Phil Scott without a backstop: Vermont governor loses veto power in second term

Gov. Phil Scott likes to say that he's always been in the political minority in Vermont. But when he became governor, he gained one major tool to impose his will on the Democratic Legislature.

The veto.

The governor's privilege, the counter-balance to the Legislature. The last-chance emergency brake for any bills Scott didn't like. He pulled it 14 times in his first term.

Three times Scott vetoed the state budget to keep property tax rates from going up. Once he vetoed marijuana legalization, effectively delaying the bill for seven months until a compromise emerged. He vetoed a minimum wage hike, a paid family leave program, and bills about chemicals in toys and racism in government.

On Tuesday, Scott lost that power when Democrats and Progressives won a combined 102 seats in the House of Representatives.

Read more: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/government/2018/11/12/phil-scott-without-backstop-vermont-governor-loses-veto-power-second-term/1929916002/