Common Sense Radio: Proposition 3, Right to Work and Vermont Affordability with Clara Morrison
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, on Common Sense Radio, weekdays, 11 o’clock till Noon.
Clara Morrison, Executive Director of the Right for Vermont Foundation, joins Bill to continue their discussion of the factors that affect the willingness and ability of Vermont entrepreneurs and other businesses to want to invest, grow, and hire. With special emphasis on the affect of a proposed Amendment to the Vermont Constitution, known as Proposition 3. Also, what factors will make Vermont more affordabie for families, particularly young families.
Potential Questions and Issues
What does the language of Proposition say? Does it seem that the first sentence is fine, but unnecessary, given what is already in law. However, the last sentence may have some problematic implications. What might those implications be? Will it preserve the right of an employee to choose whether or not to join or not join a union? Or pay or not pay union dues, especially that portion of due that goes to supporting political parties or candidates?
Some say that employees that work for unionized companies, benefit from collective bargaining, and therefore should be required to join the union, or at least pay union dues? What do you say in response to that concern?
How would manufacturing companies, considering whether to start or grow their business in Vermont, react if Vermont were to adopt Proposition 3 into our Constitution? Including companies that are already unionized?
What other States have adopted this type of language into their Constitutions? Only Illinois? What has been the result in Illinois? Would Vermont likely experience the same result? What kind of questions around Proposition 3 likely will lead to litigation? Who will pay for this litigation?
In general, do right-to-work States have faster economic growth than those who don’t? What should we know about unionization in various sectors of the economy? 75 years ago, about 30 percent of the economy. Now less than 10 percent. The correlation of large scale manufacturing, that is, mass production, in America — manufacturing employment, as a percent of total employment, follows about the same change over the 75 years. Also, the rise in public employment — government employees, particularly teachers and State employees. Also, utilities. What can we observe — industries and markets in which the employer has a monopoly, or close to a monopoly over the product or service they provide, are more likely to be unionized? Why?
Compare to other industries and markets, in which there is more competition and choice. More independent contractors. The story of the automobile industry, before and after the 1970s.
What is the concept of right to work? Does right to work prohibit the creation of a union at a particular employer? What did the Supreme Court decide as to compelled speech and union dues? What is a closed shop, vs. an open shop?
Why is it important to grow the economy if we want to improve the economic well-being of our families, particularly young families? Economic growth means income growth. Income growth means a higher standard of living. And thereby, that families can afford more. And part of of that increase in income goes to improving quality of life — leisure time, and related activities.
Also, economic growth means higher tax revenue, to perform the necessary functions of government, including helping the vulnerable, without raising tax rates.
What should we know about Vermont demographic trends? Population declines, especially among the working age population, and young families? Lowest fertility rate in the nation. Lowest number of births since before the Civil War. Second highest median age in the nation. Declines in school enrollment, especially in rural areas. Rural hospitals struggling due to insufficient population. Vermont Labor Force is down 10,000 from a year ago.
What are the implications of these demographic trends for public policy? Tax policy. Cost of education, health insurance, and energy. How does the cost of living affect the ability of Vermont businesses to grow, invest, and create tax base — grand list, income, and sales?
What will be the effects of creating a new tax on second homes? How will a second home be defined? What is the intended purpose of such a tax? Is there an element of the politics of envy? What might be the unintended consequences of such a tax? On the travel and tourism industry, in particular. And on retail sales and meals taxes in tourist areas? And, perhaps most importantly, on attitude toward high income earners.
Similarly for proposed tax on the highest income earners? Could this tax be seen as punishing the economically successful? What should we know about the pattern of income fluctuations over time? And what should we know about the mobility of income earners? How is this mobility a key benefit of a federalist decentralized form of government.
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