,The Scott/Lisman primary contest has taken on a predictable pattern. Bruce Lisman attacks Phil Scott; Scott replies with shocked outrage over Lisman’s negativity. Lather, rinse, repeat. It caused me to pose an existential Tweet:
At what point does repeatedly hammering a candidate for negative campaigning become negative campaigning itself? #vtpoli
— The #vtpoli Observer (@theVPO1) July 21, 2016
The latest roundelay began when Lisman accused Scott of calling for “a mileage tax on all who drive.”
Which is a lie. In a Rutland debate Wednesday night, Scott discussed the certainty that, as cars become more efficient and we transition to ever more hybrids and electrics, the gas tax will become insufficient to pay for needed highway repairs. Here’s a portion of Scott’s remarks:
‘We are going to have to think about other ways, nationally, to tax and receive revenue from those who use our highways and byways. … So, we’re going to, in the future, have to look at some kind of a mileage tax.’”
That’s not “calling for” or “proposing” a mileage tax. It’s a self-evident observation on our changing transportation system. Scott is right to complain of an inaccurate attack from Lisman.
However…
Need I point out that this line of attack is standard operating procedure for Republicans, including Scott himself?
The Vermont Political Observer. 