Teams chats, merged transcript

# Teams chats — merged transcripts

Built by tools/teams_stitch.py from teams/group-{A,B,C}.json (agent transcriptions checked against the images). Year 2026 assumed for MM/DD stamps; 'Tuesday' in Mearhoff's Nov 2 screenshots resolved to Oct 27. Sender for right-aligned bubbles is inferred from whose window was captured and is marked. Times are as displayed (Eastern). Captures: Feldman PNG = the 11 'Feldman MS Teams Chat' screenshots; Word file = the 29 screenshots inside 'Op Ed Group - Teams Chat.docx'; Mearhoff PNG = the two 'Screenshot 2026-11-02' files.


## one-to-one chat (Mearhoff, Sameroff)

7 distinct messages.


**Tue Oct 27**

- TM001 08:43 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: No rush at all on this: When you have a sec, would you be able to please re-forward me my initial outreach to Digger with the op-ed? Lola from VPR is interested in seeing it on background to help inform their coverage [😮]  ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:27__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155404.png#1⟩
- TM002 09:20 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: yes!   ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:27__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155404.png#2⟩
- TM003 ~09:20 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: let me know fi i sent this right thing!   ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:27__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155404.png#3⟩
- TM004 09:23 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Perfecto, thank you!!!   ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:27__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155404.png#4; Mearhoff PNG:28__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155423.png#1⟩
- TM005 09:30 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: [no text]   ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:27__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155404.png#5⟩
- TM006 09:30 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Let me know if itd be strategic to reprioritize that annotated source list. Nobody else is asking but could do a quick clean up on it and send along for your tax side hustled at least ha   ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:28__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155423.png#2⟩
- TM007 09:46 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I like that idea very much but also totally understand if other priorities rank higher in the triage of to-dos! I'll def keep you posted if/when I hear more follow-ups from outlets -- either looking to publish the op-ed itself, or use the advance copy as background -- and if they ask for more data/documentation   ⟨Mearhoff; Mearhoff PNG:28__Screenshot 2026-11-02 155423.png#3⟩

## six-person op-ed group chat

166 distinct messages.


