Signing this letter: Ashlyn Bristle and Abraham McClurg, Rebop Farm; Caitlin Burlett and Jesse Kayan, Wild Carrot Farm; Rebecca Nixon and Mike Collins, Old Athens Farm; Janet and Jay Bailey, Fair Winds Farm; Gail and Dan MacArthur, Whetstone Ledges Farm; Laura Hecht and Matt Crowley, Full Plate Farm; Emily Hartz and Jonah Mossberg, Milkweed Farm; Liz and Jon Deloge, Slipstream Farm; and Lisa Holderness, Brook Meadow Farm.
You might ask: What has the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee done for farmers lately? After all, hasn't Emilie Kornheiser been buried in property taxes, income taxes, and corporate taxes up to her neck while trying her darnedest to balance the Vermont state budget to meet the needs of her constituents?
A quick look shows she's done quite a lot, and we, as Brattleboro area farmers, ask for your support in her bid for re-election. As farmers, we know about hard work, and we know that Emilie works hard for all of us.
Under Emilie's leadership, the House passed an expansion of the current use program, and it expanded the provisions of the raw milk program which gives farmers greater opportunities to sell their product directly to consumers.
Emilie helped ensure that 3SquaresVT recipients are able to use their benefits at farm stands and farmers markets. She also helped ensure that $240,000 would be available for the Crop Cash and the Crop Cash Plus programs.
The state budget also includes $1 million for Working Lands grants, which are available in both the agriculture and forestry sectors, and funding for an expansion of a grant program for farm worker housing.
And finally, consistent with federal law, farmers can now sell directly to consumers and restaurants poultry that has been cut into parts.
Emilie Kornheiser worked hard on flood relief for farmers and led on the passage of Vermont's Child Care Bill. She's the champion of House efforts to promote the Paid Family Leave Bill that when enacted will provide substantial relief for farm families of all ages.
We hear a lot about hard-working urban dwellers who need child care in order to get to work. Emilie cares deeply about farmers and farm families, who need child care just as much.
The record shows that, far from the wonky stuff of tax policy, Emilie Kornheiser is dedicated to her local farmers and has been striving to learn more about their lives and to appreciate what they do to bring healthy, great-tasting food to our families' tables and resiliency to our land and communities.
Farmers for Emilie
Signing this letter: Ashlyn Bristle and Abraham McClurg, Rebop Farm; Caitlin Burlett and Jesse Kayan, Wild Carrot Farm; Rebecca Nixon and Mike Collins, Old Athens Farm; Janet and Jay Bailey, Fair Winds Farm; Gail and Dan MacArthur, Whetstone Ledges Farm; Laura Hecht and Matt Crowley, Full Plate Farm; Emily Hartz and Jonah Mossberg, Milkweed Farm; Liz and Jon Deloge, Slipstream Farm; and Lisa Holderness, Brook Meadow Farm.
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