Housing prices in Vermont are more expensive than ever, and it’s holding back our economy.

The rising cost of housing has had a profound effect on Vermont’s workforce: with fewer units available, workers have had to commute further and further from their jobs or move out of state completely.

Since taking office, Mike has made historic investments to improve the supply of housing. Mike has invested more than $50 million to support the development of 849 units of housing across 12 cities and towns. And he’s just getting started.

We must continue to make investments in affordable housing across our state and make it easier to build housing in our growing communities.

Climate change is a fundamental threat to our way of life and economy. As Vermont’s climate continues to grow warmer and wetter, Vermont’s traditional industries—such as maple sugaring, foliage tourism, ski season, and agriculture—will continue to be at risk.

We must continue to take steps to mitigate and reduce the impact of climate change. Mike supports recent efforts by the federal government that would require publicly traded companies to uniformly disclose their carbon impact. This important step would make it considerably easier for individuals to invest in eco-friendly financial portfolios.

As we continue to transition to a lower carbon economy, many high-carbon industries, like fossil fuel production, will make for bad long-term investments.

As Treasurer, Mike is hard at work on Vermont’s Climate Resilience Implementation Strategy. This strategy will coordinate resiliency across all of state government to protect Vermonters and build a more sustainable economy.

For decades the rich have accumulated more and more wealth while working and middle-class Americans have been left to struggle with less. The middle class is shrinking and more Americans are forced to live in poverty.

In Mike’s first term, he leveraged the power of the Treasurer’s office to promote financial equity and invest in the economic well-being of Vermonters.

in 2022, Mike established VT Saves, a program that establishes a retirement savings plan for Vermonters who are not currently offered a retirement plan through their employer. VT Saves will make saving for retirement easy and automatic, at no cost to employers and no ongoing cost to taxpayers.

This year, Mike announced Baby Bonds, an innovative policy to fight intergenerational poverty, promote economic development, and retain young people in Vermont. Under the Baby Bonds Program, the state will invest $3,200 for every child born on Medicaid. This money will grow and eventually can be used to buy a home, attain an education, or start a business.

Mike believes in supporting our teachers, state employees, and public sector workers—including in retirement. This means working to fully fund the state’s pension system and drive down unfunded liabilities.

Appointed to Vermont’s Pension Task Force by the Legislature, Mike spent months working alongside lawmakers and union representatives to forge a compromise that strengthens Vermont’s pension system and reduces its unfunded liabilities by $2 billion. Passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, this proposal is now law.

As Treasurer, Mike has continued to advocate for public sector workers and their dignity in retirement. He has also created public trust in the pension system and its investments by creating accountability and transparency in the Treasurer’s Office.

Over the last 30 years, there has been a fundamental shift in how Americans save for retirement. Pensions are now largely limited to the public sector, leaving most Vermonters responsible for saving and investing for their retirements.

The fear of outliving savings in retirement is real and frightening. Accordingly, we must ensure Vermonters have the necessary financial and investment skills to save, invest, plan, and enjoy retirement. The Office of the Treasurer plays a critical role in ensuring all Vermonters have the opportunities to learn these important financial lessons through workshops, partnerships, and educational programming.

Financial vulnerability can often trap victims in abusive environments. As Treasurer, Mike has partnered with the Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence to support the survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.