The newly elected chairman of the Vermont Republican Party got an early start setting the tone for his chairmanship today in an open letter to Gov. Peter Shumlin.
The letter came in response to statements on Monday when Shumlin said he will attempt to get waivers for the state from the federal Medicare and Tricare programs in favor of getting all Vermonters enrolled in his proposed single-payer health care program.
In the letter, Sunderland cited of the remarks and expressed concern that Shumlin鈥檚 plan was 鈥渢o kick Vermont鈥檚 senior citizens off of Medicare and to disallow Vermont鈥檚 honored veterans from continuing their health care coverage through Tricare."
Sunderland asked Shumlin to clarify his comments, adding that 鈥淭he Vermont Republican Party stands ready to defend our seniors and veterans against any takeover of the federal healthcare plans they currently have and enjoy.鈥�
The letter is in clear opposition to plans sought by the Democratic governor, but also shows a clear break between the Vermont GOP and the talking points championed by the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party nationally. That group seeks to cut government entitlement programs while the Vermont Republicans, in the new letter, expressed a willingness to fight for Medicare.
Sunderland was elected Saturday in favor of more conservative John MacGovern. MacGovern was endorsed by outgoing chairman Jack Lindley and conservative operative Darcie Johnston, who coordinated Randy Brock鈥檚 2012 campaign against Shumlin before focusing her efforts on Vermonters for Health Care Freedom, lobbying against Shumlin鈥檚 reforms.
Sunderland won endorsements from the generally more moderate Lt. Gov. Phil Scott as well as many Republican state legislators. His election is seen as a that is sometimes at odds with the Tea Party principles.
Update 11/13/13: Gov. Peter Shumlin responded to Sunderland's letter with a letter of his own. It said, in part: "I am sorry you were confused by my comments. Let me be clear: I will not take away health care from seniors or veterans or force them off Medicare or Tricare." .
