>> GOVERNOR SCOTT OUTLINING PRIORITIES TO HRAURBGTS IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE.

>> TO MEET THIS MOMENT WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE, SET ASIDE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE LESS URGENT AND RISE ABOVE THE TOXIC POLARIZATION OF AMERICA'S POLITICAL PARTIES TO FOCUS OUR WORK DIRECTLY ON THESE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES.

>> HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST THIS YEAR.

AND A WARNING FROM THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

HOW DOES THAT SET THE STAGE FOR THE SESSION AHEAD?

>> FROM THE VERMONT PUBLIC STUDIO IN WINOOSKI, THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M CAT VIGLIENZONI.

A BUSY WEEK AS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION KICKS OFF AND THE GOVERNOR OUTLINES HIS VISION FOR THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE.

I'M JOINT BY MARK DAVIS, ERIN PETENKO AND CALVIN CUTLER.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

TOOK ABOUT 40 MINUTES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO LAY OUT HIS BROAD PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

CALVIN, WHAT IN THIS YEAR'S STATE OF STATE STOOD OUT TO YOU THE MOST?

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT IT US WITH WAS A PLEA TO THE DEMOCRATIC SUPERMAJORITY FOR FISCAL RESTRAINT.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE BIG INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS FROM THE VIRUS MONEY WE HAVE IN BUT HE OUT LIED HEAD WINDS IN TERPBLGS OF INFLATION, COSTS GOING UP, REVENUE GOING DOWN.

THAT VIRUS REVENUE IS GONE.

THEY SAY THEY SHOULD TIGHTEN THEIR BELT, PRACTICING RESTRAINT, FOCUSING ON POLICIES AND AREAS HE SAYS WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE VERMONT MORE AFFORDABLE, TAX RELIEF, THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUILDING MORE HOUSING, BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE STATE, BUILDING THE TAX BASE, AND ALSO FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN A REAL DETERRENT FOR SOME AND A BIG CONCERN FOR VERMONTERS.

SO I THINK THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY NEW CONCEPTS THE GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT THESE FOR YEARS, BUT I THINK THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LITTLE MORE OF A TONE OF URGENCY FROM THE GOVERNOR GIVEN WHAT WE SAW LAST SESSION AS WELL.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS PERHAPS NEVER MORE HAPPY AND COMFORTABLE THAN WHEN HE GETS TO LECTURE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS ON FISCAL RESTRAIN.

THE NUMBER WE'LL HEAR IS 18%.

AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW SO TO CALVIN'S POINT THE GOVERNOR WILL OFFER UP A BUDGET WITH 3% RISE AS COMPARED TO 13% LAST YEAR.

HE STARTED JABBING AT DEMOCRATS.

ONE LINE THAT JUMP UD OUT HE SAID I KNOW MANY OF YOU VIEW 3% GROWTHS A AN AUSTERITY APPROACH, WHICH LIKE CALVIN SAID NONE OF THIS IS TERRIBLY NEW.

THE DYNAMICS HAVE BEEN THERE BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SHARP FIGHT AND DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY HERE ON SOME REAL FISCAL DIFFERENCES.

IT'S A DIFFERENT TENOR ALREADY THAT IT HAS BEEN IN RECENT SESSIONS.

>> I WILL JUST ALSO SAY TOO ONE OF THE FASCINATING THINGS WE'RE HERE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM.

LAWMAKERS ARE ALREADY HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING VERY QUICKLY BUT THIS IS A BRAND NEW CROP OF LAWMAKERS.

LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT A THIRD OF THE LEGISLATURE TURN OVER.

SO I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH SOME OF THE SENIOR APPROPRIATIONS FOLKS AT THE STATE HOUSE AND OTHER MORE SENIOR LAWMAKERS AND THERE IS I WOULDN'T SAY A CONCERN BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A DYNAMIC TO KEEP AN EYE ON OF MANY OF THE NEW LAWMAKERS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD CRISIS CASH.

