NEWFANE — George Clain, president of Local 300 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said it all: “We thought this was the jobs session, not the fewer jobs session.”
The Vermont Senate, with the exception of four worthy individuals (Dick Mazza, Peg Flory, Phil Scott, and Robert Starr), is now on record as wanting to cut 1,300 jobs, $93 million in payroll, and $10 million in state revenues.
I, personally, will never again take seriously any of the senators who voted to close VY in 2012 if they talk about being “for jobs,” whether they are running for governor, senator, or dogcatcher. They had their chance.
The senators who voted “no” are riding on a wing and a prayer. No one has shown Vermonters the plan to replace the power and, even more important, the jobs.
These senators are supposed to represent the people and make decisions for the people. How can closing down a major employer without an approved plan be acting in the best interest of the state? How can closing down a clean source of energy production help the state?
Legislators are paid to solve these types of problems, but these senators are instead creating bigger problems for southeast Vermont.
This move to close Vermont Yankee is not in the best interest of Vermonters.