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Adds one more controversial bill to June 17 veto session
Guv hopes for compromise before veto session
By Guy Page
Thursday, June 6, Gov. Phil Scott returned without signature and vetoed H.887, the ‘yield’ bill. Passed May 10, the bill was a late-in-the-session effort to stem this year’s property tax revolt in which voters rejected more than 30 school budgets in the face of a 20% statewide property tax increase.
The bill does not reduce school spending and instead shifts some of the $200 million school funding increase to new taxes on short-term rentals and software, thus dropping the estimated statewide property tax to about 13.8%. It also creates a school funding study commission.
The number of school districts without approved school budgets has fallen below 10, with several more revotes scheduled for later this month.
A veto session is set for June 17. The bill passed 18-8 in the Senate and 93-44 in the House. An override requires a two-thirds majority in each chamber. Both votes achieved the 2-1 ratio, but due to absences were short 20 (Senate) and 100 (House) votes needed to override when the entire Assembly is present. While it is virtually certain that all lawmakers will be present and will be pressured to leadership to override, some legislators may be concerned about voter blowback in November.
Scott said he has suggested changes that, if accepted by the Legislature, could be a “path forward” to a compromise bill. Discussions are scheduled for next week, he said.
In her response to Scott’s veto, House Speaker Jill Krowinski hinted she would be open to collaboration. “The Governor has been unable to provide any alternative plan that would be workable for the start of the fiscal year on July 1. If we do not have a yield bill on July 1, our education system is projected to face a $93 million dollar budget deficit…. The legislature cannot do this alone, and it is imperative that we continue to work together, across all branches of government, to find solutions that balance affordability while providing a high-quality education for our children.”
Scott wrote to the Legislature that he vetoed H.887 for the same reason he vetoed H.289, the Renewable Energy Standard: it costs Vermonters too much.
“Vermonters cannot afford a double-digit property tax increase. Especially while facing a historic eight-percent property tax increase last year, a 20% increase in DMV fees, a new payroll tax taking effect July 1, increased fuel costs to heat homes and businesses from the Clean Heat Standard, and increased electric costs if my veto of the Renewable Energy Standard is not sustained. All on top of several years of inflation – the most regressive tax of all – driving up the cost of household essentials like food, clothing and services faster than paychecks are growing.”
H.687, the Act 250 reform/housing bill, the other ‘big bill’ facing a possible veto, was delivered to the governor today, June 7. The Legislature approved it May 10.
On June 4, Scott vetoed H.645, expansion of approaches to restorative justice, for the same reason: there’s no way to pay for it, he said.
While I understand the desire to help those, particularly youth, who need second, third and even fourth chances to get their lives on track, H.645 is not workable because it is not funded,” Scott wrote to the Legislature. “The bottom line is this bill expands the responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General, which will require additional resources, and yet the new work is not funded.”
This week, Scott signed into law the following bills:
- H.622, emergency medical services
- H.870, professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation
- H.876, miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws
- H.877, miscellaneous agricultural subjects
- H.878, miscellaneous judiciary procedures
- H.882, capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment
- S.186, the systemic evaluation of recovery residences and recovery communities
- S.302, public health outreach programs regarding dementia risk
- S.309, miscellaneous changes to laws related to the Department of Motor Vehicles, motor vehicles, and vessels
- H.614, land improvement fraud and timber trespass
- H.661, child abuse and neglect investigation and substantiation standards and procedures
- H.704, disclosure of compensation in job advertisements
- H.867, miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing alcoholic beverages and the Board of Liquor and Lottery
- H.886, approval of amendments to the charter of the City of South Burlington
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2024 legislative session, click here.
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After reading the article on New Hampshire and their ability to fund their state without income tax and still providing excellent services and education, I am horrified by Vermont’s lack of fiscal responsibility. November will hopefully rid us of these incompetent legislators.
Just don’t bet on it. The majority are still either paying no attention at all or they’re stuck in 1991 with the big, bad GOP profiting from the corrupted oil industry while they themselves tool around in their gas-guzzling Range Rovers. They’ll still be in like Flynn.
No. Nothing will change in November. Unless it is actually an increase in the number of democrat authoritarian simpletons elected to the State House. The majority of Vermonters enjoy economic pain and have been brainwashed to hate Republicans. If you want change, you will have to move to a state with a rational voting majority.
