by Sam Lincoln
When Governor Phil Scott was elected in 2016, Vermont urgently needed a leader willing to challenge the legislature’s unsustainable spending and policies. Today, that need is even more critical.
As Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation during his first four years, I saw his leadership firsthand. Never, not once, did I hear Governor Scott make a decision based on partisan politics or the next election. He focused entirely on what was best for Vermont. Within the executive branch, we made measurable progress on longstanding issues, and with legislators, we improved and modernized state law. Meaningful, bipartisan accomplishments happened regularly, even when disagreements captured the headlines.
From his first days in office, Governor Scott’s decisions have been guided by three clear priorities: growing the economy, making Vermont more affordable, and protecting the most vulnerable. His dedication is unmatched. For example, in nearly ten years as governor, he has taken only a single week off—and even then, he worked half-days. I also deeply respect his willingness to call out inappropriate conduct within his own party, even at the risk of alienating his supporters.
I hear the frustration of those who argue that after nearly ten years, conditions in Vermont should be better. Families and businesses are genuinely struggling. They deserve results, and the governor’s record should be scrutinized.
So should the record of the legislative majority.
I have sat in committee rooms where balanced testimony was dismissed by legislative leaders simply because it conflicted with party ideology and special interests. Progress stalls when leaders refuse to give competing ideas a fair hearing. The skewed results we are seeing today reflect the priorities of political insiders, not what’s best for everyday Vermonters.
A governor proposes policies, negotiates legislation, and signs or vetoes bills. He cannot enact an agenda alone. As a longtime member of the majority party once firmly reminded me, “WE (the legislative branch) set the policies and the executive branch administers them.”
Governor Scott’s record number of vetoes reflects persistent, principled disagreements with the legislative majority over the state’s direction. Vermonters have consistently asked him to take us in a different direction than the legislature. He cannot circumvent the legislative process, nor should he be expected to exceed his constitutional powers to do so.
Democrats have controlled both chambers of the Vermont General Assembly since 2005. Voters must examine that 22-year record alongside the governor’s ten-year record. Are their policies delivering results that justify their soaring costs or the regulations placed on rural Vermonters? Good intentions do not absolve elected officials from the real-world consequences of their decisions.
Governor Scott has proven his work ethic, his ability to collaborate, and his commitment to our state. He has earned my vote. Vermont simply cannot afford a legislature, and governor, that treats our economy, land use, and society as a laboratory for untested experiments. We need stable leadership.
If you are looking for meaningful change, look closely at your votes for state representatives and senators. If you believe ten years of Phil Scott is too long, ask yourself why 22 years of single-party legislative control gets a free pass.