Profile in Courage: Rep. Michael Fisher - And, WWSD?

"Profile in Courage"? Isn't that laying it on a bit thick? Not when you can't get the Governor or any other legislator for that matter to even say the "T"-word. I give Rep. Michael Fisher (D-Lincoln) great credit for saying that now is the time to raise taxes and distribute the burden of digging out of this recession by each Vermonter's ability to pay. It is our shared responsibility.

WWSD: "What Would Snelling Do...?" The answer? Probably something very similar to what Rep. Fisher has proposed to help solve Vermont's budget woes. In fact, Rep. Fisher calls his plan "The Snelling Surcharge" in a nod to the former Republican Governor's efforts to restore fiscal order during the last big recession back in 1991.

According to the Burlington Free Press, Rep. Fisher's plan would: "impose a 3 percent surcharge on the state tax liability for incomes between $46,700 and $171,950, 6 percent on tax liability for incomes between $171,500 and $307,050, and 9 percent above $307,050. Fisher offered examples of the tax that would be added: A person making $46,700 would pay an extra $66. A couple with the same income would pay $50. A couple earning $70,000 would pay an extra $92."

Finally, somebody has the courage to do what is required to address our shrinking revenues. Good for you, Rep. Fisher. Somewhere Dick Snelling should be smiling, exhaling a sigh of relief, and thinking: "at last somebody with a head on their shoulders and the guts to do what is right!"

Let's hope the Governor and the legislature demonstrate similar courage and are equally up to the task of "Saving Our State."