HERE'S HOST, STEWART LED BETTER.

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ASK THE GOVERNOR" WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS ELECTION TO OUR STUDIOS HERE, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> YOU COME ON AN INTERESTING NIGHT.

A RECORD BREAKER, WARMEST DAY OF THE YEAR, WELCOME TO SUMMER.

AT THE STATE HOUSE TODAY A LITTLE HEAT DETECTED AS WELL.

AS YOU KNOW, THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE DECLARED AN IMPASSE AFTER COUPLE OF WEEKS OF NEGOTIATION OVER TEACHER HEALTHCARE ISSUES AND YOUR DETERMINATION TO CHANGE THE WAY TEACHER HEALTHCARE BENEFITS ARE NEGOTIATED.

AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?

A SHOWDOWN ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT I HOPED WHERE WE CAN SAVE TAXPAYERS SOME MONEY AND PUT US ON THE PATH TO SOME SORT OF CONSISTENCY IN THE FUTURE.

SO, FROM THE START, I JUST FOUND THAT WE HAD THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE $75 MILLION, BE ABLE TO MAKE TEACHERS WHOLE BY PUTTING $50 MILLION BACK IN TO THEIR POCKETS AND COMING AWAY WITH ABOUT $26 MILLION OF SAVINGS THAT WE COULD USE FOR MANY PURPOSES THAT'S COME DOWN TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT OVER THE YEARS.

I'M JUST HOPING THAT WE CAN COME TO SOME CONCLUSION HERE.

>> TODAY, WE'LL SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL FOR OUR VIEWERS AT HOME YOU EMERGED FROM HOUSE SPEAKER MITSI JOHNSON'S OFFICE THIS MORNING AND ANNOUNCED TOO MINUTES LATER THAT THERE WAS STILL NO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THEY SEEM TO CHARACTERIZE YOUR POSITION AS FAIRLY IMMOVEABLE HERE.

BUT LET'S LISTEN TO THE SPEAKER AND THE PRO TEM ON SORT OF HOW THEY VIEW THINGS.

>> WE'VE PUT OUT EASILY THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT IDEAS AND NONE OF THEM ARE HIS SO THEY THAT HAVE ALL BEEN REJECTED.

>> I HOPE WE CAN REACH THAT AGREEMENT.

THAT WOULD BE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR ALL.

YET THERE IS A POINT WHERE A NEGOTIATION BECOMES A DICTATION.

>> A NEGOTIATION BECOMES A DICTATION.

BY WHICH, MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOT NEGOTIATING, YOU'RE NOT COMPROMISING ON THE CENTRAL ISSUE WHICH IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR TEACHERS.

IS THAT WHAT THIS REALLY COMES DOWN TO AND WHAT EXPLAINS THIS AFTER THESE EASILY BUDGET VOTES THAT WE SAW EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

IT'S ALL ABOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

>> IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT COMES DOWN TO THAT.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT'S BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS AN ATTACK ON TEACHERS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THAT, FROM MY STANDPOINT.

WE WANT TO PROTECT THE TEACHERS, WE WANT TO PROTECT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

STILL HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNDER SOME OF THE BUT I CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME PRINCIPLES, I'VE LAID OUT CONSISTENTLY FROM THE START.

AND IT'S ABOUT MAXIMIZING THE SAVINGS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ONGOING SAVINGS THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS 25 OR $T MILLION PER YEAR.

EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

MAKING SURE THAT THE TEACHERS ARE LEFT WHOLE, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE A PLAN THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO LIVE WITH.

SO NO MORE OUT OF POCKET COST THAN THEY HAVE HAD BEFORE.

AS WELL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF FROM THE SCHOOL BOARDS WHO HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULT TIMES OVER THE YEARS IN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE SOME OF THESE VERY COMPLICATED HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, SO, IF WE CAN TAKE THAT OFF THE TABLE ALLOW THE TEACHERS TO CONTINUE TO COLLECTIVE BARGAIN UNDER THE TRADITIONAL SENSE FOR WAGES AND BENEFITS AND SO FORTH AND TAKE THE HEALTHCARE OFF AND MAKE IT SOME SORT OF STATE-WIDE PROPOSAL THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE IT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION FOR EVERYONE.

AND CREATE UNIFORMITY THROUGHOUT VERMONT.

>> BUT THE VERMONT NEA AND LABOR UNIONS GENERALLY ARE PUSHING BACK HARD AGAINST THAT.

AND THE QUOTE FROM THE VERMONT NEA UNION PRESIDENT YESTERDAY WAS THAT SHE WOULD BE VERY ANGRY WITH DEMOCRATS IF THEY ACQUIESCE TO YOU, LET'S LISTEN.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THINGS JUST AS THEY ARE NOW.

AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN CONTENDING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL AND THE VSBA'S WORK AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF RESTRICTING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

>> IF DEMOCRATS GIVE IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WHERE WILL THIS LEAD THE VERMONT NEA?

>> WE'LL BE VERY, VERY ANGRY.

>> MARTHA ALLEN WHO HEADS THE VERMONT NEA WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REALLY GOING ON HERE?

>> THAT WAS REACTION TO THE SPEAKER'S PROPOSAL FROM YESTERDAY WHICH WE RESPONDED TO LAST NIGHT AND I HAD SOME MORE INFORMATION FOR THEM THIS MORNING.

BUT IT APPEARED THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART ON THAT PROPOSAL FAT.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS DICTATING WHERE WE'RE GOING AT THIS POINT.

I BELIEVE THAT IF WE COULD JUST SET ASIDE THE FACT THAT THIS MAY BE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE COULD PUT A PAUSE ON THE HEALTHCARE NEGOTIATIONS AND IMPLEMENT THAT ON A STATEWIDE BASIS THAT WE COULD MOVE ALONG AND SAVE $26 MILLION A YEAR FOR TAXPAYERS.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE.

IT'S NOT COMPLICATED.

BUT PHILOSOPHICAL DIVIDE IS APPARENT AT THIS POINT.

>> AS YOU KNOW THE SENATE LAST WEEK PASSED A ALTERNATIVE PLAN BY 2-1 MARGIN.

THE SENATOR PRO TEM SEEMED A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH YOU BECAUSE HE FELT THAT HIS VERSION DELIVERED MUCH THE SAME THING, LET'S LISTEN.

>> WE PRESERVE THE TYPICAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS THIS YEAR, EXPLORE STATEWIDE HEALTH BENEFIT FOR OUT YEARS BUT ACHIEVE ALL THE TAXPAYER SAVINGS AND RETURN TO THE TAXPAYER THAT THE GOVERNOR INITIALLY SAID THIS WAS ALL ABOUT.

>> YOU DISAGREE?

>> WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY A WAY TO ACCUMULATE 13 MILLION IN THE FIRST HALF YEAR.

