Vermont Business Magazine The House today again failed to override Governor Phil Scott's budget veto. Needing 94 votes to override, the vote was 90-51, with nine absent. The roll call and comments by legislators are below. If a budget agreement is not resolved by July 1, state government will shut down. Governor Scott vetoed the new budget, H13, June 14.
He issued the following statement today:
“Vermonters elected me based on my vision to grow our economy, make Vermont more affordable and protect the most vulnerable. This came with a clear commitment to fiscal responsibility that gives Vermonters a break from years of constant tax increases that contribute to the crisis of affordability many families and businesses face.
“The vote to sustain my veto of H.13 today reflects a steadfast commitment from many in the Legislature to provide Vermonters with this relief after years of tax increases, and I thank them for their work.
“With this issue settled, it is my hope the majority party in the Legislature will join us to quickly pass a budget and tax bill that protect against an unnecessary property tax rate increase in a year we have a growing surplus of no less than $55 million, and a total of $171 million more in revenue than we had last year.
“One easy solution to resolve the budget debate would be to send me a new bill that prevents the automatic increase in the non-residential property tax rate, which impacts Vermont renters, camp owners, businesses and more. This would ensure we have a budget in place long before July 1 and require us to work together, on a level playing field, to resolve our remaining differences in the tax bill.
“I have directed my staff to make meetings with the Legislature our top priority and we will make ourselves available to achieve a consensus that fully funds school budgets and strengthens our education system without raising property tax rates in a year we have an unexpected surplus in taxpayer dollars. There is no reason we cannot reach agreement quickly to achieve these goals.”
From the Journal of the House. June 19, 2018
H. 13
House bill, entitled An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government Appearing on the Calendar for action, was taken up.
Pursuant to Chapter 2, Section 11, of the Vermont Constitution the Clerk proceeded to call the roll and the question, Shall the bill pass the failure of the Governor to approve notwithstanding?
The Clerk proceeded to call the roll and the question, Shall the bill pass the failure of the Governor to sign not withstanding? was decided in the negative.
Yeas, 90. Nays, 51. A two thirds vote of 94 required to pass the bill.
Those who voted in the affirmative are:
Ancel of Calais *
Bartholomew of Hartland
Belaski of Windsor
Bissonnette of Winooski
Bock of Chester
Botzow of Pownal
Briglin of Thetford
Browning of Arlington
Brumsted of Shelburne
Burke of Brattleboro
Christensen of Weathersfield
Christie of Hartford
Cina of Burlington
Colburn of Burlington
Conlon of Cornwall
Connor of Fairfield
Conquest of Newbury
Copeland-Hanzas of
Bradford
Corcoran of Bennington
Dakin of Colchester
Deen of Westminster
Donovan of Burlington
Dunn of Essex
Emmons of Springfield
Fields of Bennington
Forguites of Springfield
Gannon of Wilmington
Gardner of Richmond
Giambatista of Essex
Gonzalez of Winooski
Grad of Moretown
Haas of Rochester
Head of South Burlington
Hill of Wolcott
Hooper of Montpelier
Hooper of Randolph
Houghton of Essex
Howard of Rutland City
Jessup of Middlesex
Jickling of Randolph
Johnson of South Hero
Joseph of North Hero
Keenan of St. Albans City
Kimbell of Woodstock
Kitzmiller of Montpelier
Krowinski of Burlington *
Lanpher of Vergennes
Lippert of Hinesburg
Long of Newfane
Lucke of Hartford
Macaig of Williston
Masland of Thetford
McCormack of Burlington
McCullough of Williston
Miller of Shaftsbury
Morris of Bennington
Mrowicki of Putney
Murphy of Fairfax
Noyes of Wolcott
Ode of Burlington
O'Sullivan of Burlington
Burlington
Pajala of Londonderry
Partridge of Windham
Poirier of Barre City
Potter of Clarendon
Pugh of South Burlington
Rachelson of Burlington
Read of Fayston
Scheu of Middlebury
Sharpe of Bristol
Sheldon of Middlebury
Sibilia of Dover *
Squirrell of Underhill
Stevens of Waterbury
Sullivan of Dorset *
