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On the issues:

Michael Boutin – My Views on the Issues
As a lifelong Vermonter and representative for Barre City, I believe in putting working families and common sense first. Here's where I stand from a 1,000 foot view:

  • Affordability & Taxes: Vermont is becoming too expensive. I support lowering property taxes, especially through education reform like the recently passed H.454, and oppose costly mandates like the Clean Heat Standard and EV mandate.

  • Education: I support reform that streamlines administration, improves equity, and brings real transparency to school funding. I also support responsible consolidation to control costs and improve outcomes.  Several of these goals were started with the H.454 Education Reform Bill which passed in 2025.  

  • Public Safety & Drugs: I back law enforcement and support stronger penalties for drug traffickers. I oppose safe injection sites and believe we need more investment in rehabilitation and mental health services.  

  • Housing & Homelessness: Vermont’s housing crisis is a complicated issue.  I believe it is due to many factors, including societal changes, AirBNBs, and a reduction in rental properties. I do not support the General Housing Assistance program, also known as the hotel/motel program.  We need to reallocate the funds from that failed program to build cheap houses and support homeless shelters.

  • Flooding & Infrastructure: I support proactive flood mitigation, including dredging rivers and improving infrastructure to protect communities like Barre from future disasters.  

  • Government Accountability: I believe in transparency and local control. I oppose the consolidation of power in Montpelier and support reforms to Open Meeting Laws that are being misused.

Focusing Deeper
Drug Activity:
I sponsored H.128, which would protect stop non residents from entering the premises if they are dealing drugs in the building or complex.  I voted no on funding the safe injection site in Burlington.  I also supported an amendment to claw back the youthful offender law.  Sadly, the majority party blocked all the initiatives.  Click here for more. 
Education Funding:
H.454 was not a perfect bill.  However, it added much needed transparency by creating the foundation formula.  The old formula was confusing and caused people to feel like it was a dark hole.  I support consolidation of our districts.  Consolidation is the key to a more sustainable education system.  I also understand the desire to fund private schools and although I am supportive of that, it must not be at the expense of our public schools.  There is a balance.  Click here for more.
Flood Resiliency:
I don't have a problem with the word dredging.  We need to dredge, reclaim floodplain, and build flood resilient properties.  Click here for more.
Police Officers:
I back the blue.  Recent years legislature has attempted to undermine police and their ability to keep us safe.  We need to make sure that doesn't happen.  We need to encourage good people to take up the difficult job of being police officers.  
Clean Heat Standard:
I support repealing the Clean Heat Standard and co-sponsored H.16, which would repeal it.  There have been multiple attempts to move that legislation through, but it has been blocked by the majority party.   Click here for more. 
Homeless Crisis:
The hotel/motel program has been detrimental to our state.  People are encouraged to come here to use our services.  In the last five years over 130 people have died in the program and mostly from drug related activity.  We must end the program.  Click here for more.
Healthcare:
We need to take proactive steps to cut the cost of healthcare without cutting service. Vermont made some poor decisions in the 90s and 2000s which caused us to be in the pickle we are in.  It was government that got us here, I am not confident government will get us out.  I supported the Blue Cross Blue Shield bailout.
Housing Crisis:
The cost of housing in Vermont has skyrocketed.  We need to incentivize development, deal with AirBNBs, and bring landlords back into the market.  Click here for more.
Technology and Children:
I supported and lobbied for H.480 which had language on cell free schools and S.69 Age Appropriate Design Code.  Our children are under attack by big tech and I will fight for them. 
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