BY ALMOST IMPOSING A PENALTY ON DISTRICTS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO COME UP WITH THE $13 MILLION.

IT'S -- YOU'RE SAYING YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

HERE YOU GO.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEND YOU $13 MILLION SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAVE IT SOMEWHERE.

THAT PUTS, I THINK, SCHOOL BOARDS IN MORE DIFFICULT POSITION.

THESE ARE ALL VOLUNTEER BOARDS.

THAT ISN'T WHAT THEY SIGNED UP TO DO.

THEY CAME TO THE TABLE TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT CURRICULUM, MOST HAD CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, JUST WANTED THE BEST FOR THEIR KIDS.

THEY DIDN'T SIGN UP TO NEGOTIATE HEALTHCARE.

THIS WOULD PUT THEM IN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT POSITION.

THIS, AGAIN, ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE PLAN THAT THE TEACHERS HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND BECAUSE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THEY WOULD BE PENALIZED OR CADILLAC PATHS WOULD BE IMPOSED ON THEM SO THIS HAS BEEN IN TRANSITION FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T EXPECT TO HAPPEN.

IT'S ABOUT UNIFORMITY, PREDICTABILITY, HAVING ONE TYPE OF CONTRACT, ONE TYPE OF PLAN FOR ALL TEACHERS THROUGHOUT VERMONT WE CAN JUST TAKE THAT UNCERTAINTY OFF THE TABLE.

EVERYONE WOULD PAY THE SAME.

OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THOSE -- STATE EMPLOYEES PAY 20% OF THEIR BENEFITS.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE, IS ADOPT A PLAN.

TAKE -- IF THEY PAY 20% OF THAT AND HAVE AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF AROUND $400 AND MAKE THEM WHOLE SO THEY'RE NOT PAYING ANY MORE THAN THEY ARE TODAY.

THEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE.

AND IF WE COULD IMPLEMENT THIS, WHETHER IT BE BY STATEWIDE CONTRACT, NEGOTIATING WITH THE STATE, I'VE ALSO SAID THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT WITH ANOTHER ENTITY WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION, IF YOU WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM, THAT'S FINE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ANYBODY, LET'S JUST PUT IT IN THE LAW FOR A YEAR OR TWO UNTIL WE CAN REBASE.

THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO THE SAME APPROACH AS BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY IN THE YEAR TWO OR THREE.

>> YOU'RE WATCHING "ASK THE GOVERNOR" HERE ON VERMONT PBS WITH GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT I'M STEWART LEDBETTER WE INVITE YOUR PARTICIPATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW AND CALL US, WE'LL PUT YOU RIGHT THROUGH.

IT'S TOLL FREE, NUMBER IS 86 866-424-LIVE.

OR YOU CAN SEND E-MAIL THROUGHOUT THE HOUR ADDRESS IS QUESTIONS@VERMONTPBS.ORG.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE STATE HOUSE FOR MOST OF 20 YEARS.

YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE FOLKS WITH WHOM YOU'RE NEGOTIATING.

IS IT REALLY HARD TO FIGURE OUT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT IS.

BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT COMMON SENSE.

IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS, IN FACT SPEAKER WRIGHT PROPOSED SOMETHING CLOSE TO THIS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS, I BELIEVE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE UNION HAS TAKEN EXCEPTION TO THIS AND MADE IT AN ISSUE, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN ANSWER THERE, THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH AND REALIZE THE SAVINGS AND EVERYONE WOULD BENEFIT AS A RESULT.

I'M HAVING DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THROUGH THAT, PAST THAT, WE'VE TRIED TO BE GOOD BARGAINERRERS IN THIS PROCESS LAYING OUT THE PRINCIPLES THAT I EXPECT TO ADHERE TO THAT ONES THAT I LAID OUT PREVIOUSLY.

THAT'S JUST BEEN THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN MOVING THROUGH.

WE'VE BEEN EVERY SINGLE PLAN OR PROPOSAL THAT'S BEEN PUT FORTH.

WE'VE REACTED TO WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS HOW TO MAKE IT COMPLY WITH WHAT I'M -- I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

IT'S BEEN MET WITH EITHER NO RESPONSE OR DIFFERENT TYPE OF PLAN.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY AND UNIFORMITY.

IT'S ABOUT AVERAGE UNIFORMITY.

SO THAT WE HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY AND THAT WE RECOUPED THESE SAVINGS OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS.

WE CAN'T -- DON'T WANT TO JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE THAT HAVE FOR ONE YEAR.

I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY MAYBE SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE OF THEM, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VARIED IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH CONTRIBUTION THAT THE EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD TO PAY.

ANYWHERE FROM I BELIEVE 96-8% PAYING 2-4% TO 20%.

THAT DOESN'T GIVE US THE CONSISTENCY THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO SAVE THIS MONEY IN YEARS TO COME.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT WHERE -- WHY ARE WE AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING 1.6 MILLION ON EDUCATION.

OVER A THIRD OF OUR BUDGET IS SPENT ON K-12 EDUCATION.

WE'RE -- WE'RE EDUCATING 20,000 LESS KIDS THAN WE WERE 20 YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN YEARS TO COME BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME POSITION NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOME SAVINGS SOMEWHERE.

THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE NO ONE GETS HURT.

>> THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME GIVE FROM THE VERMONT NEA.

>> I BELIEVE SO.

JUST SOME COMMON SENSE.

JUST FOR A YEAR OR TWO, JUST TO REBASE THE CONVERSATION.

>> NOW, ALL OF THIS MATTERS BECAUSE YOU'RE THREATENING TO VETO THE STATE BUDGET IF AN UN UNRELATED BILL, ARGUABLY UNRELATED BILL -- >> I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S RELATED.

>> I WOULD SAY THE SENATE HAS PASSED THEIR BUDGET WITH A BIT OF A HOLE IN IT.

RETIREMENT EXPENSE PUT THE IT IN EDUCATION, THERE IS A BIT OF A WHOLE BECAUSE OF THAT.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY FOR THAT IF YOU TAKE ADD VAC OF THIS SITUATION.

THEN IN THEIR BUDGET WE CAN KEEP PROPERTY TAXES AS THEY ARE OR LOWER.

>> IT LOOKS AS IF AGAIN BARRING A SURPRISE THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE GOING TO PASS THE REMAINING BILLS AND DELIVER YOU A BUDGET THAT -- AND PACKAGE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TYPE OF CHANGES THAT YOU'VE BEEN SEEKING.

THAT WOULD SET UP A DECISION FROM YOU, YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR YOU ARE GOING TO VETO THE STATE BUDGE FEET THAT IS NOT PART OF THE MIX.

THE TEACHER HEALTHCARE CHANGE IS NOT PART OF THE MIX.

