Common Sense Radio: Vermont’s Cost of Living and Public Policy with Dave Soulia of FYIVT
Monday, October 26, 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 key factors in Vermont public policy that affect 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.
Potential Questions and Issues
What are the Fair-Share-O- Meter and Spend-O-Meter, what are their purposes, how do they accomplish those purposes, and how do there 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.
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?
What has been, and perhaps continues to be, overlooked on amending the Vermont Constitution under Proposals 3 and 4 — particularly their financial impact?
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 should we know about the changes to Act 181 —the Road Rule and Tier 3 land designation? Combined with Act 59 — 30 by 30 and 50 by 50? Do conserved lands include wetlands, ledge, steep slopes, riparian zones, and Use Value Appraisal lands? Though the changes reverse the worst parts of Act 181, how does it make rural land more available and more affordable, compared with prior to Act 181? Why do some feel that the tax and regulatory legislation, taken as a whole, has the effect of depopulating our rural areas? Is this a mistake, if one of our goals is to increase population in our rural communities — to help our rural hospitals and rural schools?
Median Age; Fertility Rates, Birth Rates, Age Distribution —School Age, Working Age, and Elderly.
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