Van Oort for Vermont – Jessica Van Oort for State Representative

About Jessica

I'm running for Vermont State Representative in the Rutland-Bennington district, which includes Middletown Springs, Tinmouth, Pawlet, Rupert, and part of Wells. I’m doing this because I've heard my neighbors who are fed up that everything costs so much, and I’ve heard my neighbors who are scared about losing their freedoms, and I want to step up and help. I first got involved in local government in 2020, and it was hard and scary then, too, but I was able to accomplish practical things to improve people’s lives.

Who I am

Principled

There are some values I won’t compromise on, no matter what. Human rights for all are non-negotiable.

Laws and due process should apply equally to everyone
Future generations deserve a livable planet.
LGBTQ rights are human rights.
Abortion is healthcare.

Practical

I want to get things done, and I’ll work with people I disagree with to make that happen.

Listened to constituents with different opinions.
Learned about issues people in town care about and researched solutions, like a local waste burning ordinance to address repeated trash burning.
Proposed practical compromises on town budgets.

Proven

I’ve worked hard in town government and accomplished things that improve people’s lives.

Helped bring high speed internet to the parts of town that didn’t have it.
Point person for a large grant the town is using to replace the HVAC in the town hall and library with efficient geothermal, which will save taxpayer dollars.
Improved the town’s zoning so people have an easier time building on their own property and don’t have to go through expensive Act 250 permitting.

What I stand for

Fairness

Everyone deserves the necessities of life. Food, a home, healthcare, education, good roads, work that pays a decent wage. Many of these are out of reach for ordinary Vermonters, while billionaires and big tech corporations are raking in unprecedented amounts of money. What can we do about it here in Vermont?

Regulate or put a moratorium on AI data centers that pollute our environment and driving up our energy costs.
Make it easy for people to use plug-in solar or community solar to bring down their electricity bills.
Expand Medicare/Medicare for all.
Fully fund programs to rehab empty houses and help homeowners build accessory dwelling units or convert unused space into rental units..
Push for tax equality. Everyday Vermonters pay too much while the ultra wealthy get federal tax breaks. They should pay back those tax breaks to the state. And if big corporations are using AI to take away people’s jobs, we should tax the AI agents. Human workers pay taxes. Robots should pay them too..

Freedom

Everyone deserves to be free to live their lives and be secure in their constitutional rights. Across the country, freedoms are crumbling. Masked ICE agents are breaking down doors. The federal right to an abortion is gone. Voting rights are under attack. Trans kids are being persecuted. Illegal tariffs, an illegal war, and corruption are making us less safe and making everything more expensive. What can we do about it here in Vermont?

Pass state-level protections for rights under attack. We already did this with abortion.
Get big money out of politics. Pass a state law revoking the right of corporations in Vermont to make political donations, to get around Citizens United. Montana is doing this. If they can do it, we can do it!
Unmask law enforcement.
Work with other like-minded states to push back against federal overreach and improve democracy. We already did this with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact to work to get rid of the Electoral College.
Be nimble and ready to protect Vermonters from whatever the next attack is. Don’t be afraid of big ideas! Vermont can be a model for the nation.