BRATTLEBORO-The upcoming Democratic primary between Emilie Kornheiser and Amanda Ellis-Thurber is a political travesty.
Praised by her colleagues in the House and Senate as "a tremendous leader" (Rep. Tristan Toleno) who "looks at tax policy in a different way that has eyes strictly on Vermonters and Vermonters' needs" (Rep. Emily Long), Kornheiser chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. She rose to that position of prominence in six short years.
In last year's session she became the voice of a bill to tax those earning over $500,000 a year in order to generate $10 million annually for affordable housing. The bill "roared to victory in the House," as The Commons reported [News, May 8], but senators representing the wealthy minority (less than 2% of Vermonters earn $500,000 a year) stopped it in its tracks.
Now, a faction of the Democratic Party (made up perhaps of Republicans in Democratic clothing?) has fielded a primary candidate to oppose Kornheiser and turn back her leadership for Vermonters and their needs.
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