State Government

Readers wonder why Phil Scott didn’t sign Texas border letter. Guv explains why

by Guy Page

When 25 Republican governors Jan. 25 released a joint statement in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Texas’ constitutional right to self-defense against “unprecedented illegal immigration,” Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s name was not among them. 

It wasn’t just ‘deep red’ or southern border states signing on. Gov. Chris Sununu from neighbor New Hampshire also signed. But not Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, and not Phil Scott.

Many Vermont Daily Chronicle readers have asked your editor to ask the governor to explain this decision. For example, this email from Gary in Franklin County: “I was wondering if you could ask Phil for me why he did not support Texas border issue? I sort of suspect that seeing Phil voted for Joey that he (Phil) supports Joey’s open border policy. Apparently Vt has no Fentanyl issue and that our northern border is secure.”

So, we asked. In response, press secretary Jason Maulucci told VDC the governor is concerned about the border and supports a solution in Congress.

“The Governor shares concerns expressed by governors and leaders of both parties about the situation on the southern border. He believes Congress should continue to work towards solutions to both secure the border and address humanitarian needs.” 

But sign this letter, and others from the Republican Governors’ Association? Nope.

“The Governor is asked to join on to many national-level letters, and we decided long ago to prioritize bipartisan requests that originate from the National Governors Association,” Maulucci said. 

Scott also refused to sign a similar RGA letter protesting the insecure southern border in September, 2021. He also chose not to endorse an October, 2023 initiative by Sununu to use state resources to secure the northern border. He declined, too, to sign a 2022 RGA letter urging Pres. Biden to end the Covid State of Emergency

Last week, the other governors issued their statement “as the Biden Administration continues to attack Texas and refuses to take action or responsibility for the crisis at the Southern border,” an RGA statement reads. 

“President Biden and his Administration have left Americans and our country completely vulnerable to unprecedented illegal immigration pouring across the Southern border. Instead of upholding the rule of law and securing the border, the Biden Administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens from historic levels of illegal immigrants, deadly drugs like fentanyl, and terrorists entering our country. 

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border. We do it in part because the Biden Administration is refusing to enforce immigration laws already on the books and is illegally allowing mass parole across America of migrants who entered our country illegally. 

“The authors of the U.S. Constitution made clear that in times like this, states have a right of self-defense, under Article 4, Section 4 and Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution. Because the Biden Administration has abdicated its constitutional compact duties to the states, Texas has every legal justification to protect the sovereignty of our states and our nation.”

Signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Mike DeWine (OH), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

The Governor shares concerns expressed by governors and leaders of both parties about the situation on the southern border. He believes Congress should continue to work towards solutions to both secure the border and address humanitarian needs. The Governor is asked to join on to many national-level letters, and we decided long ago to prioritize bipartisan requests that originate from the National Governors Association.

Categories: State Government

125 replies »

  1. I love it – 100+ comments shows people are paying attention and super-duper frustrated! Phil did not sign on because his foreign funded, installed Federal Masters told him so – hence, Governor Empty Suit. Clearly, the GOP and DNC governors who do not defend State rights or the People are now exposed for all to see. Who does Phil represent? Certainly not the People or their right to defend themselves against foreign invasion. Our Northern border is targeted and open for invasion as Twinkle Socks Trudeau has it staged and ready when the UN and/or China says go time!

  2. Come next election Real freedom loving Vermonters need to get their butts out there and vote!! We need to rid our state of these transplants before they make Vermont a socialist state!!

  3. Flip Flop Phil is a progressive (Values = Poison) Democrat masquerading as a republican. Republicans are no better up here in Vermont. The radicals stand behind the Mad Hatter Bernie Sanders. Vermont politics are run by radical progressives like David Zuckerman who worship Mad Man Sanders the communist. Remember when they painted BLM (the radical Marxist group burning down cities, Democrats and Republicans supported them even up until now) on the street right in front the Vermont Capital SMH. Vermont is doomed!

  4. What else would you expect from Vermont’s spineless Governor, If he agrees with Governor Abbott, that means he wants to stop the invasion of illegals that are financially killing the country, and we know that’s not part of the liberal plan, and
    Scott will be in lockstep !!

    Scott has No ” cohones ” and lies part of Vermont’s problem .

  5. Bill from White plains needs to share space with a few thousand illegals himself . Would be telling real quick .
    How you would feel about them invading your personal space Billy ?
    Invasion of a country is not a humanitarian act.It is dangerous and fiscally impossible to provide for ALL on the middle class dime .

  6. Hey phony Rino Phil Scott! Mr you are beyond Degusting mr.
    Hey you Jackass ! Vt so-called Governor!
    Its up the Jack in the white house Basement to put a stop to the illegal’s crossing the borders period!!
    You two are a Joke period!!
    Wake up Americans wake up Vermonters wake up!!

  7. if this video is correct, and it makes more sense than not, people don’t suddenly move to another country by the millions for no reason. there have to me massive funding, coordination and logistics to pull this off, see below

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rkxkSJmfos

    It would seem that by paying for and orchestrating this invasion, the following have committed an act of war

    NATO, Red Cross, Doctors without border and I forget the other group. They should be labeled terrorist organizations, all funding stopped, their funds seized, and they should be tried for all damages and war crimes. Those within our government who orchestrated this, and it IS orchestrated should be tried for treason.

    And it is very important to ask all those in leadership what is their response, more so those who hide as American loving patriots within the VTGOP, Dame and all the county heads should ask this question.

    Scott can be our governor, but how can he be a republican, he should be ousted, along with anyone else going along with this invasion. They know what they are doing.