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Rep. Kimberly Jessup (D-Middlesex)
As of this week the legislature still aims to finish their work by May 22 although it remains to be seen how the negotiations between Governor Phil Scott and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate will play out. Secretary of Administration Susanne Young sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee this week outlining the governor’s position on the Senate version of H.439. The memo indicates the governor cannot support the bill unless significant reallocations of American Recuse Plan Act (ARPA) funds are made.
The governor’s position is that ARPA funding was used in the Senate version of the budget for programmatic and ongoing appropriations that in his opinion should be funded with General Fund dollars. The letter from Secretary Young outlines the specific changes the governor is requesting relating to economic recovery, climate change, clean water funding, housing, broadband deployment and other sections of the budget.
BIG MONEY
Leonine Public Affairs This week Governor Phil Scott announced his plan to reopen the state and lift the most significant restrictions that have been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Vermont. The Vermont Forward Plan aims to lift gathering, distancing and masking requirements by July 4, although social distancing and masking will continue to be encouraged. Beginning on April 9 the plan allows for unvaccinated visitors to enter the state without quarantine if they’ve had a negative test within three days prior to their arrival. On June 1, unvaccinated visitors may enter the state with no quarantine or testing requirements. Universal guidance for business operations will be adopted between mid-April and July 4, after which universal guidance will be recommended for all sectors. The plan anticipates 60 to 70 percent of Vermonters will have received one dose of the vaccine by June.