Dean Boasts Credible Record as Governor

Author: Liz Lathey

When he took office in 1991, Vermont Governor Howard Dean called the governorship "the greatest job in Vermont." Dean was elected lieutenant governor in 1986, and assumed Vermont's highest post in 1991 after the death of then-Governor Richard Snelling. Dean has since become the longest serving democratic governor in U.S. history.
When Dean took office as governor, Vermont faced severe financial setbacks, including a $70 million deficit and New England's worst bond rating. Over the past decade, Dean has pursued a conservative fiscal policy designed to reduce Vermont's deficit and re-establish Vermont's financial security and integrity.
While Dean cut taxes twice during his governorship, he is a firm opponent of large tax breaks, which he dismisses as being politically driven.
Instead, he pursued a strict fiscal policy that not only eliminated Vermont's debt, but also created a "rainy day" fund to assure long-term financial security. Over the past five years, Vermont's per capita budget deficit has been reduced by 23 percent.
Under Dean's leadership, Vermont's bond rating was transformed to New England's highest, AA+. Approximately 41,000 jobs were created in Vermont during Dean's governorship, due in part to tax incentives designed to attract corporations to the state.
As a physician who shared a practice with his wife, Dr. Judy Steinburg, before pursuing a career in politics, Dean made health care a top priority.
Foremost among his achievements was the strengthening of the Dr. Dynasaur Program, which assured health care for virtually every child in Vermont. Ninety-two percent of Vermonters, one of the highest percentages in the nation, have health care coverage.
Dean is a proponent of universal health coverage. Additionally, in 1997 Dean signed into law the nation's most comprehensive mental health and substance abuse parity bill, ending discriminatory insurance coverage of these illnesses.
Dean considers environmental protection and conservation among his most important priorities. Dean prides himself on his strong environmental record. His administration has overseen the closure of 76 leaking landfills in Vermont and has helped transform the state into a leader in the push to stop pollution from power plants. Dean has also helped to assure the preservation of thousands of acres of farm and forestland.
Dean is perhaps best known for signing Vermont's civil union bill into law, legally recognizing long-term unions of gay couples. Dean believes that such laws must be determined at the state level first.
In addition to civil union legislation, Dean has signed laws for tougher punishment for hate crimes and tighter restrictions on all forms of discrimination.

Howard Dean on the Issues

Health Care
--Strengthened Dr. Dynasaur Program, which promises health care for every child in Vermont
--Signed into law the most comprehensive mental health and substance abuse parity bill in U.S.

Civil Unions
--Signed law recognizing long- term unions of gay couples

Discrimination
--Favors tougher punishment for hate crimes and tighter restrctions on discrimination

Environment
--Oversaw closure of 76 leaking landfills
--Preserved thousands of acres of farm and forest land