Candidate Janoo

Vermont's health insurance premiums are some of the highest in the nation. Employee health insurance is the No. 1 driver of public education spending and subsequently, property taxes. Paradoxically, private health insurance reimbursement rates aren't enough to keep our small community health centers open, and providers are always on the chopping block when the federal government threatens to cut Medicaid funds.

Phil Scott's response to this is to point the finger elsewhere, blaming school spending for taxes and proposing to consolidate schools. None of this addresses the root cause of spending: health insurance premiums.

Too many Vermonters go without care because the cost of insurance is too high. This results in visits to emergency rooms when conditions that could have been prevented or treated early become a crisis.

Amanda Janoo, candidate for governor, is an economist and systems thinker who clearly sees the problem and proposes a viable solution: publicly fund universal primary care. By placing a fair-share surcharge on the wealthiest 1% of Vermonters, we can fully fund community doctors to provide high quality preventative care. Divorcing primary care from private insurance will drive down insurance premiums, school spending and property taxes, all while increasing access to health care, securing the longevity of small community health centers, and avoiding nonsensical school consolidation.

Phil Scott reaches for Band-Aids, but Amanda Janoo finds solutions.

Charity Carbine-March

Elmore