By Guy Page
Gov. Phil Scott on Wednesday threatened to veto the Brattleboro charter change allowing 16-year-olds to vote in local elections. Speaking at a noontime press conference today, Scott said he vetoed a similar bill in recent years and that his mind hasn’t changed since then.
The House yesterday gave preliminary approval to H386 on a voice vote. However, a roll call is expected on third and final reading today.
Gov. Phil Scott
Guv waiting for appeal decision on Mifeprestone ban – like governors in many other states, Gov. Phil Scott is waiting until Friday befor taking any action about a federal judge’s ban on Mifeprestone, a chemical abortion drug.
The ban will take effect nationwide on Friday unless struck down beforehand by a federal appeals court.
Until then, the pro-legal abortion governor is keeping his powder dry regarding alternatives. “We’ve been in touch with Planned Parenthood, to seek advice,” Scott said. He said sourcing the drug through Canada is an option.
Police communications snafu exposed during ‘active shooter’ swatting – During the recent swatting incident at the Middlebury library, police outside reportedly could not communicate with police inside due to problems with the $12 million V/Comm communications system. Some first responders say the system is too complicated to train workers and that accessing it on cellphones is difficult. When asked about the incident, Gov. Scott said he’d heard “some of the same things” but added, “I don’t have any details at this point.”
Guv hopeful for rural 25-unit housing developments – The Rural Caucus of the Vermont Legislature is making progress at restoring in the House a 25-unit Act 250 exemption for rural housing construction. The exemption was removed from the Senate bill before it passed the Senate last month. “We hope to restore what was removed,” Scott said. “The fact is, we have to. We need to do something about Act 250. If we say it [housing shortage] is a crisis, we better address it like it’s a crisis.”
Contingency planning for housing for illegal immigrants – when Red border states like Texas and Florida were busing and flying illegal immigrants to blue states like New York and Massachusetts last year, Gov. Scott directed his administration to make plans to house and care for any immigrants sent to Vermont. While that immigration didn’t happen, the plans made by the administration could come in handy if many of the illegal immigrants crossing the northern border in unprecedented numbers decide to stay in Vermont.
At present, Vermont is just a pass-through state enroute to New York and other more urban states. But Scott said he hopes some will stay. “I would like to see some considered in Vermont….we do need some to stay [to work]. But thus far it hasn’t been a long stay for any of them.”
Unaware of gender reassignment surgery age limit question – Critics of S37 say it has no minimum age limits for puberty blockers or sex reassignent surgery. VDC asked Scott, “Now that our Constitution assures absolute reproductive liberty, are you concerned about standards of care shifting to allowing middle-schoolers to elect surgery over the wishes of their parents?”
Scott was unaware that the Senate bill had moved over to the House and added, “I can’t pretend to know the intricacies of that bill.” He later added that his main concern is shielding abortion/transgender care providers from legal challenges, and that his administration would look into the age limit question.
Shorter session must accompany legislative pay hike – the Vermont Senate’s approval of a pay and benefits hike is okay with Gov. Scott – with one big condition. The Legislature must reduce the length of the session to 90 days. “If the real goal is to get more people running for office, the real problem is the length of the session,” he said.
Supports open borders to assisted suicide seekers – a bill expanding access to assisted suicide to non-Vermonters has the governor’s support. “I’m supportive of it. I don’t think you can shut down the border. It has to be open to any and all,” Scott said. But he added, “I wouldn’t use it to draw people here.”
Opposes college library legislation – “I think it’s a terrible idea,” Scott said of proposed legislation requiring full funding of state colleges. “You can’t micromanage.”
EV mileage charges needed in lieu of gasoline tax – “I don’t see how we can do without it,” Scott said. As for grid capacity, Vermont will need grid upgrades and large-scale battery storage to meet eventual demand for electrification due to EVs, heat pumps, and other replacements of fossil fuel.
Guy Page is publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle. Reprinted with permission.
When I was 16 years old, I knew nothing about politics and issues.
When talking to teenagers, I find almost universal lack of nuanced knowledge about any issue, other than Media slogans.
At that time, no one in their right mind would ever even consider I would be ready to vote on anything.
At that time, they would think 21 or 25 to be a more appropriate age to vote.
Scott wants immigrants to stay and work, not pass through? We keep hearing that there are many job openings and we need more people to fill them.
The qualifications required to fill these jobs are not being acknowledged, nor is the pay offered. A qualified candidate willing to accept the pay and hours is required. How many people crossing the boarder have the necessary qualifications?
Maybe Scott is thinking about domestic servants and grounds keepers for the wealthy. House them in the shed or servants quarters. More farm workers?
Yeah, Scott. Vermont needs a whole lot more Zaaina Asra Zakirrah Mahvish-Jammehs, That’s right, idiot. Endanger the lives of Vermonters while, at the same time, making their tax dollars support them !!!
Exactly what I feel, too. It’s unbelievable that after that overkill of the social worker at Morningside House, that Scott could even SAY that.
Phil Scott is a feckless fool, why doesn’t he just come out and state ” I’m a Liberal “,
the GOP needs a leader with a spine, do we have any candidates ????
The liberal cancer in Vermont’s legislation is killing the state from within and the citizens
are helpless, but then again they vote these agenda-driven clowns in year after year, yes
you reap what you sow…………………….
Wake up people
You are absolutely right, but I think it’s too late to recover from what the liberals have done to us. I’m getting out of this socialist utopia while I can.
I am jealous Bob. I have wanted to leave for a long time, but my husband refuses to leave. The state is run by communists and socialists that are advancing the United Nations 2030 Agenda. People have no idea that Social Justice and Equity are United Nations agendas. The UN has openly criticized capitalism and individual rights as blocking true Sociel Justice. Equity is the forced distribution of opportunity and resources. Maybe these progressive fools will wake up the day the government takes their home and moves them into a smart city.
CJ you are spot on.
I’m not quitter and I don’t believe in leaving the mess for others to clean up,
BUT there gets to be a point where you begin to understand that by staying and continuing to give VT your tax dollars, what you are really doing is funding your own demise and that of your younger family members.
Afterall, I’m sure your husband understands the difference between fighting and banging his head on the wall… at some point it’s time to simply stop.
If we can’t vote our way out and don’t have the spine to shoot our way out, all that is left to do is vote with your feet and refuse to participate in what they are doing because every dollar you give them advances them.
In January, 2023, 13,000 long-term, taxpaying New Yorkers left their Utopia to resettle in Florida
That trend likely will increase
During the most recent 18-month period, about 500,000 long-term, taxpaying Californians left their Utopia, to resettle in Texas, Florida, etc., including 18 people, 4 generations, of my family, who went to Idaho.
My wife talked to her cousin who said we should have done it at least 10 years ago