**Tue Oct 20**

- TM008 09:31 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Op ed chat!   ⟨Word; Word file:image1.png#1⟩
- TM009 09:39 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Did everybody's else's computer force an update and restart?? Ugh. [😆]  ⟨Word; Word file:image1.png#2⟩
- TM010 09:44 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Flagging that we're at 792 words; VTDigger word limit is 850 and we probably want to be a little under.   ⟨Word; Word file:image1.png#3⟩
- TM011 09:55 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: (Whoop! We're rescheduling leg prep so a bit more flex this morning!)   ⟨Word; Word file:image1.png#4⟩
- TM012 ~09:55 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: FYI BIll doesn't want to tinker (himself) with the sassy parts at the beginning adn end - gave him the opportunity. HE said JAke captured him perfectly!   ⟨Word; Word file:image1.png#5⟩
- TM013 10:00 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut top)*: great poitn! We can say itll all be updated in dec with teh 10 year tax study!!! (in teh source area)   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#1; Word file:image2.png#4⟩
- TM014 ~10:00 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Just FYI -Sarah clark sent some edits, inclduing randomly bolded words. dropping them in teh doc for consideration but kate already caught more of them   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#2; Word file:image2.png#5⟩
- TM015 10:05 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(Edited)*: For tbe "source list"/ accompanying media guide  - really not sure how to best use this opportunity and very open to guidance form the comms wizards! We dropped someraw stuff and formatted style to consider. Jake and I were wondering if we really need to provide the exact 1%, 10%, 50% stats (unrounded, full-on fact check) or just provide the link and explanation fo teh data source. Latter less awkward feeling.   ⟨Word; Word file:image1.png#6⟩
- TM016 ~10:09 **Connizzo, Katelyn** *(cut top)*: Confirming that we are using Tax Year 2024 data because that is the most recent year we have complete data for because people only fully completed filing for Tax Year 2025 five days ago? [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image2.png#1⟩
- TM017 ~10:09 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: I might add a note to that effect since 2024 may feel like a long time ago in the not-tax worl   ⟨Word; Word file:image2.png#2⟩
- TM018 ~10:09 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: d   ⟨Word; Word file:image2.png#3⟩
- TM019 10:13 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: zo   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#3; Word file:image2.png#6⟩
- TM020 ~10:13 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: I'm looking at the ITEP clarification - is it saying that the $57k doesn't exist, but that $25k does exist?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#4; Word file:image2.png#7⟩
- TM021 ~10:13 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Like the windfall is less than advertised but still five digits?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#5; Word file:image2.png#8⟩
- TM022 10:14 **Feldman, Jake**: The $25k is business tax cuts, almost all from front-loading business expenses (so not a true ongoing tax cut - just a timing change)   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#6; Word file:image2.png#9; Word file:image3.png#1⟩
- TM023 ~10:14 **Feldman, Jake**: I thought about putting in a sentence about that but decided it was too wonky   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#7; Word file:image2.png#10; Word file:image3.png#2⟩
- TM024 ~10:14 **Feldman, Jake**: I could try to add something if people feel like we need it [👍]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#8; Word file:image3.png#3⟩
- TM025 10:20 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Def. not to the op ed, but just thinking about this source document. I feel like me and Sarah are the target audience of non-tax people trying to understand the sources, and if anyone does, in fact, click through they'll see that immediately.   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#9; Word file:image3.png#4⟩
- TM026 10:21 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: YEah lets do it Jake   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#10; Word file:image3.png#5⟩
- TM027 ~10:21 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: OR find another resource - tax foundation, TPC, whatever - that does it for us to link and quote   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#11; Word file:image3.png#6⟩
- TM028 ~10:21 **[sender not visible]** *(cut bottom)*: [not visible]   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_1.png#12⟩
- TM029 ~10:21 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: IN TEH RESOURCE doc (not the op ed) [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image3.png#7⟩
- TM030 10:21 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Similarly the JFO slide 3 tracks for me, but then slide 7 gets confusing again.   ⟨Word; Word file:image3.png#8; Word file:image4.png#1⟩
- TM031 ~10:21 **Connizzo, Katelyn** *(cut bottom)*: [no text]  [image: Embedded slide image: “Estimates of Change in Vermonters’ Federal Income Tax Liability” ] ⟨Word; Word file:image3.png#9⟩
- TM032 ~10:26 **[sender not visible]** *(cut top)*: [no text]  [image: table fragment (embedded image) ] ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#1⟩
- TM033 ~10:26 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: It's hard to parse the difference between "Estimated Average Federal" and "Estimated Federal" and it makes it seem like there's a substantial new decrease...   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#2; Word file:image4.png#3⟩
- TM034 10:26 **Feldman, Jake**: JCT compared to a baseline where the TCJA expired, which (as Claude points out) is a reasonable way to do it   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#3; Word file:image4.png#4⟩
- TM035 ~10:26 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: [no text]  [image: Embedded slide image: “Estimates of Change in Vermonters’ Federal Income Tax Liability” (table) ] ⟨Word; Word file:image4.png#2⟩
- TM036 10:27 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Wondering if we should explicitly say, then, which JFO slides we're using as a source   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#4; Word file:image4.png#5⟩
- TM037 ~10:27 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: and maybe even note that slide 7 assumes that TCJA expired which wasn't ultimately the case (right?)   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#5; Word file:image4.png#6⟩
- TM038 10:28 **Feldman, Jake**: slide 6 says it pretty clearly re: the JCT estimates on slide 7   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#6; Word file:image4.png#7⟩
- TM039 ~10:28 **Feldman, Jake**: right   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#7⟩
- TM040 ~10:28 **Feldman, Jake** *(cut bottom)*: [no text]   ⟨Word; Word file:image4.png#8⟩
- TM041 10:31 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: As far as we know, was pre-correction ITEP testimony the single source of the $57k number?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#8; Word file:image5.png#2⟩
- TM042 ~10:31 **Feldman, Jake**: right   ⟨Word; Word file:image5.png#1⟩
- TM043 10:33 **Feldman, Jake** *(cut bottom)*: I think different sources had different figures but the $57K was/is most widely cited: https://fairsharevt.org/ [👍] [link: https://fairsharevt.org/ ] ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_2.png#9; Word file:image5.png#3⟩
- TM044 ~10:40 **[sender not visible]** *(cut top)*: [not visible] [[clipped]]  ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#1⟩
- TM045 10:40 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: JCT is Joint Committee on Taxation? [👍]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#2; Word file:image5.png#4⟩
- TM046 ~10:40 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: I'm sorry, I'm getting confused again - the JFO slides say "JCT estimates include the impact of making temporary changes set to expire permanent. • In some cases, this is not a significant change relative to tax treatment from the previous tax year."   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#3; Word file:image5.png#5⟩
- TM047 ~10:40 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Doesn't that mean that their analysis did include the assumption that TCJA cuts were permanent?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#4; Word file:image5.png#6⟩
- TM048 10:49 **Feldman, Jake**: You could plug in "for most taxpayers" for "in some cases"   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#5; Word file:image6.png#1⟩
- TM049 10:50 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Jake, could you take a look at what I'm trying to do on the source sheet and see if you think it makes sense?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#6; Word file:image6.png#2⟩
- TM050 ~10:50 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: My take is just that there needs to be some context around the links. It can be wonky, since these are sources for the journalists and not the op-ed itself   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#7; Word file:image6.png#3⟩
- TM051 ~10:50 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: But I think non-tax people would need some hand holding to understand how to apply the sources   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#8; Word file:image6.png#4⟩
- TM052 ~10:50 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: And I'm pretty sure I'm not doing a great job. 😳   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#9; Word file:image6.png#5⟩
- TM053 11:01 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(Edited)* *(cut bottom)*: [not visible]   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_3.png#10⟩
- TM054 11:01 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(Edited)*: Just FYI all that I’m heading into a meeting until noon and then can give this *FULL attention and help try to propose clarity around the truth with ob3/approporaite framing *for linked resources   ⟨Word; Word file:image6.png#6⟩
- TM055 11:12 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: (sorry voice to text from car was slop there - tl;dr - let me take a look at noon!)   ⟨Word; Word file:image6.png#7⟩
- TM056 11:13 **Magnus, Abigail** *(cut bottom)*: for the "replace with actuals" comments, are you wanting like the share of income taxes paid by that group or the AGI cutoff for that group?   ⟨Word; Word file:image6.png#8⟩
- TM057 ~11:21 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut top)*: Q for Sameroff, Rebecca and Connizzo, Katelyn: Am I more needed here editing this op ed, or working with the interns to stuff Symposium folders? My sense is that this op-ed is higher priority but LMK if I'm misjudging and I can run down the hill to the intern sesh   ⟨Word; Word file:image7.png#1⟩
- TM058 11:21 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Interns are about to be rescheduled   ⟨Word; Word file:image7.png#2⟩
- TM059 ~11:21 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: because materials are still printing   ⟨Word; Word file:image7.png#3⟩
- TM060 11:39 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut bottom)*: Bringing a conversation here from the doc, because I don't want to make a big edit (even with track changes on) without discussing it first, and comments can get lost in the sauce.