Sullivan of Burlington
Taylor of Colchester
Till of Jericho *
Toleno of Brattleboro
Toll of Danville *
Townsend of South
Trieber of Rockingham
Troiano of Stannard
Walz of Barre City
Webb of Shelburne
Weed of Enosburgh
Wood of Waterbury *
Yacovone of Morristown
Yantachka of Charlotte *
Young of Glover
Those who voted in the negative are:
Ainsworth of Royalton
Bancroft of Westford
Baser of Bristol
Batchelor of Derby
Beck of St. Johnsbury
Beyor of Highgate
Brennan of Colchester
Burditt of West Rutland
Canfield of Fair Haven
Cupoli of Rutland City
Devereux of Mount Holly
Donahue of Northfield *
Fagan of Rutland City
Feltus of Lyndon
Frenier of Chelsea
Gage of Rutland City
Gamache of Swanton
Graham of Williamstown
Harrison of Chittenden
Hebert of Vernon
Helm of Fair Haven
Higley of Lowell
Juskiewicz of Cambridge
Keefe of Manchester
LaClair of Barre Town
Lawrence of Lyndon
Lefebvre of Newark
Lewis of Berlin
Marcotte of Coventry
Martel of Waterford
Mattos of Milton
McCoy of Poultney
McFaun of Barre Town
Morrissey of Bennington
Myers of Essex
Nolan of Morristown
Norris of Shoreham
Quimby of Concord
Rosenquist of Georgia
Savage of Swanton
Scheuermann of Stowe
Shaw of Pittsford
Smith of Derby
Smith of New Haven
Strong of Albany
Terenzini of Rutland Town
Turner of Milton *
Van Wyck of Ferrisburgh
Viens of Newport City
Willhoit of St. Johnsbury *
Wright of Burlington *
Those members absent with leave of the House and not voting are:
Buckholz of Hartford
Carr of Brandon
Chesnut-Tangerman of
Middletown Springs
Condon of Colchester
Dickinson of St. Albans
Town
Lalonde of South Burlington
Parent of St. Albans Town
Pearce of Richford
Stuart of Brattleboro
Rep. Ancel of Calais explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
H.13 reduces Vermonters taxes by almost $30 million. It increases the social security exemption, it increases the Earned Income Tax Credit and it reduces tax rates for everyone. H13 does not, and I emphasize not, address the non-residential property tax rate in any way. In fact, there is nothing in this bill that the Governor has said he opposes. I am proud to support it.”
Rep. Donahue of Northfield explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
Yelling fire in a crowded theater is not protected speech if there is no fire because people can get trampled and hurt. There is no fire here if we address the underlying tax dispute, instead of diverting the focus into a new debate on what the default tax rate should be if there is no compromise reached by July 1. If we truly believe there is a fire – and now, having wasted two weeks, we are closer to it becoming real – we could put that fire out today by passing this identical bill but removing a non-residential tax rate altogether. It is that easy to resolve in a completely neutral way. Either way, we need to get past this red herring so that the leadership of our state – on all sides – can get down to the real business at hand to resolve the actual areas in dispute.”
Rep. Krowinski of Burlington explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
I voted yes to keep government open. It’s extremely frustrating to know we could have resolved this today. I will keep fighting to ensure Vermonters get the critical services they deserve.”
Rep Sibilia of Dover explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
Vermont is undergoing massive education transformation through Act 46. Last year and this year we have pushed forward additional MAJOR reforms in special ed, weighting and considerations for teachers healthcare being negotiated at the state level. These are significant, difficult and cost containing state policy changes being implemented at the local level. I can not and will not willingly vote to undermine the work going on by communities and school districts by supporting a built in tax increase next year that will have absolutely nothing to do with educating Vermont's students as the Governor has proposed. This is what is holding up passing a state budget
Rep. Sullivan of Dorset explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
I voted today to override Governor Scott’s veto of our budget. I am not moved to so vote because it is a good bill. I do not think it to be a good bill in its current form.
