Vetoes overridden include public education funding, overdose prevention centers, Act 250 modernization, renewable energy legislation
Montpelier, VT – Today, the Vermont House of Representatives voted to override the Governor’s vetoes of the overdose prevention center bill, the bill to fund Vermont’s public education, the Act 250 modernization bill, and the bill to update our Renewable Energy Standard (H.72, H.887, H.687, and H.289 respectively). The votes were 104-41, 103-42, 107-38, and 102-43. Speaker Jill Krowinski issued the following statement following both roll call votes:
“Today, the House reiterated our commitment to the future of our public education system, the need for new tools to combat the overdose crisis, the needed changes to streamline our development process and bring housing opportunities online rapidly, and update our Renewable Energy Standard.
“Throughout the session we had success in working with the Governor and his administration to have legislation signed into law. Unfortunately, and despite repeated efforts, we were unable to find a compromise on these bills that would guarantee immediate success and long-term stability in our education, health care, and community development systems. Overriding these vetoes ensures that Vermont children have access to a quality education, those battling addiction have access to a new resource to get support, communities will be able to bring on housing and reduce the impact of the housing crisis, and we have access to clean, low cost electricity.
“H.887, the bill to fund our public education system, represents a collaborative and forward-thinking piece of legislation to address the current and future needs of our education system and the affordability issues facing many Vermonters. The bill contains nearly $100 million dollars in immediate tax relief to lower the property tax bills facing Vermonters. Additionally, it puts us on a path to find ways to lower the cost of education while ensuring our teachers and students have the resources they need and deserve.
“H.72, the overdose prevention center bill, gives us an additional resource to help us support Vermonters battling addiction. It is impossible to take away the pain and loss so many Vermont families and communities have experienced from the loss of a Vermonter to an overdose. We have invested in substance use programs and resources for years, but we continue to see many Vermonters struggle. Any overdose death is unacceptable. I am proud of the vote to override the veto today and I hope that it will provide another path for any Vermonter to get the care they deserve.
“H.687, the bill to modernize Act 250, is a critical step in developing more housing and helping our state through the housing crisis before us. The bill streamlines housing development while preserving our Vermont landscape and was crafted by a variety of stakeholders from business, housing, and environmental organizations. I am so thankful for their collaborative work and the bi-partisan support this bill received in the House. We need to do all we can to make sure that Vermonters have access to affordable housing options, and this is a big step forward in making that happen.
“H.289, the bill updating Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard, is a crucial meet our climate change goals, create high paying jobs, and protect Vermonters from the volatile price increases of the global fossil fuel market. Vermont currently has the lowest electricity rates in New England and this will support our work to increase the reliability of our electric grid while also ensuring we are doing so with clean energy. Our state is incredibly reliant on the climate, from farming to skiing to maple syrup, and we need to do all we can to help lower our reliance on fossil fuels and set us up for success for years to come.
“I take no pleasure in having to override vetoed bills. The Governor and I have a respectful working relationship and we are able to find legislative compromises often. However, it is our responsibility as a legislative body to do what is right for our state and ensure that Vermonters have access to the programs and systems they rely on. Throughout the session we passed legislation that received support from Democrats, Republicans, Progressives and Independents, a strong indication of broad consensus. Passing legislation that affirms the voices of Vermonters — from across the state and across party lines — is incredibly important to our democratic process and is incredibly important to me personally.
“I remain committed to continuing to work with the Governor and his administration to make Vermont more affordable, healthier, and a place for working families and businesses to thrive.”
Statement from Gov. Scott on the Legislature’s veto overrides, which disproportionately harm rural Vermont
Montpelier, Vt. – Today, the Vermont Legislature voted to override the Governor on several bills, despite reasonable compromises being offered that would have made sure more parts of the state benefitted. Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement in response:
“Today is a sad day for Vermonters who simply cannot afford further tax burdens and cost increases. Many will talk about these votes as a major loss for me, but it’s really a major loss for Vermont taxpayers, workers and families.
“Despite having an opportunity for commonsense – and more equitable, and affordable – compromises, the Legislature chose to override many consequential bills I vetoed on behalf of Vermonters.
“With their votes, they have not only decided to impose a historic double digit property tax increase this year but also added pressure on property taxes next year before even factoring in next year’s school budgets. Despite knowing about this since December 1, they have done nothing to prevent property taxes from increasing in the future.
“They also have imposed a renewable energy standard that will increase Vermonters’ electric bills by hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years.
“They have passed an expansion of Act 250 that will make it harder, and in some cases impossible, to build and restore homes and grow businesses in smaller, rural communities, pushing them even further behind.
“They have failed to meet the moment on housing, ignoring many tools to increase the availability and affordability of homes across the state, while specifically excluding three counties – Bennington, Grand Isle and Essex – from taking advantage of the property tax freeze to revitalize housing.
“And they have done all of this on top of the costs they added last year, including a 20% increase to DMV fees, a brand-new payroll tax effective July 1, and expected increases to home heating fuel as a result of the clean heat standard – all of which were also imposed over my vetoes.
“My team and I have spent this entire legislative session trying to keep costs down for Vermonters, while acting to make housing more affordable and more available, improving our education system for kids and taxpayers, and revitalizing communities so we can keep and attract the workers we desperately need. It is clear this Legislature, led by the super majority, has little interest in compromise, listening to their constituents, or taking a moderate approach on any issue.
“I will continue to fight on behalf of Vermonters in all corners of this state, but we need more balance in Montpelier, and lawmakers who will put people and communities over party politics.”
Vermont legislative Republicans call out Democrat majority for reckless veto overrides
Montpelier, VT—The Vermont Senate and House Republican Caucuses issued the following joint statement:
“When Vermonters elected us to the Legislature, they expected members of all parties to collaborate and work with both one another and Governor Scott,” said Senate Minority Leader Randy Brock (R-Franklin). “Unfortunately, the decision by the Democrat Majority to override the Governor’s vetoes on major pieces of legislation without any willingness to come to the negotiating table is not only a snub to those of us on the other side of the aisle, but an insult to all Vermonters who expect compromise and balance from their elected representatives.”
“In late 2023, Senate President Pro Temp Phil Baruth assured Vermonters that average property tax increases would be limited to 1.5 or 2 percent*,” added Rep. Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney). “Now, Vermonters will be facing a 13.8 percent average property tax increase, coupled with changes that will expand Act 250’s cumbersome rules in a way that worsens our housing affordability crisis. This is simply unacceptable.”
“On both the property tax bill, the Act 250/housing bill, and other pieces of legislation, the Governor laid out a clear path forward with simple fixes that could have easily been addressed by the majority party,” noted Senate Assistant Minority Leader Brian Collamore (R-Rutland). “We supported these common-sense changes that would have enabled us to achieve a more bipartisan result. Disappointingly, the Legislative Majority chose to ram through bad policy with no collaboration with the Governor or those of us on the other side of the aisle.”
“The decision to override the Governor’s vetoes won’t just haunt us in the Legislature,” concluded Rep. Casey Toof (R-St. Albans). “They will directly harm the farmer in Franklin who will be facing a nearly 14 percent property tax hike. Or the teacher in Bennington whose electric bills will skyrocket thanks to short-sighted energy changes. Or the prospective Vermonter who won’t be able to find affordable housing to make our state their home. Today, the Majority party let them down in the worst way possible. They deserved better.”
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