Regarding this graph:

That misleading $57,000 federal tax cut figure{+ is+}[- mostly-]{+ usually+} {+paired with a call+}[-comes up in campaigns that aim-] to make Vermont’s wealthiest pay more state income taxes.{+ But here’s the problem: wealth and income aren’t the same thing. +}[-It sounds counterintuitive, but Vermont’s wealthiest are not necessarily the ones with the highest income.-] If someone earns a lot of income [-year over year-]{+every year,+} they will likely *become* wealthy, but[- in Vermont-], {+we don’t have the same deep bench of ultra-high annual earners that they have in New York or Massachusetts. In Vermont, we only have about 700 taxpayers that have consistently made it into our top tax bracket over the past decade.+}

Even with these edits, I remain concerned that all of this exposition will read as really unsympathetic to   ⟨Word; Word file:image7.png#4⟩
- TM061 ~11:48 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut top)*: Even with these edits, I remain concerned that all of this exposition will read as really unsympathetic to the average reader -- as if we're saying, "Well, it's money but it's not REAL money," or something. What if we just cut straight from, "That misleading $57K figure..." to, "In Vermont, high income tends to be a one-time event." I think brevity is our friend here!   ⟨Word; Word file:image8.png#1⟩
- TM062 ~11:48 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Gimme a sec and I'll sketch out a substantial edit suggestion here in Teams:   ⟨Word; Word file:image8.png#2⟩
- TM063 11:48 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: That misleading $57,000 federal tax cut figure is usually paired with a call to make Vermont’s wealthiest pay more state income taxes. {+But here are the facts: In Vermont, high income tends to be a one-time event -- like selling their business or farm.+}

{+In fact, in the past decade, +}almost half of the 13,000 Vermonters who have made it into the top 1% (reporting income of roughly $500,000) only made it one time. {+For many Vermonters, selling their farm or business *is* their retirement plan.+}

