entrepreneurs striving to start or grow their enterprise.
What is the affordability gap? How do we measure it? What does it tell us about priorities for households and businesses? Have these priorities changed as a result of the election? What are the implications for public policy?
What are the Fair-Share-O- Meter and Spend-O-Meter, what are their purposes, how do they accomplish those purposes, and how do their results compare?
What should we know about housing affordability? Is there a difference between what is known as “affordable housing” and housing affordability? What is the connection between the number of additional housing units we should have, and the defining population in Vermont, particularly among the working age population, and young families.
Do you think we will see proposals for Vermont State government to provide universal primary care for Vermont households? Are there any estimates as to what this would cost? And what would be included and what is not included primary care? Would it be easier and more efficient to pay for insurance, or to provide the case directly, by the State, without financial insurance?
How do we find the right balance between creating a new program, with higher spending, and the taxes to pay for it, and on the other hand, allowing Vermont taxpayers to keep more of the income that they earn? Is there a phrase in the Vermont Constitution that encourages our Legislators to do the same?
What are some examples testing this balance? For example, the new program to provide child care, along with a new payroll tax of more than $100 million. Should we ask if there is a private sector solution to addressing this social problem, or most any social problem, that is less expensive, and does a better job of connecting those who benefit with those who pay? And equalizing marginal cost with price.
If we identify a social problem, should our first impulse be to seek government assistance to address it? To create a new or expanded government program addressing the problem? How does creating a line item in the State or Federal Budget create a Constituency to advocate for its continuation and, likely, its expansion? Immortality of government programs. How is this different from private, market based enterprise? Should government programs — including laws and regulations — be reviewed on a regulation basis to see if they are accomplishing their intended purposes? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a Sunset provision in every new law or regulation? How do regulations often become much more restrictive than the original legislation or its legislative intent?
Is it true that on your web site, www.FYIVT.com , you are now publishing County Daily’s, as well as a Statewide Daily? What should we know?
What other government expenditure should draw our attention? Comparison over time? Perhaps comparisons with other States? Interest payments? Pension payments? Capital Costs?
What other issues were addressed to improve affordability for Vermont families and businesses? Health insurance — Association Plans, Catastrophic Plans, Certificates of Need? Other proposals? Hospital Costs, and the potential bankruptcy of rural hospitals? Housing affordability — in addition to property taxes, zoning changes, including statewide zoning. What is the difference between affordable housing and housing affordability? How do energy costs and regulation affect affordability — for both families and for job creators? Global Warming Solutions Act. The Clean Heat Standard got repealed, but what should we know about the new inventory to measure use of hydrocarbon fields by Vermonters, but not by those who buy fuel in another State? Is this inventory a prelude to a Carbon Tax?
What should we consider as we evaluate nuclear power, for example as a source of power with a small Carbon footprint?
What demographic factors affect, and are affected by, the above policies? Median Age; Fertility Rates, Birth Rates, Population declines; Age Distribution —School Age, Working Age, and Elderly; Household Size, two thirds are 1 or 2 person households; migration patterns, domestic and international.
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