Matt Dunne in 2016 VT Governor's race


On Drugs: Legalize marijuana quickly; prohibition hasn't worked

Q: Would you eliminate penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults? Will you support creating a reasonable system for regulating and taxing marijuana production and sales in Vermont? Will you support allowing adults to grow a limited amount of marijuana for their own personal use?

Former State Sen. Matt Dunne (D-Hartland) responded yes to all three MPP survey questions. "I actually believe that we need to move forward with the legalization of marijuana, because I don't know anyone who thinks that prohibition has actually worked," Dunne said on Vermont Public Radio in June. "In fact, I think we need to move relatively quickly, so that we're not having to react to other states that, as I understand it, are planning on putting this issue on a referendum."

Source: MPP.org Voter Guide on 2016 Vermont Governor primary race Sep 9, 2016

On Drugs: Create a trusted Vermont brand of legalized marijuana

We need to craft our own policies before other surrounding states legalize marijuana so we can do it the Vermont way. To keep Vermonters safe, we must insist on clear, stringent labeling of marijuana products and organic/GMO certification. And if we do this right and act quickly, we have the opportunity to set the standard for legalization across the country and allow Vermont farmers and entrepreneurs to benefit from establishing a trusted Vermont brand.
Source: 2016 Vermont gubernatorial campaign website MattDunne.com Mar 3, 2016

On Families & Children: Paid leave insurance policy to fund FMLA maternity leave

With one of the lowest wage gaps in the country, and the second highest percentage of women in state government, Vermont has a lot to be proud of in the fight for women's equality. That being said, we have much further to go.

My administration will commit wholeheartedly to paid family leave. Today, many mothers are forced to return to work soon after their child is born because they cannot support their family on the unpaid leave guaranteed by the national Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). But it doesn't have to be this way--[in states with] a state-run paid leave insurance policy, workers are able to take six weeks off to care for not only a newborn, but also a newly adopted child or an ill family member. Vermont needs to create a program that will bring not only economic security but will also ensure that women who chose to raise their kids full-time in the weeks after they give birth are not at a disadvantage in the workforce.

Source: 2016 Vermont gubernatorial campaign website MattDunne.com Mar 3, 2016

On Corporations: State manager to help each manufacturer navigate rules

Google Executive Matt Dunne stressed innovation and education at the core of his plans to grow manufacturing. "Under my administration, every manufacturing business in the state of Vermont would have a project manager to work on their behalf to make sure that you are not having to navigate state government from one agency to another to be able to make the changes you know are necessary," Dunne said.
Source: WCAX coverage of 2016 Vermont gubernatorial debates Dec 16, 2015

On Welfare & Poverty: Guide corporate partnerships with nonprofit & public sectors

Matt served 7 years before joining the Clinton administration as the Director of AmeriCorps*VISTA overseeing 6000 full-time people working in the fight against poverty. Matt was the Associate Director of the Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College, creating programs to support students who wish to pursue careers in the nonprofit and public sector. Now the Head of Community Affairs at Google, Matt supports all aspects of the company's local corporate social responsibility activities in communities where Google has an office or data center as well as helping guide larger corporate partnerships with the nonprofit and public sector.
Source: 2016 Vermont gubernatorial campaign website MattDunne.com Sep 9, 2015

The above quotations are from 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018