{+So when advocates call to tax “the wealthy”, they are really proposing that the state take an even larger bite out of the life’s work of Vermonters. That's money that Vermonters are counting on to support them through retirement as the cost of food, home heating fuel, health care, and property taxes continue to skyrocket.+} [❤️]  ⟨Word; Word file:image8.png#3⟩
- TM064 11:58 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: I like the flow of your edit. I am sad to miss out on the opportunity to do some small education on the difference between 'wealth' and 'income' for taxation purposes.   ⟨Word; Word file:image9.png#1⟩
- TM065 ~11:58 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: I am slightly wary of swinging to far in the other direction, though, also. If you're able to fuel your retirement with this sort of one-time event, I think a tax increase is more likely to cut into your travel budget than your food budget. Maybe instead of listing specific costs we could just say 'cost of living' as a blanket term? Or are the individual budget line items compelling?   ⟨Word; Word file:image9.png#2⟩
- TM066 12:14 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I think this tact does still get this point across! Just without saying "wealth" versus "income" outright -- which I think could come across to the average reader as out-of-touch.  [quote: quoted reply ] ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_4.png#1; Word file:image9.png#3⟩
- TM067 ~12:14 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I actually don't think of the crowd that we're talking about here in those terms at all. If you're relying on selling your farm for your retirement nest egg in the Year of Our Lord 2026, you're not in a great place financially (sad to say). I think of this population as those who didn't have the means or the financial literacy to contribute to a 401K or Roth IRA during their working years.  [quote: quoted reply ] ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_4.png#2; Word file:image9.png#4⟩
- TM068 12:19 **Feldman, Jake**: I like SM's paragraph but the stuff about food and heating fuel is a stretch   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_4.png#3; Word file:image10.png#2⟩
- TM069 ~12:19 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut top)*: financially (sad to say). I think of this population as those who didn't have the means or the financial literacy to contribute to a 401K or Roth IRA during their working years.   ⟨Word; Word file:image10.png#1⟩
- TM070 12:23 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: OK IM BACK! Looks like a lot of work to catch up on here. I'm going to review with a bit of a bias towards the flow of the already-approved content (in all its unpolished glory!) but if Jake and Comms are aligned on more significant/fundamental rewrites we should absolutely make them!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_4.png#4; Word file:image10.png#3⟩
- TM071 12:26 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut bottom)*: Fair enough! Your girl wanted to try to sneak in one lil dig on property taxes, but I accept the stretch allegations.