THAT COME BACK SOME TIME MIDDLE OF JUNE.

WE KNOW THAT THE SENATE COULD PRESUMABLY OVERRIDE YOU, THE HOUSE CAN'T, IT'S REPUBLICANS HOLD TOGETHER.

THEN TWO WEEKS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE STATE FISCAL YEAR, WHAT THEN?

DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT THEN?

>> HOPEFULLY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE EVEN -- IF THEY ADJOURN KNOWING THAT I'M GOING TO VETO THE BUDGET THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE AND WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS AND FIGURE THIS OUT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SO.

AND WE'LL DO SO AS THE OTHER PARTY AND DO SO IN A MANNER THAT I THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

>> YOU SOUNDED PRETTY CONFIDENT AT THE STATE HOUSE TODAY THAT YOU THINK MOST VERMONTERS ARE WITH YOU ON THIS.

>> I THINK THAT EVERY PLACE I GO, SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD A LITTLE LESS, TEN YEARS OF MY POLITICAL LIFE THEY ARE SCREAMING FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, THEY WANT SOME HELP.

THEY SEE THE TRENDS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TODAY AND I'VE USED THIS TUB A LOT, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT, 6, 3 AND 1.

EVERY SINGLE DAY WE HAVE SIX FEWER WORKERS IN OUR WORKFORCE, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE HAVE THREE LESS STUDENTS IN K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM THAN WE DID THE DAY BEFORE.

WHEN WE HAVE ONE BABY BORN TO EVICTED MOM, THOSE ARE CHALLENGES WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS.

WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY, I BELIEVE THAT SHE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE THAT HAVE.

>> WILL YOU CAMPAIGN ACROSS THE STATE, TRY TO DRUM UP -- PUT PRESSURE ON LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS TO CHANGE THEIR VIEW?

>> OBVIOUSLY I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE SIMPLICITY OF IT AS WELL, I THINK I CAN MAKE THE CASE BASED ON THE MERITS, BASED ON THE FACTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO.

>> COUPLE OF OTHER BIG ISSUES THAT YOU'D LIKE BADLY BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS, YOUR $35 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL THAT MIGHT ALLOW MORE COMMUNITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

THERE ARE NUMBER OF PROCEED VISIONS IN THAT AS WELL.

HAVE WE RESOLVED HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND CLEAN WATER AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT YEAR?

>> I THINK THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF A STALL ON THE COMPLETION OF THOSE BILLS, WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

I THINK SOME HAD HOPED THAT BY STALLING THEM, HOLDING THEM BACK THAT I MIGHT BEND IN SOME WAY.

I HAVE A PRIORITY LIST OF MY OWN, MY PRIORITY IS, NO NEW TAXES AND FEES FOR VERMONTERS, VERMONTERS DESERVE A BREAK.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE DOING THINGS, NO NEW TAXES AND FEES, THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FEE HIGH SAVINGS FOR THE FUTURE, THAT'S NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE, WHETHER YOU'RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT OR PROGRESSIVE OR INDEPENDENT I THINK ALL OF US AGREE THAT WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR WORKFORCE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE AGAIN THOSE NUMBERS 6, 3 AND 1 WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO DO THAT.

I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULDN'T USE THAT AS A LEVERAGE AGAINST US, BUT AGAIN IF IT MEANS HAVING TO GIVE THAT UP TO GET THE FEE HIGH SAVINGS AND BUDGET THAT DOESN'T RAISE TAXES AND FEES I'D HAVE TO GIVE THAT UP.

>> YOU'RE WATCHING "ASK THE GOVERNOR" HERE ON VERMONT PUBLIC TELEVISION.

VERMONT PBS TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL IN AND ASK THE GOVERNOR YOUR QUESTION IS 866-424-LIVE.

866--424-LIVE OR VIA E-MAIL AT QUESTIONS@VERMONTPBS.ORG.

WHY DON'T WE -- WE TOOK A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, LET'S GET US STARTED TONIGHT WITH THE FIRST CALLER, I HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR THIS AS WELL.

>> GOVERNOR, IF F22 BECOMES LAW VERMONT WILL BE THE FIRST STATE WHOSE LEDGE SLY TOUR HAS LEGALIZED MARIJUANA.

THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT MADE SCHEDULE ONE DRUG THUS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS.

THAT LAW HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE FACT THAT VERMONT'S LAW WILL BE ILLEGAL WOULD BE VIOLATING THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE WHICH IS IN ARTICLE 6 CLAUSE 2.

AND ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THIS SETS AND FOCUS IT PUTS ON VERMONT AS A LAW-BREAKING STATE?

>> F22 IS THE BILL THAT HAS NOT YET ARRIVED ON YOUR DESK THAT WOULD LEGALIZE POSSESSION OF UP TO AN OUNCE OF MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS AND COUPLE OF HOME GROWN PLANTS, LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AT THE STATE HOUSE TODAY.

THIS CALL SER ASKING WHETHER YOU'D BE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT BY GOING FORWARD.

>> MORE TO THE BILL.

I HAVEN'T READ THE BILL YET MYSELF.

BUT THERE'S A PROVISION IN THERE AS WELL TO SET UP A STRUCTURE FOR A BILL TO COME FORTH NEXT YEAR TO LEGALIZE A WHOLE ENTIRE TAX STRUCTURE AND SO FORTH.

OF TO CONTEMPLATE FULL LEGALIZATION.

AS SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN I MAINTAINED THAT I'M NOT PHILOSOPHICALLY OPPOSED TO LEGALIZING POT.

BUT I HAVE MY CONCERNS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SAFETY FOR -- PUBLIC SAFETY IS OF CONCERN TO ANY GOVERNMENT.

SO THAT'S PRIMARY CONCERN FOR ME.

I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON SOME WAY TO DETECT IMPAIRMENT ON OUR HIGHWAYS, WE HAVEN'T DONE SO, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A DRIVING FORCE YET.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EDIBLES, WHAT IN OUR KIDS, WHAT AFFECT THAT WILL HAVE ON THEIR FUTURE AS WELL.

AGAIN, THOSE 6, 3, 1, NUMBERS ARE SOMETHING THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

EVERYTHING SAID ALL THAT I HAVE THIS LIBERTARIAN STREAK IN ME THAT BELIEVES WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR OWN HOME IS YOUR OWN BUSINESS, MAYBE THAT YANKEE INDEPENDENCE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS.

BUT I'VE GOT IT.

SO I WOULD WANT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT HARMING OTHERS TO DO WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

BUT THIS GOES A STEP FURTHER.

AND I'M -- AGAIN OF A OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LEARN FROM THOSE STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED BY REFERENDUM, COLORADO, OREGON, WASHINGTON, I THINK ALASKA HAVE DONE SO BY REFERENDUM AND NOW WE HAVE MASSACHUSETTS AND MAINE AND CANADA HAS TALKED ABOUT LEGALIZATION.

