— Gov. Phil Scott on Wednesday said that he has made up his mind about running for re-election, but won’t announce his plans until Thursday, the deadline for candidates to file for primaries.
“I’ll come out with a statement then. I have until five o’clock tomorrow, but I have arrived at a decision, but I’ll make that known tomorrow,” the governor said at his press conference Wednesday. He told reporters on Friday that he would ponder his plans over the weekend.
Scott had previously said that he would not make his decision known until the 2020 legislative session was finished, but that schedule was undermined by the coronavirus. The Legislature is now planning on working through the summer, with budgeting all-but impossible until there is clarity on federal assistance. – Colin Meyn
— The state plans to put forward up to $300 million to bail out Vermont’s health care system, which was crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith told lawmakers in a joint meeting between the House and Senate health committees that he planned to make the relief package available to a broad array of medical professionals, including doctors, hospitals, dentists, and mental health providers.
“We kept the system from collapsing,” Smith told the Green Mountain Care Board. “Now we need to stabilize it over time.” The money would be drawn from the $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds, and would be presented to the legislature for approval by mid-June, he said. – Katie Jickling
— In a conversation with House Appropriations lawmakers, Chief Fiscal Officer Steve Klein said that the state is claiming it’s CARES Act coronavirus relief money quickly.
He didn’t have specific numbers on how much has been earmarked for spending, but he said that from what has been proposed from the governor, advocates and lawmakers, the fund could soon be depleted.
“Right now, based on everybody’s wish lists, we’ve probably overspent by a big number,” Klein said. He added there’s probably better than a 50% chance that another round of federal funding will come to the state — the question is when and how much. – Grace Elletson
— Advocates for Vermont’s Micro Business Development program told House Commerce lawmakers that the businesses they support aren’t getting enough support from the federal and state government.
Because these businesses, which employ five or fewer employees, don’t always have a consistent or long-term tax history, it can be more difficult for them to qualify for aid or get enough of it.
Sue Minter, executive director of Capstone Community Action, also argued that the program should receive more financial support from the state because, as past trends suggest, more Vermonters may initiate start ups of their own as the country faces a recession.
“More and more people are on the economic edge,” Minter said. “And this program helps them step back from the edge.” – Grace Elletson
— Lawmakers on the House and Senate agriculture committees discussed a proposal from the Scott administration to give dairy farmers $50 million in emergency federal aid. Under the proposal, farmers and cheesemakers would have to show they’ve incurred pandemic-related damages to receive grants.
While not opposing the plan, some lawmakers wondered whether the agriculture agency was not doing enough to help other farmers.
“It’s a little disappointing that the Agency of Agriculture isn’t stepping up to make sure they are taken care of, and that they don’t have to go through as many hoops,” said Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison.
Agency head Anson Tebbetts said they’ve been working to make sure all farmers have access to the help they need during the pandemic. – Elizabeth Gribkoff
— Democratic National Convention Chair Tom Perez helped the Vermont Democrats kick off their 2020 Convention Monday evening through his virtual keynote address.
“Hello Vermont Democrats!” Perez began the short address. “You’re response to this crisis is not only protecting the health and livelihoods of your membership, but also providing an example of the remarkable resiliency of our American democracy.”
Perez also slammed the Trump administration’s response to the pandemic, saying that the pandemic has “laid bare the utter incompetence” of the president. He also recognized Sen. Bernie Sanders for running a “spectacular campaign” and for inspiring “millions of Americans.”
The Convention also hosted a keynote by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-CA, a close Sanders ally. Khanna is also participating in a live, virtual Q&A session with democrats 6:30 p.m., May 30 (ticket required). – Grace Elletson