{+So when advocates call to tax “the wealthy”, they are really proposing that the state take an even larger bite out of the life’s work of Vermonters. That's money that Vermonters are counting on to support them through retirement.+}   ⟨Word; Word file:image10.png#4⟩
- TM072 12:27 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: switch "they" for "Vermonters" in the second sentence? [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image11.png#1⟩
- TM073 ~12:27 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: All of SOV writing is just rationing the number of times you get to use "Vermonter" [😆×2]  ⟨Word; Word file:image11.png#2⟩
- TM074 12:29 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(Edited)*: Yippee! If all are in favor, I will edit this into the doc (track changes still on, of course)   ⟨Word; Word file:image11.png#3⟩
- TM075 12:59 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Sameroff, Rebecca do you want to start accepting changes you approve as you work through the document? We'll probably need to do another run through after to make sure things are still reading smoothly. [❤️]  ⟨Word; Word file:image11.png#4⟩
- TM076 12:59 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Yes so far I'm only leaving things I/we need to come back to [❤️]  ⟨Word; Word file:image11.png#5⟩
- TM077 13:02 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: FYI: Just talked to Amanda Wheeler and the gov's office is happy and eager. She asked for one final look at the draft before we send it to newspapers. The gov is scheduled to go on the Morning Drive tomorrow morning and will tease some of these talking points.   ⟨Word; Word file:image12.png#1⟩
- TM078 13:09 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: oh no.... Ha KATE I was working on the draft I saved off offline hahaha. Classic. Let em swoop back in [😆]  ⟨Word; Word file:image12.png#2⟩
- TM079 ~13:09 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: lets all pause for a sec so i can catch up (i dont think anyone is currently editing in the main op ed text at least) [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image12.png#3⟩
- TM080 15:34 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Kate thanks for your offer to clean up my additions but FYI I just went a little rouge on a new offline copy. Will try and reintegrate the edits if it keeps going well, but May need to send you that one instead. [😮]  ⟨Word; Word file:image12.png#4⟩
- TM081 15:42 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Rebecca Unleashed   ⟨Word; Word file:image12.png#5⟩
- TM082 ~15:42 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I'm eager to see, myself!!!   ⟨Word; Word file:image12.png#6⟩
- TM083 16:10 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: UNLEASHED! Wealth Tax - Op Ed_draft ....agh reorg.docx  [file_card: Wealth Tax - Op Ed_draft ....agh reorg.docx TAX-POLA > General] ⟨Word; Word file:image13.png#1⟩
- TM084 ~16:10 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: (Sorry about this version pivot. I started chopping and didn't know if I'd want to keep it! It will only take me about 10 mins to transfer edits into teh other version if folks are concerned about V-control but looked like I was the only one left tinkering in the document.)   ⟨Word; Word file:image13.png#2⟩
- TM085 16:17 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: OOPS! LEft 2 versions of teh same para - I wanted that 700 number back in the upper section too   ⟨Word; Word file:image13.png#3⟩
- TM086 16:19 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: We can declare this version the new version, I think! [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image14.png#1⟩
- TM087 16:19 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: PHEW   ⟨Word; Word file:image14.png#2⟩
- TM088 16:26 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: GREAT edits so far, yall! Kate knows I'm not precious about these additions! trying to help the story flow.   ⟨Word; Word file:image14.png#3⟩
- TM089 16:30 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(Edited)*: Huge fan of adding the portions of PIT receipts paid by top 1%, 10%, etc., Sameroff, Rebecca. Really illustrates how truly progressive our tax system already is   ⟨Word; Word file:image14.png#4⟩
- TM090 16:33 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: We are over on word count by 4 words! [😆]  ⟨Word; Word file:image14.png#5⟩
- TM091 ~16:33 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: I would suggest sending to the Fifth floor anyhow and letting them do what they're going to do before we go back through to trim specifically for word count [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image14.png#6⟩
- TM092 16:34 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Just got the "where did my op ed go!?" note from Bill. Does this sound right? Send to 5th floor tonight. Sarah launch thru networks first thing after getting approval ....tommorrow? (including just the very top part of the "sources" material for now.... because the grander vision is nice to have for pushing out to reporters, but the timely product is an op ed and not necessary to fact check)   ⟨Word; Word file:image15.png#1⟩
- TM093 ~16:34 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: "at teh dept of taxes" hehehe [😆]  ⟨Word; Word file:image15.png#2⟩
- TM094 ~16:34 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: JKJK i agree thats a solid add   ⟨Word; Word file:image15.png#3⟩
- TM095 ~16:34 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Should I go read and accept cahgnes rn!? [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image15.png#4⟩
- TM096 16:36 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut bottom)*: [no text]   ⟨Word; Word file:image15.png#5⟩
- TM097 ~16:46 **[sender not visible]**: I say yes!   ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#1⟩
- TM098 ~16:46 **[sender not visible]**: That order of ops sounds good to me! I can shoot Amanda a text to let her know it's coming but I'd hazard to guess we can expect their green light tomorrow AM [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#2⟩
- TM099 16:46 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: left one question! then clean to launch!   ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#3⟩
- TM100 16:47 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Am I sending the source page to the 5th floor, too or will we be polishing that bad boy up tomorrow AM?   ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#4⟩
- TM101 16:47 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Nah jsut say we have it to ship   ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#5⟩
- TM102 ~16:47 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: did i accidentally combine 2 paragraphs? I'll make a ocmeent where Im talking about   ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#6⟩
- TM103 16:53 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: OK IM DONT TINKERING!   ⟨Word; Word file:image16.png#7⟩
- TM104 ~17:02 **[sender not visible]** *(cut top)*: [no text]  [image: heart-shaped graphic ] ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#1⟩
- TM105 ~17:02 **[sender not visible]**: Okay about to hit send unless anyone tells me to STOP NOW!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#2; Word file:image17.png#1⟩
- TM106 17:02 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: go now!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#3; Word file:image17.png#2⟩
- TM107 ~17:02 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: multi-agency HERO!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#4; Word file:image17.png#3⟩
- TM108 17:11 **Feldman, Jake**: Think that 57,000 stat paragraph needs to say “the additional amount”   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#5; Word file:image17.png#4⟩
- TM109 ~17:11 **Feldman, Jake**: Makes it sound like they would pay 57,000 in all   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#6; Word file:image17.png#5⟩
- TM110 17:12 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: OOH mark it up in the doc please for tomorrow!!!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#7; Word file:image17.png#6⟩
- TM111 ~17:12 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Ah i see i see   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#8; Word file:image17.png#7⟩
- TM112 ~17:12 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(Edited)*: That popular $57,000 figure actually refers to the ave tax increase high earners would have seen if the 2017 Trump tax cuts had expired. Something like that? (I felt like we had to say that that # is somewhere! Very open to improvements/alternatives!)   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#9; Word file:image17.png#8⟩
- TM113 17:15 **Feldman, Jake**: That works with increase italicized [👍]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#10; Word file:image18.png#1⟩
- TM114 17:15 **Feldman, Jake** *(cut bottom)*: [no text]   ⟨Word; Word file:image17.png#9⟩

**Wed Oct 21**

- TM115 06:13 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: edited in my clean offline Word copy, too!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_20_5.png#11; Word file:image18.png#2⟩
- TM116 09:21 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Good morning, sunshines! I wanted to check in on the "source" page. Feldman, Jake & Co, what can I do to help get that ready for launch? Bill called me this morning very eager to get this out the door and has nudged the 5th floor for their approval ASAP.   ⟨Word; Word file:image18.png#3⟩
- TM117 09:22 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Hey I chatted off-line with Jake and Kate a bit about this yesterday. I think we should send the very basic top Sec. stuff along with the op Ed if appropriate. Pretty dreamy to have a media guide to advance to others but I don't think we can prioritize it with everything going on today and me being out-of-pocket.   ⟨Word; Word file:image18.png#4⟩
- TM118 ~09:22 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: That 57k stuff is pretty bonkers complicated so we may just have to rest on our authority as tax experts!   ⟨Word; Word file:image18.png#5⟩
- TM119 09:28 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut top)*: Okay yes sorry, seeing the line in this Sharepoint doc now. Okay so we want to include JUST this stuff, yes?

