[S]peaker of the House Mitzi Johnson said Friday afternoon that the House will adjourn with no deal on minimum wage or paid family leave.
Earlier Friday, Johnson, D-South Hero, sent Sen. President Pro Tem Tim Ashe a letter stating that unless they could reach agreement on the legislation by noon, the House would conclude its business for the year without passing either priority.
Before 3:00 p.m., the speaker said an agreement between the chambers had not been reached.
“I think we each had different priorities and really what happened was time really ran out on us,” she told reporters. “We’re now looking at Memorial Day Weekend and I think it’s time to wrap-up, celebrate all of the good work that we’ve accomplished and come together January.”
Minutes later, Ashe, D/P-Burlington, said that the Senate would make a similar move, voting out all of the bills currently up for consideration — including the budget and paid family leave. The Senate leader sent out a statement to the media at 3:45.
“My Senate colleagues and I recognize the strong negotiating position the Speaker holds,” it said.”At this point the Senate is sending compromises on both the paid leave bill H107 and the minimum wage bill S23 along with the budget to the House for action.”
It was unclear as of 3:15 p.m. which chamber would start voting out bills first.
Both chambers must adopt a joint resolution to adjourn, according to Vermont’s Constitution. The House can adjourn for three days at a time, with token sessions, until the Senate agrees to adjourn. If the House and Senate continue to have a disagreement, the governor can decide on adjournment.
The move and counter-move came after a day of waiting in the Statehouse, as lawmakers, lobbyists and reporters wondered whether Democratic leadership could hammer out a last-minute compromise.
Johnson spoke to reporters shortly after a meeting with Ashe. Negotiations up to that point were being led by the majority leaders in each chamber, Sen. Becca Balint, D-Windham, and Rep. Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington.
The Senate has insisted on a minimum wage bill that moves toward $15 by 2024, regardless of economic strength. The House insists on a paid family leave bill that eventually includes a mandatory payroll tax to cover paid time off for personal injury and illness.
Johnson’s letter to Ashe laid out five compromise proposals, asking him to pick one by noon or pass the budget and head home.
Shortly after Johnson announced her intention to adjourn post haste, Ashe came out of his office and told reporters the Senate would vote out every bill it has been sitting on as the negotiations played out.
That would presumably include a watered-down version of the paid family leave bill, which House leadership has refused to accept.
Krowinski said the House is going to repass conference committee reports on the budget and tax bills, send them to the Senate, and adjourn until January.
