by Guy Page
With as much pomp and circumstance as the Vermont State House can muster, Gov. Phil Scott was inaugurated Thursday, June 5 into his third term of office as governor of Vermont.
A packed State House of legislators, family members, press and others gave Scott a two-minute standing ovation as he was ushered into Assembly Hall of the House of Representatives. With 16 State Police cruisers parked outside, a color guard of Vermont State Police presented the colors. Singer/actor/teacher Francois Clemmons performed a memorable rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
In his inaugural remarks, Gov. Scott spoke frankly about the state’s self-imposed transitional challenges economic divide facing Vermont (reported by Journal-Opinion editor Alex Nuti-de Biasi in the JO newsletter):
“And when you are driving 500 miles in one day, you see this data reflects real communities. In an instant, the view goes from vibrant downtowns, healthy neighborhoods and bustling offices, to tarped roofs, abandoned homes and shuttered businesses.”
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“Together, we made the state’s largest-ever investment in substance abuse prevention, which is being deployed as we speak. It’s helping community partners give students meaningful things to do – like afterschool programs, clubs, sports and jobs – where they build healthy relationships, explore opportunities and feel valued. They are also critical to our treatment and recovery efforts, connecting people to services, sharing life-saving resources, and supporting families who desperately need our help.”
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“On one trip, we had planned to power up in Brattleboro. But the only charger fast enough to keep us on schedule had a line of cars waiting, which would have made me late for a few meetings. As Governor, I have State Police security, so I got another ride and was on my way. But others don’t have that luxury. Now to be clear, I still believe EVs are the right way to go. But we have to recognize that many are hesitant because it needs to be easier, more convenient and more affordable to make the switch. We have made great strides, but we need to make sure we are investing in the fastest chargers available. And with all the new EVs and electric heating and cooling systems coming online, we have some serious work to do to make sure our electric grid can accommodate it.”
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“I know a number of you are working to change this. For any legislators who ran on housing as a priority, I hope you join us at the table. Because in order to make the most of the hundreds of millions of dollars we’ve invested and build homes as quickly and affordably as we can, we need smart regulations that reflect the realities of today, and we need them this session.”
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“But we have to remember the decisions we make in this building have real-life consequences on people who don’t show up at fundraisers. Who don’t have the time to call, write, tweet or testify in the State House – because they are too busy working, trying to make ends meet, and raise their family.”