ATTENTION, ATTENTION: Contact your City, County and State Politicians about DISGRACED FORMER PROTECTEES ACT HR 8081. This Bill was introduced to Congress in April 2024. The purpose of this Bill is to have Secret Service Protection removed from President Trump. Just like Biden Administration will not give Secret Service Protection to RFK Jr (WHICH HE IS SUPPOSE TO GET BY LAW), they want to remove Trumps Protection so it makes Both these men more susceptible to Assassination. Now we know regardless how damning the evidence against Hunter Biden is he won’t be convicted because if this law passes he would lose his Secret Service Protection also. The Plan is: at Trump’s sentencing in July 2024 the Judge will order him arrested and transferred to Riker’s Island; he will lose his Secret Service Protection under ACT HR 8081 and then these scum will EPSTEIN TRUMP. THAT MY FRIENDS WILL BE THE UNOFFICIAL END OF THE REPUBLIC. THESE PEOPLE WILL STOP AT NOTHING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT. THIS IS ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL. ” THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IN THE WORLD IS THAT GOOD MEN DO NOTHING. ” IT IS TIME. GOOD MEN AND GOOD WOMEN MUST STAND UP. IT’S NOT OVER YET. SEE YOU AT THE TOP ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…
Brian Judd
Hunter’s laptap introduced as evidence and authenticated by an FBI agent. All the girl’s that Hunter loved before testified he smoked rocks of cocaine the size of golf balls sun up to sundown. All after how many former and current “agents” signed a letter claiming “Russian disinformation?” All encompassing years of the media and officials proclaiming the same and removing any and all claims to the contrary?
Senator Kennedy grilling Christopher Wray about civil suits filed against certain prominent figureheads reported in prominent news media. Wray stammered and blustered refusing to say if any criminal investigations were open or closed? “We can look into it and get back to you” is all he had to say.
How and why did Ghislaine Maxwell end up in a safe house just across the CT River?
Oh the tangled webs weaved when practicing to deceive. The carotid artery that runs from DC to the Golden Thunder Domes of New England, to the Canadian border and back again.
No matter the punk[sic] and circumstance, dog and pony shows, the lawfare warfare going on here, the same exact plays from the same playbook are going on all over the country. Brace for impact – wealth transfer well underway and not in our pockets. Free will to believe it or not.
Thank you Gov. Phil ! The education system needs to be reimagined (if you will) from the bottom to the top. To say that it is prohibitively expensive in it’s present form is an understatement, it is also unfair. In the interest of full disclosure I must admit to the fact I do not, nor have I ever had children, but have paid my “fair share” to educate other’s little geniuses since I got my first job at the age of 18. I’m now 67, and I’m still paying for other people’s prodgies. Am I a little sick of being tapped to the point of dryness so others can educate their children ? Let me put it this way. I am blessed by the town of Calais every year with a tax bill, 2/3rds of which (about $4,000) goes towards educating other people’s children. What do you think ? Of course I’ve heard the reasons why I should be happily paying these taxes to educate other people’s children, like, other people paid for your education, To which my mother would probably quip “If Johnny jumped off of a bridge into a dry riverbed, would you” ? and of course my favorite reason for bilking me is “because it’s good for the collective”.Excuse me you freakin commies ? I can remember my mother, who was the Executive Secretary at the Vermont Education Association in Montpelier for quite a number of years questioning why, now that her kids were all grown, and on their own, and she was retired, why was it reasonable for her to still have to pay school taxes ? Somehow those of us that never, or no longer get the benefits of the taxes we pay never get mentioned, or, Heaven forbid, thanked for the burden that others have imposed on us. So forgive me when I say, you’re welcome !
Don’t be fooled. Governor Scott is a key contributor to the issues with the school system. He selected and hired Xusana Davis of the State Equity Office. He is a member of the US CLIMATE Alliance to implement the Paris Accord. A foundational component of the sustainable development goals. Xusana Davis was allowed to give an anti American, anti white woman, anti American history and anti Trump tweet presentation to highschool children just prior to the 2020 election. Parents of the EWSD demanded that the presentation be released which is why I saw it. The only thing that separatesRINO Republicans from progressives is that they are concerned with fiscal issues. Other than that they are the same animal.
Agree Christine Stone, I’m not fooled. Thank you for your wise comments.
Well said, Christine. My only slight quibble would be that Vermont republicans like some of the social stuff when it makes them money. For instance, they really get behind the affordable housing stuff because it helps their developer and construction contractor pals.
Great Christine. You are running for office right? Obviously you feel you can do a better job than our governor. I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish
Mark. I do not have to run for office to express a valid concern from my personnel experience. I have much more I could have shared but held back. You could address my concerns instead of being condescending. In truth, while I was compelled and contemplated running for office, I am not suited for politics as I am far too frank, honest and have a deep dislike of socialists and critical theorists who support social justice.
