VAEH Newsletter #26

October 26, 2004

Hi Folks,

Just 1 week until election day. I don’t know about you, but I will be glad to see the campaigning over and done. In spite of this weariness, I hope you have listened carefully and asked questions appropriately so that you can be an informed voter. There are so many issues to consider, and no candidate matches anyone’s ideal profile perfectly. Since this Alliance is focused on enhancing end-of-life care and opposing legalization of physician-assisted suicide, one of our members sent me a reminder list of the Vermont legislators who sponsored the “Death With Dignity” bills last year, suggesting I pass it along. Another sent me the results of a mailed multi-issue survey to candidates from Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle and Rutland counties. I don’t think anyone should be a one-issue voter, but you may want to take this information into consideration when you vote next Tuesday.

Governor:

Jim Douglas supports improved end-of-life care and opposes legalization of PAS
Pete Clavelle supports PAS

Lt. Governor:

Brian Dubie opposes PAS
Cheryl Rivers – unknown stance on PAS
Stephen Hingtgen was one of the sponsors of the PAS bill in the last legislative session.

Senators introducing Senate Bill 112 in 2002: * = on H&W Committee last session

Lyons of Chittenden County *
Ayer of Addison County
Condos of Chittenden County
Dunne of Windsor County
Miller of Chittenden County
Scott of Washington County
Snelling of Chittenden County
White of Windham County * (subsequently withdrew her support)

Representatives introducing House Bill 318 in 2002: * = on H&W Committee last session

Severance of Colchester
Aswad of Burlington
Amidon of Charlotte
Bohi of Hartford
Brown of Walden
Chen of Mendon
Connell of Warren *
Crawford of Burke
Cross of Winooski
Deen of Westminster
Edwards of Brattleboro
Fisher of Lincoln
French of Randolph
Grad of Moretown
Head of South Burlington
Hingtgen of Burlington
Hummel of Underhill
Johnson of South Hero
Kenyon of Bradford
Ketchum of Bethel
Kitzmiller of Montpelier
Larrabee of Danville
Larson of Burlington
Lippert of Hinesburg
Livingston of Manchester
Masland of Thetford
McLaughlin of Royalton
Nuovo of Middlebury
Pillsbury of Brattleboro
Pugh of South Burlington
Seibert of Norwich
Sweaney of Windsor
Sweetser of Essex
Towne of Berlin
Trombley of Grand Isle
Vincent of Waterbury *
Wood of Brandon
Zuckerman of Burlington

Here is a partial listing of candidates for House seats who answered a recent mail survey with a position SUPPORTING of legalization of PAS; absence from the list does not necessarily mean the candidate opposes:

Lippert - Chittenden
Amidon - Chittenden
Asward - Chittenden
Larson – Chittenden
Zuckerman – Chittenden
Cross – Chittenden
Pugh – Chittenden
Head – Chittenden
Sweetser – Chittenden
Condon – Chittenden
Severance – Chittenden
Niquette – Chittenden
Frank – Chittenden
Franklin – Grand Isle
Trombley – Grand Isle
Helm – Rutland
Lloyd – Rutland
Louras – Rutland
Wood – Rutland
Chen - Rutland

Here is a partial listing of candidates for House seats who have answered a recent survey with a position OPPOSING legalization of PAS; absence from the list does not necessarily mean a candidate supports PAS:

Palmer – Chittenden
Shaver – Chittenden
Wright – Chittenden
Mazur – Chittenden
Errecart – Chittenden
Shiavone – Chittenden
Endres – Chittenden
Donaghy – Rutland
Baker – Rutland
Crowley – Rutland
Canfield – Rutland
Sunderland – Rutland
Lindgren – Rutland
Allaire – Rutland
Flory – Rutland
Leach – Rutland
Issacs – Rutland
Branagan – Franklin
Dunsmore – Franklin
Howrigan – Franklin
Parent – Franklin
Lavoie – Franklin
Winters – Franklin
Perry – Franklin

Bob Orr, President, Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare