MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont lawmakers return to the Statehouse Wednesday for the start of a new legislative biennium, but they will be tackling some all too familiar issues.
State lawmakers are poised to try to address pressing issues including, a rural healthcare system operating in the red driven by spiraling commercial insurance rates; An ongoing housing crisis; and spiking education spending that led to a double-digit property tax hike last year.
“There were communities that were hit with 30 percent tax increases — they can’t survive,” said Vt. House Minority Leader Rep. Pattie McCoy, R-Poultney.
Voters in November eliminated the Democratic supermajority, and while they and their Progressive allies still hold a majority and will set the agenda on what bills are taken up, Republicans and Gov. Phil Scott will have a seat at the table.
“The governor now has his veto pen and we can sustain a veto and I think that is huge for us in the House and in the Senate,” McCoy said. That means Vermonters can expect more compromise on big-ticket issues.
Democrats say voters sent the message that they want an increase in the quality of life and a decrease in the cost of living. “We all are in the same boat and we’re going to have to figure out how to work together to get enough votes to really solve real problems for Vermotners that are felt in all corners of the state,” said Senate Majority Leader Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden County. Democrats also say they will spend time revisiting previous laws to see whether the Scott administration is following through.
It remains to be seen how the Legislature — featuring dozens of new members — will address other longstanding priorities including meeting legally binding climate emission targets or whether to push back the goalposts.
Regardless of the political calculus, thorny issues like health care and education finance reform will be a challenge. ”People need to have courage. We’re going to have to make some hard decisions. There’s going to be some painful decisions that are going to affect our community. We are leaders and we are supposed to make those hard decisions,” said Vermont Lt. Governor-elect John Rodgers.
It all kicks off on Wednesday when lawmakers will elect a new House Speaker. Then, Gov. Scott on Thursday will deliver his inaugural address to a joint session.