Vermont Business MagazineHouse Republican Leader Don Turner (R-Milton) and the Vermont House Republican Caucus announced today that they will spend the remainder of the 2017 Legislative Session fighting to save Vermont Property Taxpayers up to $26 million annually through proposed VEHI savings. The result is that the Legislature, which is on the fast-track toward adjournment, could linger insession beyond its mid-May target.
“Under this proposal, we will be able to ensure that every school teacher in Vermont has the same health care plan no matter what town they teach in.We will be able to do something that Montpelier has never done, and that is, take the burden off the shoulders of our already overworked school board members.That is why we have their support.We will be able to make sure teachers receive the quality health care insurance they deserve without paying more.And, we will be able to provide up to $26 million in annual savings to Vermont taxpayers, an important step towards our goal of making Vermont more affordable.” Turner said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
Responding to concerns from House Speaker Mitzi Johnson about the timing of the issue, Turner said. “To say that there isn’t enough time to consider saving Vermont taxpayers up to $26 million; $26 million in annual savings, is disingenuous.Our members have also been talking to their colleagues across the aisle, and we believe there is enough support for this measure to pass if only the leadership in both chambers would put Vermonters before their allegiance to the Union.It’s time to show Vermonters that governing in Montpelier is truly different than in Washington D.C.”
Turner said, “We stand here united to state we will not support a budget out of conference that doesn’t include these savings for Vermonters. If a budget is sent to the Governor’s desk without this common sense proposal, a proposal to save up to $26 million annually, we stand ready to support and sustain a veto.”
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