Source: Vermont Department of Taxes, personal income data for tax year 2024. https://tax.vermont.gov/data-and-statistics/income-tax, see AGI Percentile table.
Data and methodology:
Vermont Department of Taxes data for tax year 2024 indicate that adjusted gross income (AGI) of approximately $500,000 corresponds to the threshold for the top 1% of Vermont resident income tax filers. The income thresholds are used to identify the groups referenced in the op-ed.

The shares of income tax paid by the top 1%, top 10%, and bottom 50% are calculated by comparing the total income tax attributable to each group with total Vermont resident income tax collections represented in the data.
Note that Tax Year 2024 is the most recent tax year for which complete data is available. Filing for Tax Year 2025 concluded on October 15, 2026. [👍] [link: https://tax.vermont.gov/data-and-statistics/income-tax ] ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_1.png#1; Word file:image19.png#1⟩
- TM120 09:28 **Feldman, Jake**: The last sentence we can drop, I think, because it makes it sound like we have 2025 (since it's 10/21 now) when in reality they are not all posted [👍×3]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_1.png#2; Word file:image19.png#2⟩
- TM121 09:30 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I also have news that will likely be unwelcome. Digger's word count limit for op-eds is indeed 850. But I was compiling a list of other outlets to whom to send this this morning and several cut it off at 800 words.

I say we send the full kit n kaboodle to Digger because they're the gold standard. I also know that they are the pickiest -- and often longest -- to get op eds published. Bill has been adamant that he wants me to blast this thing out to as many outlets as possible. I can take a spin through our latest version and try to identify trims that we can make for a shorter, 800-word version to send to those other outlets.   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_1.png#3; Word file:image20.png#1⟩
- TM122 09:37 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: [not visible]   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_1.png#4⟩
- TM123 09:37 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Oof   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_2.png#1; Word file:image20.png#2⟩
- TM124 09:46 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Shouldice 'wealth tax' op ed TRUNCATED Oct 2026  [link: Shouldice 'wealth tax' op ed TRUNCATED Oct 2026 ] [file_card: Shouldice 'wealth tax' op ed... TAX-POLA > General] ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_2.png#2; Word file:image20.png#3⟩
- TM125 ~09:46 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: 795 words 😤   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_2.png#3⟩
- TM126 ~09:46 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Changes tracked so you all can see what I cut. I'm not happy about having to trim anything but as the saying goes in the news biz, sometimes you have to kill your darlings [😆]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_2.png#4; Word file:image21.png#2⟩
- TM127 09:50 **Feldman, Jake**: You get rid of my darling $10M factoid! [💯]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_2.png#5; Word file:image21.png#3⟩
- TM128 09:50 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut bottom)*: It's such a darling factoid!!!!!!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_2.png#6; Word file:image21.png#4⟩
- TM129 ~09:50 **[sender not visible]**: 795 words 😤   ⟨Word; Word file:image21.png#1⟩
- TM130 ~09:50 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: 🔪   ⟨Word; Word file:image21.png#5⟩
- TM131 ~09:50 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: ✂️   ⟨Word; Word file:image21.png#6⟩
- TM132 ~09:50 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: 💣 [😆]  ⟨Word; Word file:image21.png#7⟩
- TM133 ~09:56 **[sender not visible]** *(cut top)*: [not visible] [😆]  ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#1⟩
- TM134 09:56 **Feldman, Jake**: I think we could actually jettison that next little sentence that starts, "But, unlike Mass..."   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#2; Word file:image22.png#1⟩
- TM135 ~09:56 **Feldman, Jake**: But of course I'm biased towards the empirical stuff   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#3; Word file:image22.png#2⟩
- TM136 09:57 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Oh no you're so right, Jake. I like that cut better [👍]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#4; Word file:image22.png#3⟩
- TM137 ~09:57 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Reincarnating your darling now [😆]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#5; Word file:image22.png#4⟩
- TM138 ~09:57 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: 👼   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#6⟩
- TM139 ~09:57 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: 783 WORDS!!! 🔪🔪🔪🔪 [🎉]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#7; Word file:image22.png#6⟩
- TM140 ~09:57 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: 👼   ⟨Word; Word file:image22.png#5⟩
- TM141 11:11 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I haven't heard from the 5th floor but Bill just called and said he wants me to send this puppy out. He is reaching out to them one more time and if they don't answer, he said to just let it rip. Last call: Any final red flags on the 850-word version for Digger, or the 800-word version for other outlets?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_3.png#8; Word file:image22.png#7⟩
- TM142 ~11:38 **[sender not visible]** *(cut top)*: [no text]  [file_card: [not visible] [not visible]] ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#1⟩
- TM143 ~11:38 **[sender not visible]** *(Edited)*: If there are no final objections, I'll go through and accept the tracked cuts in the short version   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#2; Word file:image24.png#1⟩
- TM144 11:38 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Just got the clear from 5th floor and Bill. Sending   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#3; Word file:image24.png#2⟩
- TM145 11:56 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Okay I'm gonna stop copying you all on every single one of these emails to newspapers because I imagine that's getting really old really fast. Just know I'm disseminating this widely [❤️×2]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#4; Word file:image24.png#3⟩
- TM146 12:15 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: And already: the Waterbury Roundabout is running with it 🫡 [😮]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#5; Word file:image24.png#4⟩
- TM147 13:32 **Feldman, Jake**: Should we have capitalized the s in state in the title?   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#6; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#1; Word file:image24.png#5⟩
- TM148 13:39 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut bottom)*: I am going to choose to believe that it's fine the way we sent it [[clipped]]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_4.png#7; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#2; Word file:image24.png#6⟩