IT'S BEEN BOOM TIMES IN TERMS OF THE STATE BUDGET.

IF YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED A PROGRAM MAYBE WE CAN HAVE IT BECAUSE WE HAD ALL OF THIS MONEY.

TO MARK'S POINT, THOSE TIMES HAVE ENDED.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THE STATE WILL BE ALLOCATING RESOURCES THIS YEAR.

>> IT ALSO SEEMED LIKE HE WAS TALKING NOT JUST TO THE LEGISLATURE BUT TO THE VERMONT PUBLIC MAKING THE CASE THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THEIR TAXES LOW BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT MANY VERMONTERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND A LOT OF WAYS THE AFFORDABLE OF HOUSING, FOOD, GAS AND HE KEPT SAYING YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL TAXES ON TOP OF THAT SO HELP ME CONVINCE THE LEGISLATURE TO KEEP THINGS FISCALLY WITHIN OUR MEANS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF CONTEXT.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED LAST YEAR THE BUDGET WHICH WAS THEN OVERRIDDEN.

WE ALREADY HAVE THIS TENSION AND NOW WE HAVE IT IN AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE EVEN TOUGHER.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES I THINK HE SAID ALL I CAN REALLY DO IS ADVOCATE FOR MY POSITIONS BUT THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT NOTHING IN A YEAR LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY AN 18% RISE IN EDUCATION PROPERTY TAX.

>> THE GOVERNOR KNOWS HE WAS ELECTED BY AIN' OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF VERMONTERS.

SO WHILE THE LEGISLATURE HAS THAT SUPERMAJORITY YOU BROUGHT UP HE KNOWS HE ALSO HAS PUBLIC SUPPORT AS WELL.

I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO IN SOME WAYS LEVERAGE THAT DURING HIS STATE OF THE STATE AND POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE AGREEING WITH ME EVEN IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY.

I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TONE EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT BRING THAT UP SPECIFICALLY.

HE NEVER MENTIONED HIS POPULARITY RATE.

>> THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST QUESTIONS, WHAT WERE VOTERS TRYING TO TELL US?

ELECTING GOVERNOR SCOTT BY THE LARGEST MARGIN EVERY BUT 104 DEMOCRATS INTO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WHAT WE SAW PLAY OUT LAST YEAR AND I ASSUME WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS YEAR IF THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR COOPERATION AND BIPARTISANSHIP AND WHAT PRIORITIES THEY WILL SHARE AND WHAT THAT WORK WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT HOW DO THOSE TWO FACTORS JIVE WITH EACH OTHER?

IT'S BEEN A REALLY FASCINATING DYNAMIC TO WATCH.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE EVER SEEN THAT IN VERMONT.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES OR RELYING ON DEMOCRATS AND THEIR PROGRESSIVE ALLIES BUT HAVING 104 DEMOCRATS VERSUS THE STATE'S -- THE NATION'S MOST POPULAR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IT'S BEEN A REALLY FASCINATING DYNAMIC.

>> EDUCATION SPENDING WAS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S AFFORDABILITY MESSAGE TO LAWMAKERS.

HE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

>> EDUCATION FUND IS NOW MORE THAN $2.1 BILLION.

FEWER THAN 83,000 PRE-K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS ARE SPENDING ABOUT $25,000 A YEAR PER STUDENT.

AMONG THE VERY HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

IT MIGHT BE OKAY WITH ME IF WE WERE LEADING IN STUDENT COMPLIANCE IN SEVERAL AREAS WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> THAT WAS INTERESTING.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE GOVERNOR WEPT OUT OF HIS WAY NOT TO BLAME TEACHERS FOR THAT AT ALL BUT HE ALSO DEFINITELY TOLD TOWNS TO TIGHTEN UP THEIR BUDGETS AND SEEMED TO BE INDICATING THAT WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY GETTING THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THAT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT, MARK?