SO WE CAN'T PUT OUR HEAD IN THE SAND IS WHAT PEOPLE SAYING BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND HIGHWAY SAFETY AND I'VE REACHED OUT TO OTHER GOVERNORS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST, THE SO-CALLED COALITION OF NORTHEAST GOVERNORS AND PROVINCES TO TRY TO RECEIVE IF WE CAN COME TO SOME CONSENSUS OF LEVEL OF IMPAIRMENT OR SOME WAY TO DETECT IMPAIRMENT SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS AS COALITION THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE DEALING WITH IT.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE PASS THIS LAW OR NOT WE STILL HAVE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.

SO I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.

I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE BILL TO SEE IF IT SATISFIES MY PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

IT MAY NOT PASS THIS YEAR.

BUT IT WILL BE BACK REGARDLESS SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE OTHER CONCERNS.

>> IF YOU WERE TO VETO, YOU KNOW YOU'D FACE THIS AGAIN -- >> OH, SURE.

NUMEROUS OTHER BILLS THAT ARE IN PLAY RIGHT NOW THAT THEY CAN BE ATTACHED.

IT COULD HAPPEN IN THE VERY NEXT YEAR OR IT COULD HAPPEN ON THE DAY OF THE VETO.

THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AT THIS POINT.

>> SO, IF THIS COMMISSION THAT WAS ADDED, THAT PROPOSES TO STUDY MOVING TO A FULL REGULATED MARKET AND PRESENT THAT, HOW THAT MIGHT WORK AS LEGISLATURE IN JANUARY, BUT THAT DOESN'T GO INTO AFFECT, IT REQUIRES SUBSEQUENT VOTES, SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL FROM YOU.

>> BUT THERE IS SOME MOMENTUM IN THAT REGARD AS WELL.

WE SAW HOW QUICKLY THIS BILL PASSED, I FOR ONE DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING.

I THOUGHT THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAD DIFFERENT APPROACHES, THE SENATE WANTED A MORE STRUCTURED REGULATORY APPROACH.

THE HOUSE WANTED TO ALLOW FOR THAT TYPE OF INDEPENDENCE IN YOUR HOME AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS DIVIDE THERE AND THEY PASSED SEPARATE BILLS.

BUT THEY CAME TOGETHER IN THE LAST MINUTE AND PUT IT TOGETHER AND PASSED IT.

I MEAN, KUDOS TO THEM FOR WORKING AT THAT, WHICH PROVES THAT YOU CAN DO A LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHICH WHAT I'M SAYING WITH THE SAVINGS FOR THOSE WHO SAY THIS IS LAST MINUTE, WE'VE HAD NOW A MONTH TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER IN A MATTER OF TWO OR THREE DAYS.

I WOULD SAY THEY CAN WORK QUICKLY WHEN THEY WANT TO.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AND AGAIN I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN BUT I WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT FOR VERMONT AND WHAT'S RIGHT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> ROB CERTIFICATE ON THE LINE TONIGHT FROM SHELDON WITH A QUESTION FOR GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THERE IS CLEARLY A BIG ECHO, MAYBE YOU COULD CALL BACK IN AND WE'LL PUT YOU RIGHT THROUGH.

YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR LIBERTARIAN STREAK, DO WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR OWN HOME AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T HURT OTHERS.

YOU TALK ABOUT EDIBLES, EDIBLES AREN'T PART OF THIS BILL AND HOW EDIBLES MIGHT AFFECT CHILDREN I'M NOT CLEAR ON THAT.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SEE TO BE PERSUADED THAT -- >> AGAIN, WE SEE THAT IS GOING ON IN COLORADO AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THEM.

I REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR OF COLORADO SAYING TO US LAST YEAR, HIS ADVICE TO ANY STATES THAT WERE CONSIDERING TO LEGALIZE IS TO WAIT AWHILE, WAIT A COUPLE OF YEARS, WAIT A FEW YEARS, WE'VE GOT THIS MOVING FORWARD WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME MISTAKES HOW ABOUT LEARNING FROM US, I THINK THAT IS GOOD ADVICE.

SO THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT.

THERE IS DATA COMING IN EVERY DAY THAT TELLS US DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO COLLECT THAT DATA AND LEARN FROM IT.

AND MAKE SURE, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

AND I BELIEVE THE OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT BY REFERENDUM, BUT AGAIN BY LEGISLATIVE ACTION THIS MEANS YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE YOU MEAN TO.

AND YOU BETTER TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE IMPLEMENTING IN THE RIGHT FASHION AND THAT YOU'RE PROTECTING THE PRIVATE CITIZENS.

>> THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 86 866-242-LIVE.

WE'RE HERE FOR THE HOUR WITH GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT ON "ASK THE GOVERNOR" HERE ON VERMONT PBS.

THE TELEPHONES IN YOUR OFFICE ARE RINGING OFTEN ON THIS ISSUE, AREN'T THEY?

>> YES, THEY ARE.

THEY ARE VERY WELL ORGANIZED, USUALLY THE SAME MESSAGE.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CORDIAL, I WILL SAY THAT.

FROM WHAT I'VE UNDERSTOOD FROM THOSE ANSWERING THE PHONES.

VERY LAID BACK AND CORDIAL.

SOME OF THEM.

AND IT'S -- WE ARE RECEIVING SOME CALLS.

WE'VE RECEIVED -- I WOULD SAY HUNDREDS OF CALLS, WE HAVEN'T -- I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION BACK ON THAT.

BUT -- MANY E-MAILS, BOTH PRO AND CON.

BUT I WOULD SAY MORE PRO THAN CON.

BUT I'LL SAYING THE SAME THING, IT'S A FORM TYPE OF E-MAIL THAT IS STRUCTURED THE SAME AND THE SAME MESSAGE, BUT DOES HAVE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS ATTACHED.

WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT, AGAIN MY FIRST CONCERN IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I'LL BE LOOKING AT IT FROM THAT ASPECT.

>> ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, SURELY WE HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE NOW AND THE STATE POLICE DEAL WITH THAT THROUGH THEIR DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS NECESSARILY MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE?

>> I DO.

I THINK WHEN YOU LEGALIZE ANYTHING, ANY PRODUCT THERE'S MORE USAGE.

I THINK IT'S COMMON SENSE.

SO, I WOULD SAY IF WE LEGALIZE, THERE WILL BE MORE USE.

AND THAT MAY BE ANECDOTAL, THAT MAY BE JUST MY GUT TELLING ME THAT BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE.

>> LET'S GO TO ANOTHER PRERECORDED CALL THAT WE GOT ON THE SAME SUBJECT, I THINK THIS IS BOB IN RANDOLPH.

DO WE HAVE THAT RIGHT?