**Thu Oct 22**

- TM149 08:36 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Alive! and just cathcing up on Cutler's WCAX piece before the debate. Great work seeding that one! And even Austin D did a great job. Kinda like that "taxing oligarchs vs taxing oncologists" line. [👍×2]  ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#3; Word file:image25.png#1⟩
- TM150 08:45 **Feldman, Jake**: Do we have any sense of where the op-ed might get published and when? I though Calvin's thing was decent (for WCAX) but it would be great if the full picture of the $57K got out there   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#4; Word file:image25.png#2⟩
- TM151 08:46 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: Sarah said that the Waterbury Roundabout is running it!   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#5; Word file:image25.png#3⟩
- TM152 ~08:46 **Connizzo, Katelyn**: It usually takes a couple of days for VTDigger to decide, I think   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#6; Word file:image25.png#4⟩
- TM153 08:47 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: The trump tax cut was front and center early in the debate so I'm thinking he'll get pinged (if op-ed staff and reporter staff talk, at least)   ⟨Feldman/Word; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_21_5.png#7; Word file:image25.png#5; Word file:image26.png#1⟩
- TM154 ~08:47 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: (Kate/Sarah - let me know if we think its worth me spending time today trying to package up our references in case we get post-debate hits from others!)   ⟨Word; Word file:image26.png#2⟩
- TM155 09:07 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I certainly wouldn't complain about this, Rebecca but the most important thing is that you rest up and take care of yourself!!! Please don't overextend   ⟨Word; Word file:image26.png#3⟩
- TM156 ~09:07 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: BTW if I'm taking a while to respond today... you know why. Text me on my personal if you need me ASAP: [personal phone redacted]   ⟨Word; Word file:image26.png#4⟩
- TM157 11:07 **Magnus, Abigail** *(cut bottom)*: I'm not in the symposium chat, but Feldman, Jake did you have a slide you presented to ways and means on what the shift from the property tax credit to the homestead exemption would look like? We thought that might be helpful to add to the symposium materials based on the questions Abby got   ⟨Word; Word file:image26.png#5⟩
- TM158 11:11 **Feldman, Jake**: I don't know if there's anything that's worth sharing because the homestead exemption can't easily be layered over the current rate structure. I think the two key things to know is that it's sensitive to current year rates and values (so no lag) and more beneficial to people in lower value homes (and towns where homes are worth less) than the current system   ⟨Word; Word file:image27.png#1⟩
- TM159 11:18 **Magnus, Abigail**: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Tax%20Department/Property%20Tax%20Credit/W~Jake%20Feldman~Property%20Tax%20Credit%20Proposal~1-29-2025.pdf  [link: https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Workgroups/House%20Ways%20and%20Means/Tax%20Department/Property%20Tax%20Credit/W~Jake%20Feldman~Property%20Tax%20Credit%20Proposal~1-29-2025.pdf ] ⟨Word; Word file:image27.png#2⟩
- TM160 ~11:18 **Magnus, Abigail**: This is what I was thinking of, but I guess that's the proposal not the actual legislation   ⟨Word; Word file:image27.png#3⟩
- TM161 11:19 **Feldman, Jake**: Right. as passed was way different.   ⟨Word; Word file:image27.png#4⟩
- TM162 11:19 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: I think we hit this question well! [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image27.png#5⟩
- TM163 ~11:19 **Sameroff, Rebecca** *(cut bottom)*: I'll edit my in-chat response to include the "no lag" benefit too! I talked about cliffs and fairness for low-value homesowenrs   ⟨Word; Word file:image27.png#6⟩
- TM164 11:21 **Feldman, Jake**: Oh good call. The no cliffs will be good for this group   ⟨Word; Word file:image28.png#1⟩
- TM165 11:32 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Just popping in to say THANK YOU to this crew for being so helpful in real time [❤️]  ⟨Word; Word file:image28.png#2⟩

