Gov. Phil Scott issued a stern warning to lawmakers Wednesday that an increase to the state’s minimum wage could result in people being able to afford to live in Vermont.
“I made a promise to Vermonters that I would focus obsessively on taxes like a deranged Grover Norquist fanboy while doing everything in my power to avoid signing anything that would actually put more money in their pockets,” the governor said in a speech before a special session of the state legislature.
The warning came just a day after the high-profile vetoes of legislation that would have raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 and establish a paid family leave program.
“Sure, I can evolve on issues such as gun reform, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to evolve when it comes to doing something that would help struggling Vermonters,” he said. “Increasing the minimum wage sounds like a good idea, but what’s next? Being able to afford a home? Not on my watch.
“Besides, if we made it easier to live in Vermont, I might have to harp on something other than taxes,” he continued. “And do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with a new overly simplified talking point?”
Scott went on to say that putting more money in pockets of low-income Vermonters would cause more harm than good.
“The more money you have, the more of that money goes to the spooky tax man,” he said. “Why do you think wealthy people spend so much time hiding their money in places like the Cayman Islands?
“I’m actually doing Vermonters a favor by making sure they have no extra money to worry about,” he continued. “You’re welcome, Vermont!”
The governor also outlined the perils of providing paid family leave.
“It’s a noble idea, but do we really want people to start families here?” he asked. “I said I wanted more young people to move to Vermont — not be born here.”
Scott made clear that the last thing he wanted to do was interrupt the proud Vermont tradition of young professionals moving out of state to pursue careers and start families elsewhere.
“I hear the same thing over and over when I talk to young Vermonters about the state’s ever-rising property taxes,” he said. “‘What is property?‘
“I’m not about to turn my back on them and let them know there might be more to life than handing your entire paycheck over to a landlord that still hasn’t fixed that leak you reported months ago,” he said.
“Listen, I know a thing or two about sacrifice: I had to give up stock car racing,” Scott lamented. “All I’m asking of lawmakers in return is that they give up on actually trying to help the people who need it the most.”
The Parmelee Post is an occasional series featuring tough investigative reporting on news that hasn’t happened.
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This article appears in May 16-22, 2018.
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Vermont already has one of the highest minimum wages in the country. On January 1, 2018 it went up 5% to $10.50 / hour and now includes cost of living increases. In comparison in New Hampshire ,with whom we share a long border, the minimum wage is $ 7.50 per hour.
The legislative commissioned Kavet report predicted going to a $15 per hour minimum wage would result in an almost 3,000 per year job loss in Vermont and have an impact on small businesses on which the Vermont economy depends. There is a reason why a good many Independents and Democrats voted against this legislation, which while well intended, would have unintended consequences.
“The legislative commissioned Kavet report predicted going to a $15 per hour minimum wage would result in an almost 3,000 per year job loss in Vermont”
The report also said that the wages for the remaining low-wage workers would increase by $240 million. That’s affordability. No policy choice of this magnitude is without some pain. But the upside here is very substantial. You can’t just pick the data points that serve your viewpoint.
Up the minimum wage, the cost of everything goes up. Vermont used to be an affordable state to live in, not anymore. Especially when you have elites in office, especially a Lt Governor who cheated on his reimbursement
while a State Rep. and wasn’t apologizing for his behavior. Kind of makes, you wonder what he’s cheating on as Lt Gov now.
Scott says no higher taxes, just like he said “no new gun laws” look what that got us… He’ll change his word. They all lie to get voted in. He’ll bow to the liberals under the dome like he has done before.
Dont let the Grover Norquist wannabe Gov fool you, he couldnt give a damn about struggling Vermonters. Not one bit. He, like all of his Republican cronies are driven only by two things – hate and greed. Every policy decision he makes is about lining his own pockets and the pockets of his wealthy buddies. And dont be fooled into thinking that his objective in not using surplus funds to pay down unfunded pension liability is to help everyday Vermonters on taxes. Hes taken a page out of the Paul Ryan playbook – avoid paying what the state owes to the pension fund so he can use the shortfall to decimate benefits and hopefully break the fund altogether. Phil Scott trys to come across like a nice friendly guy but the truth is, hes just another rotten apple in the festering barrel of ultra right wingers.
“Up the minimum wage, the cost of everything goes up. “
Actually, that’s not true. Only businesses that use a great deal of low-wage workers would see more than very small price increases. For example: Assume a business with $10 million in sales. The cost of labor is 20% so payroll is $2 million (let’s say 52 employees). A quarter of the workers earn between $12 and $16 per hour today. If the wages for the low-wage workers increased by $1.00 per hour per year (the proposal is to phase it in) the added cost equals less than $30,000 in year one (13 x 1.00 x 2080 hours). $30,000 equals 1.5% of payroll but less than one half of one percent of sales. If that 0.3% price increase is the argument against thousands of low-wage workers getting a combined $240 million raise, I’m not persuaded.
@ Roy on.. what about the Democrats.. you don’t think they are lining their big pockets??? Sanders who has 5 homes and a condo in DC, he’s worth millions, seeing he was paid off, same as Leahy and Welch, hell even the legislators are lining their pockets and don’t think they aren’t, most of them are from out of state and have their own agenda about Vermont. They want to make Vermont into the state they left. Even the Lt Gov. lines his pockets. They could care less about Vermont or us Vermonters who do care. So don’t go putting all the blame on the Republicans. “all of his Republican cronies are driven only by two things – hate and greed. Every policy decision he makes is about lining his own pockets and the pockets of his wealthy buddies. ” Do you really think the liberal democrats aren’t greedy, then you better open up your eyes, they are worse !!!! Sanders is so full of hate, he speeches are full of hate.!!!
Hey, I know! We will cultivate a discussion around livable wages that sets struggling small business proprietors against their desperate employees–completely ignoring the center of economic and political power: the ultra-rich who maintain their chokehold through the finance and banking sectors via access to credit, a more sustainable model of which could actually alleviate this wretched inequality… yeah, that!
Mr. Lavin – We could talk about “the center of economic and political power” but that is a national issue. The finance and banking sectors are subject to federal regulation, not state. The Vermont legislature can only deal with issues within its purview. It’s frustrating at times, but that’s the way it is.