This commentary is by Rep. Phil Pouech, D-Hinesburg.Vermont is under threat as the Trump administration cuts federal funding, reverses hard-fought environmental policies, causes economic upheaval from unwarranted tariffs on our friends to the north and threatens our individual freedoms by dismantlin g our democratic foundation.My constituents are scared and mad. Three days a week, people from Hinesburg are standing at the side of the road and voicing their protest of our federal administration. When they see or email me, their one question is, “Where is Gov. Scott?”Two months ago my answer was that the governor is deciding to stay quiet, in hopes it will prevent a negative reaction from Trump. Even as I said the words, I knew this answer was weak at best and morally wrong at worst. Well, the negative impacts of these policies have not been prevented by staying quiet. Now I join my constituents in asking, “Where is Gov. Scott?” As I and many of my fellow state legislators work through our budget and policy decisions, we are already witnessing the impacts this Trump administration is having on Vermont. Federal grants are being clawed back, federal programs are being shut down and our trust in the federal government is drying up.Some members of Gov. Scott’s administration are saying in the Statehouse hallways or in committee testimony: “We don’t know what’s happening or how much it will impact our state, so we must wait and see.” Sitting back is not a policy. We need leadership. Where is Gov. Scott?It is our democratic responsibility to speak out when we witness our government taking actions that are both dangerous and wrong. It is wrong to threaten our Canadian friends, a critical trading partner. It is wrong to reverse environmental policies that threaten our Green Mountains’ clean air and beautiful lakes and rivers.It is wrong to eviscerate the Department of Education while Vermont is investing time and money providing our children the best education possible. It is wrong to watch our political system bow down to multi-billionaires, while our elected leaders spend time in Washington trying to prevent this deliberate march toward oligarchy. We must speak out. Where is Gov. Scott?We elect our leaders to take the moral high road and speak truth to power. The majority of Vermont’s elected leaders are speaking out. We thank these brave leaders, including the secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, Sen. Peter Welch, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Becca Balint. They are visibly pushing back. Where is Gov. Scott?Read the story on VTDigger here: Rep. Phil Pouech: Where is Gov. Scott?. ...read more read less