The state Senate on Thursday made quick work of passing H.13, a budget bill that encompasses the vast majority of the budget approved by the legislature in May, but excludes areas of disagreement with Gov. Phil Scott. He is likely to receive the bill on Saturday, which would give him until next Friday to sign or veto it. The governor has already promised a veto.
The bill would set homestead property tax rates at this year’s level and allow nonresidential rates to rise by 5.5 cents. The latter portion has attracted the governor’s opposition; he continues to oppose any increase in property tax rates. Majority Democrats argue that the bill does not actually include a tax increase; it merely allows current law to set the nonresidential tax rate. And if signed by the governor, it would avoid a potential government shutdown on July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.
The process took only a single day thanks to a suspension of Senate rules, which was approved on a 21-4 vote. Senators Carolyn Branagan (R-Franklin), Randy Brock (R-Franklin), Brian Collamore (R-Rutland) and Dave Soucy (R-Rutland) were the dissenters, while two members of the Republican caucus were absent and one — Sen. Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) — voted with the Democratic majority.
When the full Senate took up H.13, Brock rose to offer an amendment that would have set nonresidential rates at current levels. “We’re voting on H.13 to keep the government operating,” he argued. And since a veto is all but certain, Brock said, H.13 would not accomplish its stated purpose.
There followed a brief recess to allow the Senate Finance Committee to consider the amendment. Brock, who is a member of the committee, pressed his case but got no support from the five Democrats who were present.
Sen. Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden) countered that the Brock amendment would essentially give Scott everything he wants. “Why would the governor negotiate if he gets level tax rates?” he said.
“This would give the governor the upper hand,” added Sen. Brian Campion (D-Bennington).
The panel voted 5-1 against the amendment, with Brock as the sole dissenter. On the Senate floor, his amendment was defeated 20-5, with Westman switching sides from the rules suspension vote.
After that, there was no further floor debate. The bill was approved 22-3, with Republicans Branagan and Westman joining the Democratic caucus.
Before the Senate took up H.13, it unanimously approved a resolution affirming its support for the Joint Fiscal Office, the nonpartisan body that provides financial and economic expertise to the legislature. The JFO’s impartiality has recently been called into question by Scott’s chief of staff Jason Gibbs. The measure accused “an individual in the Executive Branch” of attempting
“to undermine public confidence in nonpartisan staff in the manner seen in Washington, D.C.”
All five Republicans present voted in favor of the resolution.
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It is hard to believe with a massive revenue surplus of over 50 million dollars the Democratic leadership still wants to raise property taxes. The fact that they are willing to shut the government down to increase property taxes really is absurd. There is enough money to move all non K-12 items not part of school budgets out of the Ed. Fund back to the General Fund where they belong. Pass a budget with no property tax increase and still have surplus that can be used to fill Reserve Funds and help make up for some of the past under funding of the Teachers Retirement Fund.
While one may not agree with Governor Scott on many things, he is absolutely right that we do not need a property tax increase this year.
So John, arent you a former Democratic activist? Now youre a big supporter of Scott and Company?Interesting. So John, how long do we leave the teachers pensions underfunded? 5 years? 10 years? Forever? Or are you pulling for Scott and his no tax increase ever pledge in the hopes, along with Jason Gibbs and the Trumpkins on the 5th floor, that the underfunding will eventually break the teachers pension plan? Or a supporter of constantly using one time funds to plug budget holes and continually kicking the can down the road? It would seem John that youreliving proof that leopards really do change their spots.
And by the way John, the current revenue surplus could hardly be called massive. Try not to exaggerate the situation in your staunch support of the 5th floor.
Roy why don’t you take your liberal mind and go find a safe spot. The liberal run legislators and Senate wants things their way or they will shut down the Government. Go ahead. and they will find themselves without a job. The legislation is fun or crooked liberals, who cheat on their reimbursements, which I’m sure the Lt Governor still does. Also, all these liberals under the golden dome want money for their special pet projects. We need to drain Vermont’s Swamp in Montpelier. Send all these out of staters back to the states they came from. We don’t need higher taxes.. Our pockets are almost empty. They don’t give a crap about Vermont or Vermonters.
“””” TAKE BACK VERMONT”””” ””” TAKE BACK VERMONT””
Roy,
Hopefully in Vermont one can still be fiscally responsible, socially liberal and look at each issue on its own merit. Democrat Howard Dean, when Governor, also vetoed many bills passed by the Democratically controlled legislature he felt Vermont could not afford.
There are many of us out there who do not agree with Governor Scott on many items. For example, I am in strong opposition to the unreasonable and unfunded provisions in Act 46 which while he did not initiate, Scott continues to support. However raising property taxes higher, at a time of a historically large revenue surplus, when there are plenty of funds to not only balance the budget but also fill reserve funds and add to the pension funds is pushing things too far. Being willing to shut government down if these taxes can not be raised is simply unbelievable. Whether you agree with him on everything or not, Scott’s stand on not raising property taxes this year is correct.
Take back Vermont from whom Donna? The majority who voted for the liberals that you hate so much? Seriously? The low percentage of Republicans elected in the state would indicate that you and your other hate-filled, extreme right wing buddies that want to take back Vermont are just out of luck and if its going to make you so constantly apoplectic perhaps its time to migrate to Alabama or someplace that is politically more in tune with your backward hate filled beliefs.
Roy,
You complain about the under funding of the Teachers Retirement system – Why is it underfunded? It is because the democrat/liberal legislature has no fiscal responsibility. Why have they been raising taxes every year and coming up with all the expensive projects instead of trying to reign in spending. It was with the super majority it was occurring.
Shall we discuss how many 10s if not 100s of millions wasted on Shumlin’s exchange program? It could have been done much more successfully with a lot less money but no it has been spend, spend, spend with the legislature.
Roy, I may be wrong but the way I understand it there is already an aggressive plan in place to pay off the unfunded liability in the teachers retirement fund. I saw the schedule that shows us paying it off over the next 15 years. If everyone has agreed to that, why the additional sense of ergency now? Pure BS politics, thats why! The liberals are willing to shut down state government just so Scott can not claim he didnt raise one red cent in new fees and taxes for two years. Governor Scott stay strong, Tim Ashe is a weissal and cant be trusted and unfortunately, Mitsubishi Johnson is foolishly following his lead.
I was curious why they are going to tax us for not having health insurance when the federal government is not? Oh lets just take some more cash from people without! Yay I love that make me more poor for not buying something i cannot afford because of all the other bills!