I am moved only to avoid a Government shutdown – one that I fear will erode public confidence in our government and our Legislature. A shutdown that will unnecessarily hurt Vermonters. A shutdown that would occur without anyone coming forward with a solid explanation that identifies the plan that would be in place should such a monumental feat as a shutdown occur.
I underscore the word ‘unnecessarily.’
I know compromise could have been achieved. In my opinion, a compromise was not vigorously pursued. I thank both the Governor and the Speaker for their meetings with me and other Representatives individually to weigh in on recommended proposals that moved closer to compromise. I am, however, constrained in the best interests of my constituents to vote reluctantly to override Governor’s Scott’s veto.”
Rep. Till of Jericho explained his vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
I voted yes. H.13 incorporates a budget that passed this body with tripartisan support. A budget which increased less than the budgetary increase proposed by the Governor. H.13 holds homestead property taxes unchanged. It reflects the good work of our school boards holding statewide school budget increases to 1.7%, well below what the Governor had requested. H.13 prevents a shutdown of state government with all the negative effects on Vermonters and Vermont’s finances.
The disagreement is about whether to use $39 million of one time revenue to artificially hold down non-residential property tax. If we do that, the projection is that next year we will need over $49 million for the same thing. That is terrible and foolish fiscal policy, putting us right back here next year with a bigger fiscal hole to fill.”
Rep. Toll of Danville explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
It is with great disappointment to see that the FY2019 budget has not been passed by this Chamber today. There has been tri-partisan support for the underlying budget and it is irresponsible to use a one state budget as a pawn. Partisan politics should never come before the needs of our constituents. Vermonters rely on government for many aspects of their lives and we have let them all down today.”
Rep. Turner of Milton explained his vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
My vote prevents a default property tax increase on hardworking Vermonters. My entire tenure in the legislature, Vermonters have been telling me that they can’t afford to pay higher property taxes. Today I vote ‘No’ on a proposed property tax increase. I stand with the Governor and hardworking Vermonters to oppose this unnecessary increase in property taxes. Thank you!”
Rep. Willhoit of St. Johnsbury explained his vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
A no vote does not cause a government shutdown. It simply prevents an unnecessary tax increase . . . or no corn dog. My children on Father’s Day took me to brunch after church. One son, however, wanted a corn dog for lunch. The menu included many options, but not a corn dog. At first, he complained he couldn’t eat then (i.e. shutdown). However, after careful deliberation, he chose mac and cheese. My hope for all of us is that good compromise and not politics will prevail.”
Rep. Wood of Waterbury explained her vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
My most conservative constituents have told me they believe the Governor has gone too far by vetoing the budget twice and I agree. They supported my vote to override the Governor’s veto.”
Rep. Wright of Burlington explained his vote as follows:
“Madam Speaker:
I voted to sustain the veto. The legislature has had plenty of chances to signal a real willingness to compromise. Instead we have wasted a monumental amount of time and sent the Governor not only mixed signals, but bad signals in regard to compromise. The same day that legislative leadership sent the Governor a letter, Friday June 8th, asking him to sign H.13 and ‘we will negotiate in good faith’ Ways and Means was passing a bill that raised the residential rate by 2 cents and the non-homestead rate by 4 cents. Any chance of the Governor signing H.13 was gone. Now, let’s finally get to work at real compromise and avoid a government shutdown.”
Rep. Yantachka of Charlotte explained his vote as follows:
“Madame Speaker:
A government shutdown will be bad for Vermont and for Vermonters. It is disconcerting to see that using this threat in place of good faith negotiating and willingness to compromise reflects the same kind of strategies that are we are seeing used in Washington, DC. We have failed to stand up for Vermont values by putting party politics ahead of the interests of all Vermonters.”