Minutes after the Vermont Senate unanimously passed a bill meant to create a long-term funding plan for clean water, Gov. Phil Scott reiterated his opposition to the legislation.
S.260 is one of 13 bills that Scott named in a letter to the legislature as “problematic,” mostly on the grounds that they would raise taxes or fees.
“My request is simple,” he wrote in the letter. “[L]et’s work together to find ways for many of these proposals to advance, while respecting the need to provide Vermonters with another year of relief that begins to moderate the burden of taxes and fees.”
The original version of S.260 would have created a state authority empowered to develop and implement a new tax or fee to raise money for clean water projects. The latest version of the bill would not allow for the collection of any new taxes or fees; it simply calls on the administration and the legislature to each develop a proposal for how the state might collect that money.
Those proposals could not be implemented without additional legislative approval and the governor’s signature next year. Scott opposes that approach nonetheless.
“I haven’t looked at the bill, but we need to come up with a long-term funding mechanism [for clean water],” Scott said before reiterating his opposition for the bill.
Asked why he opposes a bill to create a water quality funding plan even though he acknowledges the need for a plan, Scott said it’s because the bill would “raise a tax or fee this year.”
When Seven Days questioned that statement, Scott said, “OK. I haven’t looked at it, but again, it was on the list of bills that I assumed had a tax or fee in them.”
The Senate bill is now destined for the House.
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Gov. Phil Scott just made EPA Secretary and science dunce Scott Pruitt smile.
Didnt even look at the bill.
Didnt even look at the bill. Big Ag scores again.
Having owned boats in the past, lived in Malletts Bay and really appreciated and respected our beautiful Lake Champlain, I am appalled at the current condition. I have witnessed hundreds of Canadian boats, who now spend the summer on our waters as it is cheaper for them, dumping personal waste, grey water, oil and gasoline, washing their boats or discarding garbage in our waters. They waters aren’t even patrolled or our Canadian neighbors fined for this. In addition, sewer run offs and farm chemical and natural fertilizers, are all a major problem and concern. For several years, there has been a ban on swimming for many weeks, because our lake is contaminated and a detriment to anyone who wants to beat the heat at Burlington’s North Beach, Oakledge and Colchester beaches. For me, this is one of the more worthwhile bills that helps support a Vermont natural resource, which we are so lucky to have and enjoy. And to top it off, Scott didn’t even look at the bill, but still opposed it? That is one of the many reasons why I didn’t vote for him for govenor….his wonderful attention to detail! Shame on him!
This is the same sort of bull Scott pulled last year, when he made the legislature come back to get the same solution he’d been offered in the regular session. The man is clueless. Hes opposing a bill he hasn’t even read for something it doesn’t contain. It’s knee-jerk with him, just as it was when he was in the legislature. Doesn’t he get that he’s in a different job now? Or is he only listening to Jason?
In my opinion, Lake Champlain will never get cleaned, and to spend additional funds to do so is a waste of money. I lived on the lakeshore in Charlotte for about 20 years, 35 years ago. Every spring our water would turn brown from fertilized farmlands.We could not drink the water, we could not bathe in the water. We would have to transport water in jugs from our Burlington friends, since water was not sold in groceries back then. Vermont is farm country, with many farms very close to Lake Champlain, not that you can put the entire blame on farmers. Boaters, there are more boats on Lake Champlain these days than there are vehicles on route 7. And, lots of them are from Canada. That 1million that I’m sure Senator Leahy can find a better place to put that 1m dollars he is trying to get to Vermont to clean up Lake Champlain.
No small part of what goes into the lake comes from NY. But VT gets to foot the bill.
When did we turn into NY’s vassal?