Yes, that’s part of the problem Christine. People think it’s enough to sit and write on social media. But it accomplishes very little. You may not like Governor Scott, but he stepped up to the plate and got involved. The Democrats and progressives got organized and look what happened to the state. Most of what I see on VDC Is the same people whining about the same stuff. But I wonder whether those people that are whining are even involved. It is not being condescending. It’s just pointing out the reality.
Mark, I appreciate the conversation. You judge me for not being politically active, but this is a false assumption. I was a Republican committee member for a schools committee in Essex and attended many school board meetings, voicing my concerns in writing and verbally. I have engaged many state government offices in debate over their policies, especially the equity office. I gave presentations to community members and parent organizations such as SPEAK and VPAC and even set up a website to share information with Parents. Just because I do not want to hold office doesn’t mean that I am not politically active.
….so maybe we get out of the schooling business? …privatize it. Let teachers start up a market for their services.
So, another session where it doesn’t look like there’s been any consideration of bills to repeal or bills to which sunset clauses might be added. Isn’t every law an invasion of the individual liberty arena by the commonweal? Is this what we want…to continue the relinquishing of our liberty to an administrative state to “pursue our happiness” for us? Have we resurrected a new “King George and disconnected parliament” to rule us?
The State of Vermont it has a legislature,
E I E I O !
And in this Legislature is a bunch of self aggrandizing Socialists,
E I E I O !
With a chip, chip here and a chip, chip there,
here a chip, there a chip, everywhere a chip, chip
The Vermont Legislature is chipping away at our rights,
E I E I O !
I know, pretty juvenile right ? Oh well ! But am I wrong ?
Jeez…are we at a point where all Vermont legislators, whether new or seasoned, be required to apprentice with their counterparts in New Hampshire to learn how to do their jobs?
The State of Vermont sets the tax rate for school districts even though each school district submits a tax rate to voters often contrary to the state rate. Something is illegal here!
Guy, how come we cannot read what each of the signed into law bills actually say? The link doesn’t really help at all. Thank you.
And remember, ignorance of the law is not a defense! Us Pions are required to know all the crap that our overlords throw at us. Soon, you will not be able to leave your home without the risk of breaking the law. 1984 in 2024
I’d love to see what the DMV takes in (fees, registrations trailers and boats etc.) and their expenditures line item by line item. Bet there’s a lot of waste there. They certainly have enough “Closed” signs for the weigh stations on the Interstate. Bet most of the funds go to a bloated rank and file. Many directors, assistants, chiefs and few indigenous.
The clowns got a seat at the table because of apathy. More people vote for them than those that vote against them . I could be wrong, but I believe there are enough voters to beat them, but they just don’t vote .
You will own nothing and be so very happy is the new mantra for America and Vermont. We are seeing the Vermont 2030 Plan and the 2050 Plan in action. VT was bought-and-paid-for a long time ago; now the minions are all in place to execute the Globalist/Marxist Plan. They will eventually run out of money. How fitting. They will reap what they sow. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
just planted a eight hundred square foot garden/// should be okay as long a
wood chuck named phil and other low lives stays out of my investment/// they sold you out with the covid scam demic and they do not care//// you are on your own in the future///
Mday, i hope your garden grows well, with all the Chemtrail they are spraying on us, it’s killing all my trees out back, and last year my garden did not grow well either… Your food may not be edible with all the poisons coming from the sky… Just a thought, maybe an inside greenhouse with uncontaminated soil.???? WEF wants all us useless eaters dead.
Our school system is a unified school system with NH and VT. The posters that state VT should follow NH, is true in one sense but false in the other. NH does have better school systems according to the Agency of Education in academic proficiency. As far as fiscal responsibility it fails. NH residents for the same residence pays 75% higher in property taxes than VT. According to the NH Constitution: “the government shall provide an adequate education”. Even though there has been many advisory committees that have reported an adequate education to cost $20K, the state believes it is $4,100 therefor the remaining cost shifts to the taxpayers. There has been court rulings since 1997-Claremont vs State of NH and most recently Con Val vs state the court ruling ordered the State of NH to at least start with $7k. The State of NH has pushed this to the limits and claims the court can not make a ruling for the State of NH of funding. “….that is up to legislation….”. At our school, the pupil per budget in unified schools is the highest in the state of VT at $38k, with below 50% academic proficiency in the elementary levels.
Meanwhile, Dems are sending out reminders to the states to start counting the dead for ballot consideration in November…