>> GOVERNOR, IF F22 BECOMES LAW, VERMONT WILL BE THE FIRST STATE WHOSE LEGISLATURE HAS LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT OF 1970 SPECIFICALLY MADE -- >> WHO CAN WE TRUST MORE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HEALTH THAN OUR DEDICATED VERMONT MEDICAL COMMUNITY?

WE ALSO TRUST OUR CHILDREN TO OUR EDUCATORS.

BEING THAT THE VERMONT STATE POLICE, THE GREATER VERMONT MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THE EDUCATORS ARE OPPOSED TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN VERMONT, WOULD IT NOT BE BEST FOR YOU TO RELY ON THEIR EXPERTISE AND VETO THIS BILL SINCE IT WOULD REFLECT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS THAT YOU REPRESENT.

>> WELL, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT COVERED AND IT MAY BE COVERED IN THE BILL, I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.

AND WE'LL REFLECT ON THAT, WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BUSY WITH THE HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE, THE LAST WEEK OR TWO.

BUT WE'LL GET TO IT AND I'LL MAKE A DECISION.

>> YOUR NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY ASKED WHETHER THE COORDINATED CAMPAIGN OR -- WHETHER IT'S COORDINATED OR NOT THE FEEDBACK YOU'VE BEEN GETTING FROM VERMONTERS ON THIS ISSUE FOR AND AGAINST HAD ANY IMPACT ON YOUR THINKING AT ALL, YOU WERE QUICK TO SAY, NONE.

>> NO.

IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T APPRECIATE PEOPLE CALLING IN, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION THAT THEY HAVE PUT FORTH, THEY ARE VERY ENERGETIC AND PROMOTION OF THIS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE TO DO, AGAIN, WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT, LISTENING TO BOTH SIDES AND DO WHAT I CAN LIVE WITH.

SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS AND AGAIN WHILE I APPRECIATE ALL THE PEOPLE CALLING IN I THINK I HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHAT I THINK IS BEST FOR VERMONT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS HIRED TO DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WILL DO YOU THAT?

THE BILL ACTUALLY WILL BE WALKED DOWN TO YOUR OFFICE AT SOME POINT AFTER ITS PROOFED AND SIG SIGNED AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME INFLUENCE I GUESS OVER WHEN JOHN TAKES THE WALK.

AT THAT POINT, THE NEXT DAY BEGINS A FIVE-DAY PERIOD OF CONSIDERATION.

>> RIGHT.

THERE WILL BE FIVE-DAY PERIOD ONCE WE RECEIVE THE BILL.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY COORDINATION THERE EITHER, IT'S WHEN WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF BILLS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS FOR US TO REVIEW.

WE HAVE OUR GENERAL COUNSEL TAKE A LOOK AT WELL THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS, MAYBE THAT'S -- MAYBE LISTENERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.

ONCE A BILL PASSES BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE THEY MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES THROUGH THEIR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ALL THE -- ALL THE Ts ARE CROSSED AND Is ARE DOTTED AND EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE AND EVERYTHING WAS INCLUDED.

THERE WAS NO MISTAKES.

AT THAT R THAT POINT THEY BRING IT TO THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE OF THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE AND THEY GO THROUGH IT AS WELL.

AT THAT POINT WHEN THEY'RE SATISFIED EVERYTHING IS FINE THEY FORWARD THAT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THEIR REVIEW AND SO I WILL HAVE OUR GENERAL COUNSEL GO THROUGH IT AS WELL.

WE WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION, SHE WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER EVERYTHING IS INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE SIGNED AND THERE'S NO CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WOULD PROHIBIT SIGNAGE OF THE BILL.

AND THEN IT'S MY DECISION AT THAT POINT WHETHER TO SIGN OR TO VETO.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME, IF WE'RE COMING BACK FOR A VETO SESSION, COULD YOU ARTICULATE OBJECTIONS AT THAT POINT AND HAVE SOME MODIFICATION BE MADE?

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, IF THERE WAS, I GUESS, THOSE WHO WANT THE BILL TO BE PASSED IF THEY WERE TO -- IF I HAD SOME ISSUES WITH IT AND THEY WANTED TO NARROW IT IN SOME WAY, WE COULD NEGOTIATE BECAUSE THERE ARE, LIKE I SAID, OTHER BILLS THAT ARE IN PLAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OUR NEXT CALL TONIGHT IS FROM BENINGTON, ED, YOU'RE ON THE LINE WITH GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT.

ED, DO WE HAVE YOU?

HAVING TROUBLES TONIGHT.

ONE MORE TIME FOR ED, ARE YOU THERE?

DO WE HAVE ED?

I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE ED.

CALL BACK, ED, WE'LL TRY TO GET YOU THROUGH, NOT SURE WHAT THE TROUBLE IS TONIGHT BUT WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF E-MAILS AND COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS ON THIS ISSUE THIS SEEMS TO BE HOT BUTTON, BUT I GUESS YOU KNEW THAT GOING INTO THE SESSION, IT WASN'T -- YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS PRIORITY.

>> NOT FOR MYSELF OR THE STATE.

>> BUT HERE WE ARE.

THIS BILL WOULD TAKE EFFECT THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, SO THERE IS SOME TIME TO TWEAK IT, FORGET GOING FORWARD WITH REGULATED MARKET WHICH YOU COULD DO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

I GUESS IF YOU VETO THE BILL IT STARTS THE CLOCK ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> OR YOU COULD TAKE THE TIME RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE IT'S RIGHT.

AND I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE'S ANYTHING PRESSING, LET'S GO BACK THROUGH AS WELL, WHAT WE HAVE DONE, I VOTED IN FAVOR WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE I VOTED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA, NOTIFY PROBLEM WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S AN EXPANSION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF.

THERE'S BEEN DECRIMINALIZATION OF POT, WHICH I'VE BEEN IN FAVOR OF.

I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE'S MORE ACCEPTANCE, THERE ISN'T ANYONE THAT IS BEING ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION.

WE HAVE SOME TIME TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JUST ON THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL, YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED THE BILL THAT HAS BEEN -- >> HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET EITHER AT THIS POINT.

>> THAT SAILED THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE PROVIDES SOME EXPANSION TO ALLOW THOSE SUFFERING FROM PTSD, FOR EXAMPLE, COUPLE OF OTHER, PARKINSON'S AND CHRONE'S I THINK IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT.

>> AGAIN, I HAVEN'T READ THE BILL.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

WE'LL PUT IT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AS EVERY OTHER BILL, BUT THE FACT THAT I'VE VOTED IN FAVOR OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE PAST WOULD INDICATE THAT I THINK THERE IS SOME USE OF MARIJUANA THAT IS ACCEPTABLE.

AND APPROPRIATE.

AND HELPFUL.

WE'LL SEE WHAT IT SAYS AND WHAT IT DOES AND MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN EVERYTHING WORKS WITHIN THE BILL ITSELF.

>> TODAY AT THE CAPITOL YOU SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW, ONE THAT LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA FELT STRONGLY ABOUT, IT CONCERNS THE REPORTER SHIELD LAW.

AND MOST OTHER STATES HAVE THIS ON THE BOOKS, BUT IT AIMS TO MAKE IT HARDER OR PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE PROSECUTORS COMPEL REPORTER TO FEEL CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

HERE IS WHAT PAUL HINDS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF VERMONT PRESS ASSOCIATION SAID AS YOU SIGNED THIS INTO LAW.

>> FOR TOO LONG THIS STATE HAS ALLOWED JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO HAUL JOURNALIST AND COMPEL THEM TO TESTIFY WITH FEW LIMITATION.

FOR TOO LONG THE STATE HAS ALLOWED OVERZEALOUS ATTORNEYS TO FORCE REPORTERS TO DISCLOSE UNPUBLISHED INFORMATION AND REVEAL THE IDENTITIES OF CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES.

THAT CHANGES TODAY.

>> WAS THERE ANY QUESTION IN YOUR MIND ABOUT WHAT TO DO HERE?

>> AGAIN, WANTED TO REVIEW THE BILL.

I THOUGHT THEY MADE A GOOD CASE FOR THE ISSUE.

HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE WAY, MANY OF THE MEDIA HAD TO COME IN, PROBABLY A MONTH AND A HALF AGO TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TO SEE IF I HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE ISSUE AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

AND SAW THE MERITS IN IT.

SO, FROM, AGAIN, MY STANDPOINT I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO PROTECT THE FOURTH -- WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MEDIA, WHAT THEY BRING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS FOR OUR DEMOCRACY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE -- BE ABLE TO SECURE ANONYMITY WITH SOME OF THEIR SOURCES.

SO THEY GET ALL THE INFORMATION THEY CAN.

I MEAN, I'VE RUN IN TO IT ON A DAILY BASIS WITH MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HAPPENING WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT OR SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE THEIR NAMES RELEASED FOR FEAR OF WHATEVER.

AND I THINK IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT, A SENSE OF TRUST IN ME, LET'S SAY, I PROBABLY WOULD NEVER KNOW.

BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO MAINTAIN THEIR DAILY LIVES, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME CHANGES, I'M SURE IT'S THE SAME WITH YOUR SOURCES, YOUR MEDIA SOURCE OR YOUR SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND IF THEY WOULD NEED TO BE PROTECTED I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO DO THAT.

>> MOST SOURCES DON'T MIND BEING QUOTED BY NAME, BUT THERE ARE -- THEY OFTEN ARE PRETTY IMPORTANT STORIES TO BE TOLD.

>> FOR FEAR OF RETRIBUTION BY POWERFUL FIGURES.

>> SURE.

GET FIRED FROM A JOB, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND AGAIN IF WE CAN RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST, SOME OF THE FAITH AND TRUST HAS BEEN LOST BY MANY IN OUR COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON THESE DAYS.

>> FAKE NEWS.

>> IT'S JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE, VERY BIZARRE IN SOME RESPECTS.

I'M CONCERNED.

SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE SOME CERTAINTY, SOME FAITH IN THE PROCESS I'M IN FAVOR OF DOING.

>> WE HAD AN E-MAIL THIS AFTERNOON FROM -- ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC FROM DAN WHO WAS ASKING ABOUT SOME OF YOUR RECENT APPOINTMENTS TO THE FISH AND WILDLIFE BOARD.

AND HE WRITES THAT YOU RECENTLY APPOINTED TWO NEW FISH AND WILDLIFE BOARD MEMBERS BOTH ARE CONSUMTIVES ONE IS A BIG GAME TROPHY HUNTER, ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TYPES OF HUNTING.

WHY DID YOU NOT -- WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT AT LEAST ONE NON-CONSUMPTIVE MEMBER?

>> I THINK HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING IS PART OF OUR TRADITION, PART OF OUR CULTURE.

I THINK SHOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING TO BE ON THE BOARD.

SO I'M VERY -- I'M OKAY WITH THE SELECTIONS I MADE FOR THE FISH AND WILDLIFE BOARD.

>> MARILYN SENT US AN E-MAIL EARLIER IN THE DAY AND SHE WRITES, WHAT IS YOUR STAND ON UNIVERSAL PRIMARY CARE INSURANCE WHICH HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN VERMONT.

>> WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO PROVIDE FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN DONE IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, WE EXPANDED MEDICAID AND I THINK WE HAVE A RATIO THAT'S -- WE'RE FAIRLY WELL COVERED RIGHT NOW.

MY CONCERN WHAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON FROM SOME OF THE BUDGETS I'VE SEEN PUT FORTH BY THE PRESIDENT AND HOUSE MEMBERS AS WELL, I'M CONCERNED WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO OUR SYSTEM.

WE RELY HEAVILY ON FEDERAL FUND FUNDS, MAYBE ALMOST HALF OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET IS THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDS.

A LOT THAT HAVE IS FOR HUMAN SERVICES AND MEDICAID IS PROBABLY A THIRD OF OUR BUDGET.

WE RELY ON THAT HEAVILY.

A DEVASTATING AFFECT ON US AS A STATE AND WOULD RESULT IN NUMEROUS PEOPLE LOSING THEIR INSURANCE AND US LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON THIS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN AND WORKING WITH OTHER GOVERNORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHO WERE FACED WITH SIMILAR CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF EXPANDED MEDICAID.

THEY BOTH GOVERNORS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, WE'RE FORMING SOME SORT OF COALITION WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME INPUT, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HEAR WHAT AFFECT THIS WOULD HAVE ON EACH AND EVERYONE OF US AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A VOICE OF REASON IN THE SENATE.

>> AT THIS POINT, YOU WANT TO CONTINUE AS IS WITH VERMONT HEALTH CONNECT?

>> WELL, AGAIN, I WANT TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT THERE, WE'RE WORKING ON SOME OF THAT AS WE SPEAK.

WE'RE ALSO DOING WHAT WE CAN -- WE'VE GOT THIS PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE SO-CALLED ALL-PAYER MODEL.

AND WE HAVE 30,000 PEOPLE THAT WE'RE USING IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM FROM THE MEDICAID POOL.

AND WE'RE SEEING WHAT AFFECT THAT WILL HAVE ON THE DELIVERY OF CARE AND HOW WE PAY FOR CARE.

THAT MAY BE PART OF THE ANSWER IN THE FUTURE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN LOOKED AT, WE'RE BEING WATCHED BY NUMEROUS STATES AND BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL IN THIS REGARD.