**Fri Oct 23**

- TM166 14:10 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: Stowe Reporter is considering running the op ed, too 😄 [😆]  ⟨Word; Word file:image28.png#3⟩
- TM167 14:11 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: HECK YEAH' [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image28.png#4⟩
- TM168 14:11 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: I figured we'd have an edge there considering Bill lives in Stowe, too   ⟨Word; Word file:image28.png#5⟩
- TM169 ~14:11 **Mearhoff, Sarah** *(cut bottom)*: Also you know, the general, ahem, readership there... might be interested!   ⟨Word; Word file:image28.png#6⟩

**Sat Oct 24**

- TM170 11:51 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Brattleboro Reformer ran it! [👍×2]  ⟨Word; Word file:image29.png#1⟩

**Mon Oct 26**

- TM171 11:18 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Manchester Journal! [👍]  ⟨Word; Word file:image29.png#2⟩

**undated**

- TM172 ? **[sender not visible]**: Digger version: Wealth Tax - Op Ed_draft ....agh reorg.docx  [file_card: Wealth Tax - Op Ed_draft ....... TAX-POLA > General] ⟨Word; Word file:image23.png#1⟩
- TM173 ? **[sender not visible]** *(cut bottom)*: Short-ish and sweet version: Shouldice 'wealth tax' op ed TRUNCATED Oct 2026  [file_card: Shouldice 'wealth tax' op ed... TAX-POLA > General] ⟨Word; Word file:image23.png#2⟩

## three-person chat (Mearhoff, Sameroff, Feldman)

6 distinct messages.


**Mon Oct 19**

- TM174 ~12:38 **[sender not visible]** *(cut top)*: [not visible] [😔]  ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_19_1.png#1⟩
- TM175 12:38 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: First of all, Jake, great job on this op-ed. FYI to you both: I've reached out to Amanda on the 5th floor and asked to chat with her sometime this afternoon about op-ed optics , timing, pros/cons, -- or if an alternative delivery method (interview with a reporter? press release?) would be more ideal. I got some more time to sit and digest what you wrote, Jake over lunch (lots of digesting happening over here...) and I'm honestly thinking that an op-ed could be Step 1, and Bill could piggyback it into follow-up interviews if this makes a big enough splash (which I think it could, given what a key tenet this whole "wealth tax" argument is to certain people in the news cycle these days).   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_19_1.png#2⟩
- TM176 ~12:38 **Mearhoff, Sarah**: One flag I wanted to raise for you both to start chewing on in case we get the green light from Amanda and need to get ourselves into gear: This line is bugging me: "...Vermont the people with the highest income in a given year are often not the wealthiest." I know exactly what you mean by it, Jake but I fear it could cue the world's tiniest violins for those reading. I'll think about ways to rephrase the same message. [👍]  ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_19_1.png#3⟩
- TM177 13:11 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: Thanks for engaging the 5th floor on this, Sarah. Feel free to pitch alternatives. Noting that was a Claude sentence and I actually liked Jake's OG a bit better! Does it land any different to your populist ear?  "It sounds counterintuitive, but Vermont's wealthiest are not necessarily the ones with the highest income"....[in a given year?]   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_19_1.png#4⟩
- TM178 ~13:11 **Sameroff, Rebecca**: "It sounds counterintuitive, but Vermont's wealthiest are not necessarily the ones with the highest income in a particular year(?). If someone earns a lot of income year over year they will likely become wealthy, but in Vermont, high income tends to be a one-time event."   ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_19_1.png#5⟩
- TM179 14:11 **Feldman, Jake**: What about: "Cue the tiny violins, but the Vermonters with over XXX of income in a particular year are not necessarily the state's welthiest" [😆] [🎻]  ⟨Feldman; Feldman PNG:Feldman_MS_Teams_Chat_10_19_1.png#6⟩