Phil Scott: My priorities are to make Vermont more affordable & to restore faith in state government. The idea that utilities have been allowed to pass executive bonuses onto ratepayers is an example of that erosion of trust.
Q: Vermont's two shareholder utility companies have operated under plans that adjust gas and electric rates without the accountability and transparency of a full rate case.
Phil Scott: I share concerns about alternative regulation. I will commit to examining the benefits and disadvantages of alternative regulation--with the priority of protecting ratepayers. Alternative regulation, when employed properly & transparently, can allow utilities to move more nimbly and this agility--when used for the benefit of ratepayers--can benefit the state's economy. It appears, however, that alternative regulation policy may need reform.
Scott supports abortion rights and gay marriage, and said during a debate that transgender students should be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice.
Scott: I have a 10-point plan to address opiate addiction through prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We need to expand community commitment by replicating the success of programs such as Rutland Project VISION. I'd establish a Director of Drug Abuse Prevention and an Opiate Coordination Council comprised of municipal, health and law enforcement officials to eliminate red tape and ensure integration of state government opiate policies. I'd emphasize long-term treatment rather than short-term detox, invest in expanded treatment options and new licensed counselors. We can also give law enforcement more flexibility to refer people to treatment rather than prison. I'd also require digital prescriptions in order to reduce prescription fraud. I'd fight to update federal drug disposal rules and expand Medication-Assisted Treatment programs so doctors can treat more addicts.
Phil Scott: Securing our energy future requires us to be more self sufficient, and in order to do so we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. I am proud of Vermont's forward-thinking efforts to combat climate change, and we should explore purchasing "green" power from reliable, affordable sources, including solar, hydro, and natural gas, among others. As we've seen with the solar industry, when government acts as a partner and incentivizes growth, the sector flourishes & creates jobs. In addition, the independence gained by weaning ourselves off of non-renewable power sources will further preserve our state's natural environment for future generations. Fundamentally, we need to recognize that growing our economy and preserving our environment by making smart energy choices are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they are inextricably linked. A strong economy needs to rely on a sustainable energy policy, and vice-versa.
Phil Scott: Vermont is not a leading gun-exporter state when it comes to gun trafficking. According to the ATF, only 141 guns were traced back to Vermont in 2014. In contrast, nearly twice as many were traced to New Hampshire, nearly 11 times as many were traced to Massachusetts, and over 55 times as many were traced to New York. We do very well when it comes to gun trafficking compared to our neighboring states. I would continue to enforce existing gun laws on the books in Vermont that reduce gun trafficking, including provisions that allow the inspections of in-state gun dealers.
Scott: The single-payer proposal under the Green Mountain Care plan was abandoned by the sitting governor in 2014. The models that experts were using indicated that the plan would require an 11.5% payroll tax. I believe the decision to abandon this model was the correct one, and continuing down that road would have generated further uncertainty in Vermont's economy. However, we need to continue to work on proven models that increase access and reduce costs. We need to move off the dysfunctional Vermont Health Connect, which costs millions each year. In 2006, when I was in the State Senate, I supported legislation which expanded access to health care by providing subsidies to uninsured Vermonters to purchase insurance on a sliding scale basis. The act also cut costs through healthy lifestyle discounts to those who participated in programs that improved wellness. Within two years, Vermont's uninsured rate declined by 25%.
Phil Scott: First and foremost, state government must regain the faith and trust of Vermonters. The first step is ensuring the EB-5 fallout doesn't bring the Northeast Kingdom economy down with it. We can look to the state response to Vermont Yankee's closing in Windham County as an example: In 2015, the legislature established the Southern Vermont Economic Development Zone, [with] the intent of attracting industry to the area and provide a resource to existing businesses. This is an approach we can apply across Vermont. We can look to New York and the incentives they're offering to new businesses and employees as an example. The key is getting the word out about what Vermont has to offer, welcoming new neighbors and making Montpelier a true partner to our business community.
Phil Scott: I am running for Governor because I firmly believe that I am the right leader at the right time to move Vermont forward. As a lifelong Vermonter, small-business owner, and public servant, I'm frustrated by business as usual in Montpelier. We need to focus on the fundamentals, like economic development and making Vermont more affordable. Throughout my political career, I've been a consensus builder--working with Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, and Independents to accomplish common-sense legislation that moves our state in the right direction. As Governor, I will continue to reach across the aisle. I recognize that there are a lot of egos in Montpelier. But my focus has never been getting credit. My priority is getting things done for Vermonters.
Lieutenant Gov. Phil Scott (R-Berlin) did not respond to MPP's survey asking about marijuana legalization. "I'm not saying never," Scott said on Vermont Public Radio in June. "I'm saying it's the timing's not right. It's not now."
Minter said she would want to figure out a way to tackle the problem; Scott said his first goal would be not to increase costs. Minter said she would "explore phasing out the use of private prisons altogether by bringing together community leaders to find more ways to continue reducing Vermont's recidivism rate and the number of non-violent offenders incarcerated."
Scott replied in part: "The cost of operating Vermont's prisons and corrections systems falls disproportionately onto state income tax payers. There is virtually no federal money in the state corrections system." He said his administration would "conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis" before deciding whether to continue using private prisons.
Republican Bruce Lisman presented what he calls a multiyear approach to recast state government. "I'd manage the damn budget. Set spending at 2-3 percent per year to reset our finances and no new taxes. And find 2 percent efficiencies with a brilliant, motivated management team. Recharge our government by bringing real managers into it, those people we find not because we know them but because they're talented," Lisman said.
Both Republicans have said the state's health exchange has hurt the business climate in the state.
Advocates of single-payer health care, however, have not demonstrated how they will lower costs, guarantee coverage at all times for all medically necessary procedures, enhance the quality of care while preserving access to the doctor and hospital of one's choice, and strengthen the economy. In Lt. Governor Scott's view, these are the criteria that any credible reform plan must meet.
What did the Legislature do to address this unsustainable problem? Nothing. The property tax system is broken and Scott believes it's time for the Legislature to stop sidestepping this challenge and work with school boards to find a reasonable solution.
As a matter of principle, Scott does not believe property taxes should grow faster, on average, than increases in income or increases in the underlying fair market value of the property being taxed. He also believes that the state should audit all of its unfunded mandates and repeal them.
Scott will continue be a voice for those Vermonters struggling to pay their property tax bills and make developing a real, sustainable reform of our property tax system a top priority.
But I do want to let people know how I tend to approach these issues. I believe that family planning services are an essential part of our health care system. In our current economic situation, systemwide reductions in health care spending may be necessary to balance budgets, but I would not support cuts directed at family planning services.
I do support a woman's right to choose; however, I do not believe it needs to be a "blank check" in order to be effective. I do not support partial-birth abortion, because I believe there are many options available to terminate a pregnancy well before that stage of development.
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The above quotations are from 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts from 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for other excerpts by Phil Scott. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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