[G]ov. Phil Scott’s chief of staff and a former Vermont House speaker debated proposals to close the education funding gap in a live radio debate Friday.
Jason Gibbs and Shap Smith appeared on WDEV’s Dave Gram Show after arguing about the governor’s proposal on Twitter. Last Tuesday, Smith called Scott’s plan to use one-time money to fill a $58 million funding gap “a fiscal joke.” Gibbs responded that Scott’s proposal would not only close the gap but fix structural deficits — and proposed they take their conversation to the airwaves.
Smith and Gibbs debated the use of one-time money, the effects of school consolidation under Act 46 and the merits of imposing staff-to-student ratios. But the discussion also centered on Scott’s political strategy.
“The governor people elected was someone that ran on: ‘I can work with people. I’m going to build consensus,’” Smith said. “What we’re seeing is a political plan dropped at the last minute that is fiscally irresponsible.”
Gibbs maintained that Scott was fulfilling his promises to voters: “The governor Vermonters elected is the governor that said he was going to impose fiscal discipline on the legislative process.”
Smith, the former speaker and one-time gubernatorial hopeful, does not currently hold a state office. But his criticisms largely echoed those of Democrats in the House and Senate. Members of both chambers have questioned the plan’s fiscal soundness and blasted the governor for proposing it at the last minute.
Scott has threatened to veto the budget and suggested keeping the Legislature in session for as long as it takes to reach an agreement on his proposal.
