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Phil Scott on Tax Reform

 

 


Reduce unemployment payroll tax without impacting benefits

We have to remember that most businesses are small and owned by our neighbors. We must help employers in responsible ways, like reducing--not increasing--the cost of unemployment insurance without impacting benefits to the unemployed. And surely we can't add to the burden with a payroll tax on them or their workers.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature , Jan 7, 2021

Increase estate tax exemption from $2.75M to $5.75M

The estate tax is a stable source--average revenue since 2004 has been about $19.5 million, and the lowest year was 2015 at $9.9 million. Tax professionals consistently tell me that because we are so far out of line with other states, the estate tax is a factor in retirees leaving. I propose increasing the current exemption from $2.75 million to $5.75 million over four years. This will align us with Maine and New York, and more closely with the federal exemption.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Vermont legislature , Jan 24, 2019

Scott and Republicans blocked many new taxes

Here are just some of the taxes and fees Governor Scott and Republican lawmakers were able to prevent: New carbon tax; New payroll tax on Vermonters' wages; Income tax surcharge; Increase in the meals and rooms tax; Occupancy fee; Per-parcel fee; Small business surcharge; Sugar tax; Bag tax; And many, many more!

Thanks to Governor Scott's vetoes and a united Republican Caucus, we avoided many new taxes and fees. They displayed fiscal responsibility and showed a real commitment to affordability.

Source: 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial campaign website PhilScott.org , Aug 7, 2018

Tax burden takes a toll on economic development

"In my first 18 months in office, we've avoided $70 million in forecasted property tax rate increases--including two consecutive years of level rates for residential property tax payers. We've eliminated the income tax on social security for low and middle-income households.

As we move ahead, I look forward to working with fiscally responsible lawmakers of all parties who understand the toll the tax burden takes on our economy and economic development."

Source: 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial campaign website PhilScott.org , Aug 7, 2018

Balanced budget without raising taxes

Early in my career working construction, I learned that when you find yourself in a hole and have a problem, the first thing you do is stop digging. Well, I'm proud to report that last year we stopped digging. We passed a budget that invested in our people and economy, without raising a single tax or fee. We closed a budget gap of more than $60 million, and limited budget growth to just over 1%, while wages grew at about 2%. This means--for the first time in recent history -that state government actually helped people keep more of what they earned.
Source: 2018 Vermont State of the State address , Jan 4, 2018

Property taxes shouldn't grow faster than property values

In 2014, 50% of Vermont's school students saw their school budgets voted down as many communities fought back against the property tax rates. Many communities reduced their budgets but still had substantially higher property tax rates imposed on them.

What did the Legislature do to address this unsustainable problem? Nothing. The property tax system is broken and Scott believes it's time for the Legislature to stop sidestepping this challenge and work with school boards to find a reasonable solution.

As a matter of principle, Scott does not believe property taxes should grow faster, on average, than increases in income or increases in the underlying fair market value of the property being taxed. He also believes that the state should audit all of its unfunded mandates and repeal them.

Scott will continue be a voice for those Vermonters struggling to pay their property tax bills and make developing a real, sustainable reform of our property tax system a top priority.

Source: 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial campaign website PhilScott.org , Sep 9, 2015

Other governors on Tax Reform: Phil Scott on other issues:
VT Gubernatorial:
Christine Hallquist
David Zuckerman
Keith Stern
Matt Dunne
Rebecca Holcombe
Shap Smith
Sue Minter
VT Senatorial:
Al Giordano
Bernie Sanders
Brooke Paige
John MacGovern
Lawrence Zupan
Patrick Leahy
Scott Milne
Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
NJ: Incumbent Phil Murphy(D)
vs.State Rep. Jack Ciattarelli(R)
vs.Candidate Hirsh Singh(R)
VA: Incumbent Ralph Northam(D,term-limited)
vs.A.G. Mark Herring(D)
vs.State Sen. Amanda Chase(R)
vs.Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax(D)
vs.State Rep. Jennifer Carroll Foy(D)
vs.State Rep. Lee Carter(D)
vs.Former Governor Terry McAuliffe(D)
vs.State Sen. Jennifer McClellan(D)
vs.State Rep. Kirk Cox(R)

Gubernatorial Debates 2022:
AK: Incumbent Mike Dunleavy(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
AL: Incumbent Kay Ivey(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
AR: Incumbent Asa Hutchinson(R,term-limited)
vs.Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin(R)
vs.Trump Adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R)
vs.A.G. Leslie Rutledge(R)
AZ: Incumbent Doug Ducey(R,term-limited)
(no prospective opponents yet)
CA: Incumbent Gavin Newsom(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
CO: Incumbent Jared Polis(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
CT: Incumbent Ned Lamont(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
FL: Incumbent Ron DeSantis(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Val Demings(? D)
vs.Former Gov.Charlie Crist(? D)
GA: Incumbent Brian Kemp(R)
vs.Minority Leader Stacey Abrams(D)
vs.Senate candidate Shane Hazel(L)
HI: Incumbent David Ige(D,term-limited)
vs.State Rep. Andria Tupola(R)
IA: Incumbent Kim Reynolds(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Cindy Axne(? R)
ID: Incumbent Brad Little(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
IL: Incumbent J. B. Pritzker(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
KS: Incumbent Laura Kelly(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
MA: Incumbent Charlie Baker(R)
vs.Harvard Professor Danielle Allen(D)
MD: Incumbent Larry Hogan(R,term-limited)
vs.State Rep. Robin Ficker(R)
vs.State Rep. Peter Franchot(D) 		Gubernatorial Debates 2022 (continued):
ME: Incumbent Janet Mills(D)
vs.Former Gov. Paul LePage(R)
MI: Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
MN: Incumbent Tim Walz(DFL)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NE: Incumbent Pete Ricketts(R,term-limited)
vs.U.S.Senator Bob Krist(R)
NH: Incumbent Chris Sununu(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NM: Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NV: Incumbent Steve Sisolak(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
NY: Incumbent Andrew Cuomo(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
OH: Incumbent Mike DeWine(R)
vs.Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley(? D)
OK: Incumbent Kevin Stitt(R)
vs.State Sen. Ervin Yen(R)
OR: Incumbent Kate Brown(D,term-limited)
vs.Gov. nominee Bud Pierce(R)
PA: Incumbent Tom Wolf(D,term-limited)
(no prospective opponents yet)
RI: Incumbent Gina Raimondo(D,term-limited)
(no prospective opponents yet)
SC: Incumbent Henry McMaster(R)
vs.State Rep. James Emerson Smith(? D)
SD: Incumbent Kristi Noem(R)
vs.State Rep. Billie Sutton(? D)
TN: Incumbent Bill Lee(R)
vs.Senate nominee Marquita Bradshaw(? D)
TX: Incumbent Greg Abbott(R)
vs.U.S.Rep. Allen West(? R)
VT: Incumbent Phil Scott(R)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WI: Incumbent Tony Evers(D)
(no prospective opponents yet)
WY: Incumbent Mark Gordon(R)
vs.Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.Former Gov. Matt Bevin(? R)
Senator Rand Paul(? R)
LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
vs.Biden Adviser Cedric Richmond(? D)
vs.Senator John Neely Kennedy(? R)
MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
(no prospective opponents yet) 		Abortion
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Page last updated: Feb 03, 2021