THIS COULD BE HELPFUL IN THE FUTURE IF WE DELIVER CARE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT WAY AND DIFFERENT PAYMENT PROCESS AND TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO DO SO.

I THINK THIS WOULD MAKE MUCH MORE SENSE.

>> FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THE SENATE WILL SOFTEN SOME OF THE MOST OBJECTIONABLE PARTS OF THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE ACT, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE $900 BILLION MEDICAID CUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE STILL HASN'T COME BACK WITH A FINAL NUMBER AS YET, DO YOU REALLY WORRY GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT SENATE COMPOSITION THAT THIS THING COULD GO THROUGH?

>> I'M CONCERNED, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED BECAUSE AGAIN, WE RELY SO HEAVILY ON FEDERAL FUNDING THAT EVEN A MINOR CHANGE WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON US AS A STATE.

I'M CONCERNED.

I HAVE GREAT FAITH IN THE SENAT SENATE, AGAIN, WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATION, SENATOR LEAHY IN PARTICULAR HAS A GREAT DEAL OF POWER ON THE COMMITTEE HE SERVES, THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

BUT AS WELL, THE OTHER GOVERNORS AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHO ARE BANDING TOGETHER TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU BETTER -- LET'S WALK BACK ON THIS A BIT.

AND COMING FROM REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AS WELL, I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE HELPFUL IN TRYING TO INJECT SOME COMMON SENSE INTO THIS DIALOGUE.

>> YOU ALLUDED TO IT A LITTLE EARLIER, WHAT ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOUR REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS THINK SO FAR OF PRESIDENT TRUMP PARTICULARLY JUST NOT LAST WEEK, IT'S BEEN PRETTY ASTONISHING.

>> YEAH.

I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO ANY OF THEM ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I'M SEEING, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY.

I'M CONCERNEDDED ABOUT WHAT COULD BE AN OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO -- I'VE SAID IT THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS ON "VERMONT EDITION" THAT I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOME INDEPENDENT REVIEW, I UNDERSTAND TODAY THERE HAS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR, COORDINATOR APPOINTED.

INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.

>> FORMER FBI DIRECTOR BOB MUELLER.

>> FOR THE RUSSIAN ASPECT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOMETHING MORE OR MAYBE BROADEN THIS COUNSEL'S PER VIEW AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

>> WHAT IN PARTICULAR ARE YOU THINKING OF WHEN YOU SAY GOING BEYOND THE RUSSIA CONNECTION?

>> I THINK THE FIRING OF THE FBI DIRECTOR, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING, JUST THE TIMING OF THAT.

HAD THIS BEEN MADE MAYBE THREE MONTHS AGO THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN RAISED AN EYEBROW.

BUT KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW NOW AND ALL THE MOVING PIECES, IT JUST LOOKS BAD.

SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S REAL OR NOT, I THINK THERE'S AN OBLIGATION TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TAKE A LOOK SO THAT WE CAN RESTORE THAT FAITH AND TRUST THAT I KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE OUR INTEGRITY, THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS, THE INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM, OF THE DEMOCRACY, WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

WE CAN ARGUE ALL DAY LONG ABOUT VHI AND HEALTHCARE AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND FISH AND WILDLIFE BOARD AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE CAN DO SO IN RESPECTFUL AND CIVIL MANNER AND ADHERE TO THE LAW.

BUT WE CAN'T USE POWER TO CHANGE THE PROCESS.

THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE FOURTH ESTATE WITH THE MEDIA TRYING TO BE THAT INDEPENDENT VOICE, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES.

BUT AS WELL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE MEDIA AND HAVE THEIR INPUT AS WELL.

SO, WE'VE GOT TO RESTORE THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ALLS WE CAN DO TO ACT APPROPRIATELY IN OUR OWN BACK YARDS, THAT'S WHAT I INTEND TO DO.

>> YOU THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SURVIVE ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIS TERM AT THE RATE HE'S GOING?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

BUT I THINK AGAIN, ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, I HEARD THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO CALLED FOR IMPEACHMENT ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE TODAY.

THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

BUT ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE IS TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TAKE A LOOK, INVESTIGATE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY MERIT TO THE CHARGES.

IF THERE ISN'T, LET'S MOVE ON.

WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

AND WE CAN'T JUST FIGHT FOR FOUR YEARS, WE NEED TO GET THIS COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK, WE NEED TO GET VERMONT BACK ON TRACK, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MORE OF THE ECONOMY AND ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES, THAT 6, 3, 1 CHALLENGE THAT I LAID OUT BEFORE.

ON MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE I ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, ONE OF THE GOOD EXECUTIVE ORDERS, BY THE WAY, JUST LAID OUT THE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE US EVERY SINGLE DAY IN WHAT WE DO.

THAT'S ABOUT MAKING VERMONT MORE AFFORDABLE, GROWING THE ECONOMY AND TAKING CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE F. WE CAN JUST ADHERE TO THOSE ANDER THAT WE DO, THEN WE'LL BE IN A BETTER PLACE.

JUST THINK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE IN EVERY SECTOR OF GOVERNMENT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT I'VE BUILT THUS FAR.

THERE WAS NO LITMUS TEST IN TERMS OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS, THE SECRETARIES AND COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM WE PUT TOGETHER.

AND I THINK THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW THE RESULTS OF THAT IN ADHERING TO THOSE PRINCIPLES, THOSE GUIDELINES AS WELL AS ADDRESSING THINKING ABOUT ENGRAINING IN THEM THE 6, 3, 1, CHALLENGES.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE 6, 3, 1 FORMULA THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.

LET'S BRING IN A FACEBOOK QUESTION.

DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS FROM, IT DOESN'T SAY HERE.

IT SAYS, GOVERNOR, IF YOU HAVE ONE MAIN MISSION GOING FORWARD FOR VERMONT, WHAT WOULD THAT BE AND WHY?

>> IT WOULD BE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS, I THINK THAT THAT WILL HELP A LOT AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS US TO THAT 6, 3, 1 CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE A STAGNANT POPULATION ON OUR HANDS.

WE'RE NOT GROWING.

OUR DEMOGRAPHICS ARE SHIFTING.

WE'RE LOSING THIS CATEGORY FROM FROM 25-45 WE'VE LOST 30,000 PEOPLE OF THAT CATEGORY ALONE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, THAT'S OUR WORKFORCE.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT BUY HOMES, HAVE FAMILIES, UTILIZE SERVICES, BUY PRODUCTS AND PAY TAXES.

IF WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE WORKING TODAY THAN WE DID YESTERDAY, THAN WE DID THE DAY BEFORE, THE YEAR BEFORE, THEN WE'RE HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

SO IF WE DON'T FIX THE DEMOGRAPHICSF WE DON'T HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN VERMONT AND MOVING TO VERMONT, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS WE CAN BECOME MORE OF A MAGNATE FOR THESE FAMILIES.

