Their first press conference of the new session was far different in tone from past Republican events. “There’s a new wind blowing in the Statehouse,” Senate Minority Leader Joe Benning (R-Caledonia) said. “We have the opportunity to address problems and not be labeled as the party of ‘No.'”
Republican lawmakers called the Friday morning presser to give their reaction to Scott’s budget speech, delivered Thursday afternoon. They praised the Republican governor’s speech as a responsible approach to finding common ground with the Democratic majority.
They offered no criticism of Scott’s proposals to expand revenues in some areas — an apparent abandonment of the governor’s past opposition to any new taxes or fees. In his budget address, Scott called for extending sales tax enforcement to online “marketplace vendors” that sell other companies’ products, tightening enforcement of the rooms and meals tax for online booking services, and imposing the 92 percent tobacco tax on e-cigarettes.
In recent years, legislative Republicans’ press conferences often consisted of complaints about Democrats’ lack of consideration for Republicans on both policy and process. Now? “We’re not trying to alienate the other side,” Benning said. “We want to work together.”
This change in approach may reflect a desire for civility in politics, or it may simply be a pragmatic reaction to VTGOP losses in the November elections and the new Democratic supermajority in the House. Whatever the motivation, it appears that leaders in both parties want to strike a different tone in 2019.
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It’s all crap. The Democrats will propose the same things as before, things the GOP has great objection to and that will require taxes Scott doesn’t want raised. The GOP will say “hey, we said a new wind was blowing and the Dems aren’t cooperating”
Benning is a closet Liberal and along with Scott will help burn down Vermont,,,,,,,
Vermont is dying if not already dead. Instead of using tax dollars of $10,000 to entice people to move here how about using OUR money to keep young people here by creating good paying jobs. Instead Vermont politicians NEVER met a tax they did not like. Property taxes have sored. AS CALIFORNIA GOES SO GOES VERMONT. Been here 30 years and have had enough.
I think it reflects an absence of pitbull Jason Gibbs. He’s been scarcer than Mitch McConnell lately.
As long as the Republican Party embraces racists like H Brooke Paige ( 18 candidate for Secretary of State) it will have an uphill battle to get the votes of once upon a time Vermont Republicans like me. My family has been Republican since there was such a thing. No racist should be given umbrage in ANY political party – racism is the root of fascism. You question that, visit his Facebook page for his latest derision of Kiah Morris and the bigotry she has had to endure.
Curious to know which end the wind is coming from…
“”We’re not increasing taxes,” Benning said. “We’re modernizing our tax structure.”
Republicans have spent years — decades — calling out Democrats for ANY modification in the tax system. So now they impose what obviously IS a new tax, and they claim that they’re just “modernizing our tax structure?” Incredible chutzpah!
Here’s a simple test to be applied to the vaping tax as well as to any carbon tax proposal. Does the tax increase the total revenues available to the government or is it offset in such a way that revenues remain as they were before imposing the tax?
If the answer to the first question is yes, then it’s a new tax. If no, it isn’t.
Hardly rocket science!
New winds carry Vermont youth to literally any other state.
News at 11.
Lets see. The town i live in Westmore has to raise 1.7 million dollars and send it to Montpelier who then gives this money to Burlington to lower their taxes. Lets see again. Westmore is in the kingdom where there are no good paying jobs and goes to Burlington where the jobs are. What do we get for the money we send NOTHING. Not even a thank you card.
They can’t even keep the roads in decent shape.
Amazing how the politicians say it’s not a new tax were we paying this tax before NO so it’s a new tax. !!! Bull s-t cover up. 98% of the legislators are from out of state who only moved here to take over and destroy Vt way of life. They don’t care about Vermont or Vermonters, they just want money for their own pet projects. Screw Vermonters. We have legislators and / Lt Gov who grows weed and make beer, that’s why those bills get passed so quickly. There is some out of staters who came here because they loved Vermont and don’t want to change Vt, but now some of these good people are now leaving. There is some like H. Brooke Paige who is fighting to save Vt. He probably knows more about Vt then some certain people in here. Guess this person is just jealous..
Taxing Juuls will not do a damn thing to deter teens from using them. You don’t think they’ll still come up with the money? They will. So while Phil and his lefty friends are adding new taxes, they can pat themselves on the back because they claim to be saving Vermont’s youth (they know they’re not). It’s really just another money grab folks but libs will believe that this is a health initiative and cheer. So sick of idiots.
TFW your argument is junk and you blame out-of-staters for ruining your way of life. Classic.
This is why Republicans “can’t get no respect” –
There is an absence of principles in the shadow of perceived popularity
Joe Benning quote from article: “Ten years ago, nobody knew what ‘vaping’ was. We’ve seen an explosion of youth using vaping products. That’s not a good thing.” Youth using pot is a good thing though, right Joe? Pretty hypocritical!