"Progressive lieutenant governor candidate seeks Democrat support" Associated Press July 26, 2014
MONTPELIER — Dean Corren, a member of the Progressive Party running for lieutenant governor, said he will talk up his support for a single-payer health care system when he appears before the Democratic State Committee.
No Democrat is currently running for lieutenant governor, but Corren’s scheduled remarks Saturday have rankled some members of the state Senate, who are supporting incumbent Republican Phil Scott. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, and Scott has made many friends in that body’s Democratic majority.
Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell told Vermont Public Radio that he is annoyed at the thought of a Progressive winning enough write-in votes, 250 or more, during the Aug. 26 primary to win the Democratic nomination.
Campbell said that possibility reflects a flaw in Vermont’s election system. He did not immediately return a call from the Associated Press Friday.
But Senate majority leader Philip Baruth said that Corren’s positions are more in line with his own values.
Both Baruth and Senator Claire Ayer, Democrat of Addison, said they were disappointed that no Democrat is in the race, meaning their choices will probably end up being a Progressive or a Republican.
Ayer said she personally likes Scott, but could not vote for him, citing two tie-breaking votes he cast in 2013 in opposition to one of her top initiatives: legislation to allow doctors to provide lethal medication to terminally ill patients who wish to end their lives.
‘‘If he did that on health care, for example, I would have to blame myself if I voted for him,’’ Ayer said.
So it's personal, not policy?
Governor Peter Shumlin’s push for universal, single-payer health care, which has had strong support from Ayer and other liberal Democrats in the Legislature, is expected to come to a resolution in the next term. Lawmakers are expected to grapple with how to finance the system, what sorts of benefits it will provide, and other details. Scott has expressed ‘‘serious concerns’’ about the proposal.
One Senate Democrat supporting Scott, Dick Mazza of the Grand Isle-Chittenden District, said he appreciated the job Scott has done during his two terms presiding over the Senate.
‘‘There’s no secret there’s quite a group assembling for Phil Scott to help him out in his campaign,’’ Mazza said, adding that Corren should have gotten his name on the Democratic primary ballot.
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