MAYBE IT'S OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, IF WE CAN -- DURING MY BUDGET ADDRESS I TALKED ABOUT ESTABLISHING A CRADLE TO CAREER TYPE OF APPROACH WHERE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ALL OUR RESOURCES, 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS ON K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM, THEN WE BROADEN IT A BIT.

WE SPEND SOME MUCH FOR K-12.

$1.6 BILLION FOR K-12, 86,000 KIDS WE SPEND THIS MUCH FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND LEARNING, THIS MUCH FOR HIGHER EDUCATIONF WE CAN BROADEN THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT, SPEND SOME MORE HERE, SPEND MORE HERE OUT OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WE'LL BE A LOT BETTER OFF AND I WOULD SAY, WE'LL BECOME MORE OF A MAGNATE FOR OTHERS' FAMILIES WANTING TO COME TO VERMONT TO LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY.

JUST REALLY THE FOCUS OF EVERYTHING I DO.

ER THAT WE DO AS A TEAM TO TRY TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS AND THE DIRECTION AND LOT OF IT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S ABOUT CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITY, LOWERING OUR TAX BURDEN, THAT'S PART OF THIS VHI SAVINGS IF WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THAT WE'LL BE SO MUCH BETTER OFF.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK FOR SAVING, WE CAN'T -- THE NATURAL REACTION, KNEE-JERK REACTION OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS BEEN TO JUST RAISE TAXES, RAISE MORE MONEY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WE NEED MORE MONEY.

WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE LINE, WE'VE GOT TO FIND SAVINGS SOMEWHERE.

AND AGAIN THIS VHI PROPOSAL IS ONE WHERE -- 26 MILLION RIGHT THERE THAT WE CAN USE AND NOT HURT ANYBODY.

>> YOU'RE THE THIRD GOVERNOR WHO HAS MADE THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE REALLY FRONT AND CENTER ISSUE, PETER AND JIM DOUGLAS DID AS WELL.

YOU, THOUGH, DURING YOUR CAMPAIGN CALLED FOR TARGET OF 7 700,000 VERMONTERS, IS THAT FEASIBLE?

LOWERING TAXES WILL DO THAT ORGANICALLY OR DO WE HAVE TO MARKET OUR STATE?

NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WEATHER.

>> IT TAKES EVERYTHING.

IT HAS TO BECOME -- WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE GUIDELINES I TALKED ABOUT.

GROWING THE ECONOMY, WE NEED MORE BUSINESSES HERE, WE NEED MORE OPPORTUNITY, WE NEED MORE JOBS, RIGHT?

BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS AS WELL.

SO WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE, NOT JUST FOR THOSE WITH LOW INCOME, FOR THE WORKFORCE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES.

>> MIDDLE CLASS HOUSING.

>> MIDDLE CLASS HOUSING, YEAH.

AND WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BEAR.

BUT AS WELL WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER -- THE TAX BURDENS AND THE UTILITY COSTS, EVERYTHING IS INTERTWINED.

SO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, EVERY BILL THAT COMES ACROSS YOUR DESK ASK YOURSELF, WILL THIS HELP OR HURT THE ECONOMY.

WILL THIS HELP THE 6, 3, 1, HELP BRING MORE PEOPLE IN?

MAYBE IF WE HAD THIS CRADLE TO CAREER EDUCATION SYSTEM, MORE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO THE STATE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE TO WHEN I WENT ON THE TOUR FOR A DAY, MANY OF THE STUDENTS THAT I RAN ACROSS AND ENCOUNTERED TOLD ME THEY USED TO LIVE IN THIS STATE OR THAT STATE.

I SAID, WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO VERMONT?

THEY SAID, SCHOOL.

BROUGHT THEM HERE, EDUCATION BROUGHT THEM HERE, BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES WANTED THEM TO HAVE THE FIRST CLASS EDUCATION SYSTEM.

SO, THEY BROUGHT HEM TO VERMONT TO DO THAT.

IF WE COULD BROADEN THIS AND HAVE THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, WHERE WE KNOW, WE KNOW, THE RESEARCH IS REAL, THE CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS IMMENSELY FAST ZERO TO FIVE F. WE CAN GET TO THEM EARLY AND PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND LEARNING, THEN WE'LL SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE NEXT DECADE.

THIS WILL BE QUICK RESULTS IF WE CAN GET TO THEM FIRST.

BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE CAPACITY SO LET'S TAKE SOMT WE'RE SPENDING NOW TO BROADEN IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> YOU'D LIKE TO BRING THAT ISSUE BACK NEXT JANUARY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CONTINUING.

THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT.

NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED IN ONE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US PULLING TOGETHER IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS.

>> WE DO, WE DO, IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR.

I WONDER WHETHER WE MARKET OURSELVES TO THE THOUSANDS OF OUT OF STATE COLLEGE KIDS WHO COME HERE, REMEMBER THE LAST GOVERNOR HAD A NEWS CONFERENCE AT ST.

MICHAEL'S AND IT WAS STUNNING TO ME THAT SO MANY OUT OF STATERS WHO ARE HERE GOING TO COLLEGE PERCEIVE THAT WE HAVE NO JOBS, THAT DON'T PAY ANY MONEY.

AND THAT WASN'T THE CASE.

SUGGESTS WE HAVE A MARKETING PROBLEM.

>> AS WELL.

FOR SOME OF THOSE TO BE FAIR.

WE HAVE 40,000 STUDENTS IN OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES RIGHT NOW.

10,000 A YEAR GRADUATE.

THEY COME HERE FOR A REASON, EITHER THEY STAY HERE FOR A REASON OR COME HERE FOR A REASON.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO, HOUSING THEY CAN AFFORD AND SOME AFFORDABILITY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO STAY.

AND THE MARKET OURSELVES AS WELL, IT'S A JOINT EFFORT AMONGST ALL OF US TO TRY TO PUT THAT FRONT AND CENTER.

>> WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY IT SOUNDS PRETTY EASY.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT EASY.

>> I'M TEASING.

>> BUT JUST ALLOW THE PRINCIPLES TO WORK THEIR WAY OUT.

>> NEXT THURSDAY HERE ON VERMONT PBS WE'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM MONTPELIER, BY THEN LEGISLATURE MIGHT HAVE ADJOURNED, WE'LL HATCH LEADERS HERE FOR THE HOUR THAT IS THURSDAY MAY 25th HERE ON VERMONT PBS STARTING AT 8:00.

BEFORE YOU GO, YOU'RE GENUINELY UNDECIDED AT THIS POINT ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

>> I'M GENUINELY UNDECIDED AT THIS POINT.

BUT AGAIN, AS I SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THIS ISN'T A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.

GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.