>> HE IMMEDIATELY SAID IT'S NOT THE TEACHERS IT'S THE BUREAUCRACY, HAVING ALL THESE DISTRICTS AND THAT WAS NOTICEABLE.

HE DIDN'T FINISH THE THOUGHT A LOT OF US THOUGHT.

HE WHAT HE OFFERED WAS THE SAME THINGS HE HAS OFFERED FOR YEARS NOW.

CONSOLIDATION IN DISTRICTS, PERHAPS LOOKING AT A CAP ON PROPERTY TAXES, THE IDEA OF A STATEWIDE TEACHERS CONTRACT AGAIN.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS.

IT'S NOT A DIFFERENT MENU OF OPTIONS, JUST PERHAPS MORE URGENCY TO CHOOSE SOME OF THEM.

I THINK WE'LL GET AHEAD OF THE GAME.

IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING WHEN THESE SCHOOL BUDGETS GO UP FOR VOTES.

I THINK THIS 18% NUMBER IS WIDELY KNOWN.

IN MONTPELIER THE AVERAGE VERMONTER IS JUST GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THAT.

WOMANS THE REALITY OF THAT TAKES HOLD I THINK IT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY POWERFUL INFLUENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

TOWN MEETING DAY AS YOU MENTIONED IS STILL A FEW MONTHS AWAY BUT SCHOOL BOARDS ARE JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM FINALIZING THEIR BUDGETS THEN THEY HAVE TO WARN THEM TO VOTERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING.

HEALTH CARE COSTS.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG FACTORS ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENTS, ACROSS LOCAL DISTRICTS.

HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE GOING UP ACROSS THE BOARD.

INFLATION.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN'T NECESSARILY DIRECTLY CONTROL OR TO THE TUNE WE WOULD LIKE TO ACTIONER BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS.

THERE'S STILL AN IMMEDIATE NEED AND A BIG NEED FOR KIDS IN SCHOOL WITH MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, SPECIAL EDUCATION.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING SCHOOLS.

I THINK WHERE WE GO WITH TOWN MEETING DAY BUDGETS AND WHETHER VOTERS WILL GIVE THEM THE THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN WE'LL HAVE TO SEE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A FASCINATING TOWN MEETING DAY SEASON.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THE OPEN QUESTIONS OF HOW MUCH WE CAN CONTROL IS THE LOOMING DEMOGRAPHIC CRISIS IN VERMONT TOO, WHICH SCOTT MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF HIS ADDRESS.

WE'RE SEEING FEWER AND FEWER SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, WHICH IS LEADING TO SCHOOLS FEELING THIS PRESSURE TO CONSOLIDATE.

SO IT'S IN A WAY ALL CONNECTED TO SCOTT'S AGENDA FOR IMPROVING VERMONT'S ECONOMY.

>> AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSING THOSE GO HAND IN HAND.

WE KNOW FINDING AN AFFORDABLE HOME IN VERMONT ESPECIALLY PLACES LIKE CHITTENDEN COUNTY IS QUITE A CHALLENGE.

WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR AGAIN CALLING FOR WHAT HE FEELS IS ACT 250 REFORM.

>> ACT 250 DID EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO DO, SLOW DOWN GROWTH, IN SOME CASES SYMPTOM IT ALTOGETHER.

BUT IT WE'RE GROWING WAY TOO FAST.

TODAY WE FACE A DIFFERENT REALITY.

FAMILIES DESPERATELY NEED HOMES AND COMMUNITIES NEED REINVESTMENT.

WE HAVE COMMITTED THE FUNDS AND LAID THE GROUNDWORK BUT IF WE DON'T TRULYLY ADDRESS ACT 250 WE WON'T SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS.

>> SO CALVIN, DO YOU SEE AN APPETITE WHEN AT THE STATE HOUSE HEARING ANY FROM LAWMAKERS TO TRY TO TACKLE ACT 250 IN A BIG WAY OR IS SOME OF THE TIGHT FUNDING POOL GOING TO THROW A WRENCH INTO WHAT WE HAVE?

