By Guy Page
The Vermont House at 10 AM Tuesday morning will reconvene to consider overriding Gov. Phil Scott’s vetos of $120 million for childcare/early childhood spending, 16-17 year old voting in Brattleboro, non-citizen voting in Burlington, high fees for professional licensure, and the $8.5 billion 2023-24 state budget.
Overriding a veto requires 100 votes in the 150-seat House. Vetoed bills will be considered in this order:
H. 217, Child care, early education, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance, passed the House overwhelmingly 118-27 on May 12.
Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a $120 million childcare bill because it relies on a slippery-slope payroll tax and ignores a cheaper, but still effective plan set forth by his administration.
H217 would subsidize childcare centers and spend more on pre-K in public schools. His administration’s alternative plan would allocate $56 million from existing revenue sources to raise family eligibility to four times the federal poverty level – the highest in the nation, he claimed. A family of four could earn $105,000 and still qualify, he said.
But what Scott won’t stand for is funding childcare via a payroll tax.
“The payroll tax itself has never been used this way before,” he said. “Once the door’s open, it takes a little bit out of everyone’s pocket, they will be going back to the well time and time again.”
H.305, professional licensure. License fee hikes drew the governor’s displeasure and subsequent veto. “While these fee increases may look modest, they contribute to the high cumulative impact of new costs being levied on Vermonters this session. I will continue to fight against creating new and higher taxes and fees during a time when Vermonters are grappling with persistent inflation, and when we have record surpluses available to assist us.”
H.386, a Brattleboro charter change allowing 16-17 year olds to vote and hold office locally. It passed the House 103-33. Supporters say it will increase civic interest and participation among young people. Scott: “Given how inconsistent Vermont law already is on the age of adulthood, this proposal will only worsen the problem. For example, the Legislature has repeatedly raised the age of accountability to reduce the consequences when young adults commit criminal offenses. They have argued this approach is justified because these offenders are not mature enough to contemplate the full range of risks and impacts of their actions.”
H. 494, the $8.5 billion state budget. Scott said it adds an average of $1200 per year per family at a time when Vermonters are already suffering financially due to inflation and a high cost of living.
H. 509, non-citizen voting in Burlington, is an example of what Scott calls ‘patchwork’ changes to voting standards. He urged the Legislature to pass uniform voting standards for all municipalities. He also recognized that the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to similar charter changes in Montpelier and Winooski.
As published in the June 19 VDC, the Senate will consider vetoing S.6, banning some police interrogation tactics with juveniles, and S.39, the legislative pay and benefits hike.
The Vermont Daily Chronicle Toolbox features legislator contact information and instructions on watching the House and Senate on Zoom.