This could be … awkward.
Gov. Phil Scott is headed to visit President Donald Trump, a day after the state’s Senate unanimously voted for a bill that would insulate Vermont from enforcing controversial immigration edicts touted by the commander in chief.
Scott, who has said he didn’t vote for his fellow Republican, enthusiastically joined legislative leaders in backing the Vermont immigration bill, which his staff helped write.
“This is about what I see as federal overreach in terms of our Constitution,” Scott said of the bill. “I feel this puts us on a pathway to giving some relief to Vermonters and to calm down the rhetoric and anxiety.”
Scott left Friday for the nation’s capital, where he’ll take part in the four-day National Governors Association meeting. The event includes Sunday night dinner with the president and lunch on Friday with Vice President Mike Pence. The governors are also scheduled for a Monday morning meeting at the White House.
Other sessions will focus on issues ranging from health care to homeland security. Scott said he also plans to meet separately with governors from the Northeast.
A record number of governors plan to attend the sessions, according to the NGA. Scott will stand out as one of the few Republican governors who’ve openly stood up to Trump’s policies.
It’s also Scott’s first trip to the White House. He’s never visited before as either a public official or tourist, he said. Scott will be accompanied by his wife, Diana, chief of staff Jason Gibbs and secretary of civil and military affairs Brittney Wilson, according to Gibbs.
Scott said he didn’t quite know what to expect of his first NGA meeting or his first interaction with the president. He suggested Trump is particularly hard to predict.
“I’m there to listen,” he said. “I’m not sure what the opportunities are, whether it’s going to be free-wheeling in terms of asking questions. I’m not sure anyone knows. It might be different than in the past. Just a guess.”
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
I’m pleased as punch that Vermont will be sending a governor who thinks for himself.
I do hope Phil is strong enough to speak for Vermont with matters that go against Trump. Too many Republicans seem bent on playing puppet for the President.
Phil is a nice guy who means to do good things for Vermont. Sadly, he is completely shackled by the Dem/Prog legislature that cannot find enough ways to overtax the residents of our beautiful but poor little state. His presence at the NGA will be little noted nor long remembered exactly because he feels compelled to voice his disdain for Trump to survive in the Vermont echo-chamber of Political Correctness. Trump won fair and square and a large chunk of Vermont residents will never stop whining. They fail to understand how immensely enjoyable and entertaining it is for some of us to observe them in checkout lines and parking lots bleating and mewling among themselves. Good luck Phil!
“Scott, No Fan of Trump” … Fan? Cheerleader? Is this sports or politics? “…voted for a bill that would insulate Vermont from enforcing controversial immigration edicts” … Does the Senate bill actually do that? The bill seems to merely give the Governor the option to refuse deputization of state law enforcement. Conveniently, the actual bill number is left out of this and other articles. The peons can’t handle the actual text I suppose. “This is about what I see as federal overreach in terms of our Constitution,” … a very tired state’s rights argument. Get your pom-poms out!