>> I SEE AND FEEL AN APPETITE TO ADDRESS ACT 2 ACT 250.

THERE'S A DISAGREEMENT ON WHETHER IT'S THE ROOT CAUSE, THE GOVERNOR HAS FOR YEARS NOW AND OTHERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE SAID THAT IT'S STIFLED GROWTH AND IT'S BEEN A CAP THAT WE HAVE HAD A REALLY BIG CHALLENGE GETTING THROUGH.

OTHERS MAY TELL YOU THERE'S CONSTRUCTION COSTS, WE HAVE LABOR.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE LIMITING HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.

BUT I DO SEE AN APPETITE TO ADDRESS ACT 250 AS PART OF THE HOUSING BILL, THE HOMES ACT I BELIEVE LAST YEAR THERE WAS AN ACT 250 STUDY COMMISSIONED AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S GOING TO BRING FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO REFORM ACT 250, FINDING THAT BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES AND WORKING LANDS AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF FLOODING TRYING TO PRESERVE A LOT OF THE AREA WHERE WE CAN ABSORB FLOODWATER BUT ALSO DEVELOPING WHERE WE NEED TO IN OUR DOWNTOWN GROWTH CENTERS BUT OF COURSE STAYING AWAY FROM THOSE FLOODPLAINS.

I THINK THERE DEFINITELY IS AN APPETITE BUT TO SCOTT'S POINT WITH ACT 250 THAT'S A TWEAK WE CAN MAKE WITHOUT PUTTING INTO TOO MUCH MONEY IN.

>> THERE ARE THE ARGUMENT THE GOVERNOR IS STARTING TO MAKE WE HAVE SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS TO INCREASE HOUSING STOCK BUT IT HASN'T MADE A BIG ENOUGH DENT AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY ANY MORE SO WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?

THERE'S PRESSURE ON LAWMAKERS OF ALL PARTIES TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSING CRISIS.

YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, PERHAPS GOING TO ACT 250 IS A WAY THAT THEY CAN FIND SOME COMMON GROUND.

THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE TALK THAN THERE EVER HAS BEEN.

IT WASN'T LONG AGO IT WAS SOMETHING MORE OR LESS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AS SOMETHING THAT THE STATES HAD A LOT OF PRIDE IN.

THERE SEEMS TO BE RHETORICAL SHIFTING AUT THOUGH THE SENATE PRESIDENT CAME OUT WITH SOME SKEPTICISM EARLY THIS WEEK.

PERHAPS BECAUSE IT'S OPERATE .>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK STOOD OUT TO EIN IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, HE MENTIONED BRIEFLY HOMELESS HOUSING BUT REALLY DIDN'T STAY ON THAT TOPIC MUCH.

WE KNOW LAWMAKERS ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT TOPIC ALREADY.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> THAT WAS A HUGE POLITICAL STICKING POINT AT THE END OF LAST SESSON WHAT.

DO WE DO WITH THE JULY 1 COHORT IN THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

AS WE KNOW THERE'S ABOUT FROM 900 TO 1100 PEOPLE, IT'S A MOVING NUMBER FROM DAY-TO-DAY BUT THERE'S MANY, MANY VERMONTERS THAT ARE LIVING IN HOTEL ROOMS AND THAT FUNDING OF COURSE IS RUNNING DRY AT THE END OF APRIL.

SO THIS PANDEMIC ERA HOTEL CONSIDERING ONCE AGAIN EXTENDING IT.

THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM ACTUALLY JUST PRESENTED THEIR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT ACT, WHICH IS A MID YEAR TWEAK TO THE BUDGET.

