Phil Scott in 2022 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
We must recognize housing policy is workforce policy
Workers we have can't afford to move up and the workers we want can't afford to move in. We must recognize housing policy is workforce policy. If you will work with me in budget adjustment to allocate $80 million more, we can show we are fully committed
to this cause. And in the budget I will present in two weeks, you can expect to see another $100 million - because it's time get serious about putting the benefits of a good home and a good investment within the reach of every Vermonter.
We know we need more workers, and that also means we need to keep the good jobs we have and add more of them. That is why I will propose expanding the Capital Investment Grant program, which we created with $10 million last year, but we received
applications for six times that amount. This program is helping employers, like childcare and senior centers, museums, theaters and agricultural businesses, enhance their facilities and keep good jobs and services here - so let's do more.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 5, 2022
On Education:
Time we end the stigma around career and technical education
If we make smart changes to current policy, we can open the door to Career and Technical Education, giving kids multiple paths to a lucrative career and filling these crucial jobs. For far too long, we have not done enough to point students toward
these great opportunities to build a real future for themselves. It is time we end the stigma around CTE. Because the fact is, many of the smartest, most successful people I know are in the trades.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 5, 2022
On Health Care:
Increase mental health beds, expand suicide prevention
Our mental health system is facing serious stress and it is not uncommon for emergency departments to have many people in mental health crisis, as they await treatment. Which is why we will continue to increase the number of
mental health beds throughout the state. And I'll ask you to expand our mobile crisis pilot and suicide prevention model to make sure when our friends and family, neighbors and co-workers need us most, we have the tools to help.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 5, 2022
On Jobs:
Invest more to help cover interns' wages
You can expect proposals on my end to be geared towards workforce. Because whether it is training and recruitment, childcare, tax policy, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, or climate change, we must reverse our workforce trends.
And just so we are clear, for any legislation to have my support, it cannot make this problem worse.
First, our internship, returnship, and apprenticeship programs have been incredibly successful, not only giving workers job experience, but also building ties to local employers.
To improve on this work, the Department of Labor assists employers to fill and manage internships statewide and we'll invest more to help cover interns' wages.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 5, 2022
On Tax Reform:
Will propose a balanced and progressive tax relief package
We should do our part to keep the costs of government policies from rising faster than peoples' wages. Because when these costs rise faster, we are pushing people down the economic ladder. But when take-home pay is growing faster than these costs,
we are helping people move up. So, I will put forward a balanced and progressive tax relief package with a focus on those who need it, like retirees, middle income families and young workers.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 5, 2022
On Tax Reform:
Let's eliminate the tax on military pensions
Let's eliminate the tax on military pensions because if we want members of the military to join our workforce, we must be able to compete with the 47 other states that have already greatly reduced or removed this burden. We have worked to
improve our licensing laws, becoming one of the first states to give credit for experience gained in the military, accepting more credentials from other states. This is putting more skilled professionals to work, so let's further modernize these laws.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 5, 2022
Page last updated: Apr 04, 2022