By Brent Addleman | The Center Square
Keeping Vermont affordable is Gov. Phil Scott’s message to the Legislature.
The Republican governor said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday that if the state doesn’t become more affordable to grow its economy, the state will continue to hemorrhage residents to more affordable states. And, in turn, Vermont won’t be able to attract the workers it desperately needs for its workforce.
“One of the reasons I ran for governor seven years ago was to make Vermont more affordable,” Scott said in his opening statement. “For years, I heard from Vermonters who were struggling to get by and didn’t know how much longer they could afford to stay in the state they loved.”
Gov. Phil Scott
Scott said reducing taxes would be “much more effective” in achieving the goal of making Vermont a destination, and “holding the line on taxes and fees” was a more realistic way to reach that goal.
“That’s allowed us to better level the playing fields with other states,” Scott said. “Making Vermont more affordable is essential to our economic growth.”
Scott said the Legislature is currently sifting through budget bills that contain what the veteran executive branch leader calls “historic tax hikes.”
He said the budget proposals from the Legislature include a $117 million payroll tax that would be used for a paid family leave program, plus a $100 million payroll tax that would pay for child care.
The governor also highlighted $20 million in fee increases through the Department of Motor Vehicles, on top of creating 75 new positions within the state government and $30 million in property tax increases that would potentially be used for school meals.
“And the millions in upfront costs for the clean heat standard,” Scott said, “which will increase the cost for heating fuels, which could be 70 cents a gallon. Not to mention, our annual pension liability which is continuing to grow.”
Scott said he feels there is a “better path forward” than what his counterparts in the Legislature are proposing.
“So looking at what the Legislature is poised to do, I firmly believe there’s a better path forward than what they have in mind to achieve our shared goals,” he said. “And [Vermont] is one of the highest tax states in the nation. I simply cannot go along with adding to the problem.”
Scott said his budget features “historical investment and shared priorities” that don’t set Vermont up for “future fiscal disaster” and without overtaxing the state’s residents.
Scott said that with more Democratic members in the House of Representatives, it has “emboldened them” to deliver on a “lot of campaign promises” that were made.
“That is what we are up against,” Scott said. “I think a lot of promises were made and having those promises come together in one bill … that is a pretty hefty outcome.”
Plus, he said that while his budget increased spending by 8%, the Senate budget is at 13% and the House is around 12%.
“[The Senate] spent more money than the House did,” Scott said. “They spent more money and borrowed more money to get there. If its in the big bill and they increase taxes and fees that is not good enough for me. They spent a lot more than we proposed.”
If I’m not mistaken, Phil campaigned on bringing businesses and jobs to Vermont. After seven years of being Governor, the businesses that came in were drug trafficking, human trafficking, NGO’s and non-profits. Well done in growing a behemouth welfare system. Per capita, taxpayer money is largely supporting welfare recipients, the largest group of recipients being State/local government, non-profits and NGO’s. Federal subsidies are taxpayer money. The State and municipal taxes are just more thievery upon thievery. Unsustainable and the exodus will continue.
Scott: Make Vermont more affordable, if it wasn’t so sad this would be funny !!
So is the Governor and his gaggle of fools that control Montpelier going to lower
the tax base, reduce spending and stop all the frivolous agenda-driven programs
hurting his citizens……….Nah !!
Phil Scott may have the title, but liberals have the power and will use it to kill the
state for their agenda, constituents mean nothing …………. wake up people.
The Dem/Prog mantra no. 1 is Government checks = VOTES
The Governor has a tough job ahead of him, he has no team.
1) Allow modest home ownership, make it mandatory for every town to produce 12 homes under $250k, with 6 of them under $150k.
2) Change the mandate that prevented every church common space from being a day care facility, Ie, the clause where if anything is below grade it can’t have day care…..meanwhile it’s perfectly safe for all ages in a public building.
3) Allow importation of Kei trucks and vehicles, which would provide small trucks getting 30mpg, plus very affordable transportation. Saves the environment.
4) Get the drugs out of our schools.
5) Get rid of grant money.
6) Get rid of corruption and waste.
It was Democrats & Progressives who voted Phil in with over 70%….not Republicans. Ask why? Because they know him, control him….so now Dems can say they sought a “balance” for Vermonters. But with super majority they do what they want..Phil, or no Phil. Look at the above article & quotes by Phil. He is still all “make nice” attitude…he just barely scratches the surface of VT’s real fiscal issues..and they are far worse than Phil says. Sad thing is he knows it….but he is so focused on his legacy “non confrontational” schtick…he accomplishes nothing really – with any Legislator or VT voter. Look at it this way.. How would an honest conservative approach it, talking of serious VT fiscal issues? They would scare the “beejeezus” out of VT voters (and MAYBE vote some PROGS & DEMS out!). Imagine Kari Lake, Rick Desantis…or Trump…THEY would get the looming fiscal nightmare understood to VT voters… Start raising your VOICE Phil…show billions & billions of unfunded liabilities & state debt to be paid. HOW?. Pound the table. Get angry! You are the VT CEO…(whether you realize it)…why not try your BULLY PULPIT – you have a right to as VT’s CEO?
Making Vermont more affordable can be done only by reducing the budget and headcount of the central government by 50%.
New Hampshire, next door, very attractive to business settlements and their growth already such a government and budget, PLUS
no sales tax,
no income tax,
a flat 5% tax on dividends,
no tax on Social Security payments,
no tax on IRA withdrawals and private and public pension payments,
no death tax