IN PREVIOUS YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INVEST TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THIS YEAR MONEY IS TIGHTER BUT THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A BRIDGE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP PEOPLE SHELTERED, TO AVOID A SITUATION OF MASS UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AND CAMPING AND TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO BRING MORE HOUSING OPTIONS ONLINE AND TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THAT'S THE ULTIMATE END GOAL IS TO CREATE A HEALTHY HOUSING MARKET WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL INCOMES CAN FIND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT GETTING THERE IS DEFINITELY THE CHALLENGE.

>> WE HAVE THE LATEST POINT IN TIME COUNT NUMBERS REGARDLESS HOMELESSNESS SO YOU GET A SENSE OF THE CONTEXT OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING.

YOU CAN SEE THE SPIKE AT THE END OF HOW VERMONT'S POINT IN COUNT TIME HAS CHANGED OVER TIME.

WHEN YOU SEE NUMBERS LIKE THAT WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR HEAD?

>> YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BIG SPIKE BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021 IS PROBABLY CONNECTED WITH THE START OF THE MOTEL HOUSING PROGRAM AND PEOPLE FINDING SHELTER IN VERMONT, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE COUNTED WHEN EASY TO FIND BUT POTENTIALLY PEOPLE EVEN COMING TO VERMONT OR STAYING IN VERMONT RATHER THAN LEAVING BECAUSE THEY HAD A PLACE TO STAY.

VERMONT HAD I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST HOMELESSNESS RATE IN THE NATION ACCORDING TO THIS COUNT BUT ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF UNSHELTERED FOLKS.

WHICH IS PRETTY TYPICAL OF RURAL AREAS WHERE HOMELESSNESS LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN IN AN URBAN AREA OF PEOPLE LIVING IN MOTELS, LIVING OUT OF THEIR CAR, IN A FRIEND'S HOUSE, OTHER ATYPICAL HOUSING SITUATIONS.

>> THE GOVERNOR FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY TOO.

NOT EXACTLY SAYING HOW HE WOULD TAMP DOWN ON CRIME.

WE DIDN'T HEAR THE SPECIFICS.

BUT WE KNOW LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW TO ADDRESS CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE RISE IN PROPERTY CRIMES, THEFT,ING AMONG OTHER THINGS.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS AN AREA WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS MIGHT SEE EYE TO EYE OR DO YOU THINK THE PHILOSOPHIES ON HOW TO HANDLE THESE ISSUES MAY BE FAR APART?

>> I THINK THERE'S A PHILOSOPHICAL DIVIDE THERE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A BROAD SENSE THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING BUT FEW SPECIFICS.

I THINK ANY SORT OF SPECIFIC INITIATIVE TO COMBAT A RISE IN CRIME OR A PERCEIVED RISE IN CRIME IN THE YEAR 2024 IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL.

ONE THING THE GOVERNOR WAS HINTING AT IN HIS SPEECH WAS BAIL REFORM.

HE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE OFFENDING, BEING OUT, REOFFENDING A FEW HOURS LATER WHICH SPEAKS TO EFFORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL PRETRIAL IMPLEMENTED IN RECENT YEARS.

IT SEEMS THERE WILL BE A PROPOSAL LOOKING AT THE REFORM EFFORTS OF RECENT YEARS.

BEYOND THAT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND AN EASY CONSENSUS ON ANYTHING CRIMINAL JUSTICE RELATED GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN RECENT YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY, THE RETHINKING OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROACHES.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT MIGHT BE ONE AREA.

THE ONLY ONE I REALLY SEE IS THE RETAIL THEFT.

THAT'S BEEN A CONCERN THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE GOVERNOR'S RADAR, HIS TEAM'S RADAR, LARGELY REPUBLICANS AT THE STATE HOUSE TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIAL KWRAER COMMUNITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON SAYS THIS IS A PRIORITY.

HIS COMMUNITY IS TAKING A LOOK AT IT TO TIE TO FIND A WAY HOW CAN WE STACK THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE ARE STEALING AND POTENTIALLY COULD THAT COME TO A CRIMINAL CHARGE OR FELONY.

