Vermont governor declares state of emergency over loss of veto power

MONTPELIER – Vermont Governor Phil Scott has declared a state of emergency today over the inability to veto House Bill H.57, which would codify into state law various abortion rights. Seeking funds from the federal government, Gov. Scott has called this the worst emergency he has seen since the midterm elections.

“I didn’t have to do this,” Gov. Scott told press this morning, “This bill doesn’t actually do anything or change anything. I could have waited to do this later, but I didn’t feel like it. I just felt like getting my veto power back right now. So, in many ways, this is a true emergency to me.”

Sixteen towns have already filed suits to block the declaration, although it is still unclear just what the “state of emergency” will do for the governor, and how federal funding will help him to overcome a veto-proof Democratic majority in the state Legislature.

“The rules are changing,” said Gov. Scott. “It’s clear that what we used to think of as an emergency, well, the word is being defined differently now. When the White House hears about this bill, and how I am unable to veto it, I think they’ll be very supportive. I’m expecting a lot of federal money, most of which we will probably spend on my re-election campaign and the campaigns of other conservatives in the state. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get that veto back. In fact, if the Legislature keeps voting the way I think they will, you might say it will be a kind of … natural disaster?”

https://vtdigger.org/2019/02/24/satire-governor-declares-state-emergency-loss-veto-power/