THAT COULD BE ONE AREA OF AGREEMENT.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW DOES THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY PLAN IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COURT BACKLOG, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FUNDING FOR THE JUDICIARY, EASIER PROCESS TO APPOINT JUDGES, TO CONFIRM JUDGES.

MORE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND FOR STATE'S ATTORNEYS TO EXPEDITE JUSTICE.

THAT'S THEIR VISION OF HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE COURT BACKLOG SITUATION.

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALSO COME OUT IN FAVOR OF DIFFERENT MEASURES TO TACKLE THE OPIOID CRISIS LIKE OPIOID OVERDOSE SITES WHICH SCOTT HAS OPPOSED BUT THE DEMOCRATS MAY MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS CONNECTED.

WE KNOW AT LEAST SOME CRIME IS DRUG RELATED CRIME.

PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT MIGHT BE THE COUNTERBALANCING ARGUMENT THEY MAKE WITH SCOTT AT SOME POINT, WELL, IF YOU WANT US TO ACT ON THIS YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS.

>> THE MOST EXPENSIVE POLICY SOLUTION TO THIS IS INCARCERATING PEOPLE.

WHICH IS THE MOTIVATION FOR A LOT OF REFORMS IN PLACE ANYWAY.

SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FISCAL RESTRAINT AND A TOUGH BUDGETARY TIME ANY APPROACH THAT LEADS TO AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE BEHIND BARS COMES WITH A SIGNIFICANT PRICE TAG.

>> WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A A PLACE TO HOUSE JUVENILE OFFENDERS OR WOMEN WHO OFFEND.

THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR NEW FACILITIES FOR A WHILE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO ARREST OR INCARCERATE MORE PEOPLE WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PHYSICALLY PUT THEM?

>> WE KNOW THAT THEY DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON THOSE ISSUES BUT HOWEVER WE DO KNOW FROM TALKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE STORIES WE COVER THAT THERE'S SOME PUBLIC PRESSURE TO DO SOMETHING.

YOU HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SAY I'M LEAVING CHURCH STREET BECAUSE THE RETAIL THEFT IS TOO MUCH.

SO I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF AWARENESS FROM SOME LAWMAKERS THAT THERE IS THIS KIND OF PUSH FROM THE PUBLIC, HEY, FIND A SOLUTION.

WE MAY NOT KNOW THE SOLUTION BUT PLEASE FIND ONE.

I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING, THE GOVERNOR THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE LAID OUT SEVERAL DATA POINTS BEFORE LAWMAKERS ON THINGS LIKE CRIME, SCHOOL, HOUSING NEEDS, DEMOGRAPHICS.

AS A DATA REPORTER DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO EFFECTIVELY SAY THE NUMBER DON'T LIE IN HIS MESSAGE TO LAWMAKERS?

>> ILLUSTRATE THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEMS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CAN BE USEFUL.

IF YOU WANT TO ILLUSTRATE HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH OUR LOOMING DEMOGRAPHIC CRISIS TO SAY HERE'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO KEEP THE STATE RUNNING AND HERE IS WHERE WE ARE, SO I THINK THAT NUMBERS ARE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE THAT.

BUT DEFINITELY A PART OF HIS CASE THAT HE MAKES TO LAWMAKERS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, YOU KNOW, MONEY IS ALL NUMBERS SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL ROLL WITH.

HE CITED MANY STATISTICS ON CRIME AS WELL TO ILLUSTRATE THE TREND THAT WE SEE IN YEAR OVER YEAR OF AN INCREASE IN CRIME POST PANDEMIC.

>> I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET TO THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.

THEY SAY THE GOVERNOR LACKS SPECIFICS.

THEY AGREED WITH THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW OF THE GOVERNOR'S BROAD GOALS, SENATOR -- >> HALF OF THE SPEECH, GOOD 20 MINUTES, HALF AN HOUR, WAS ANECDOTES AND MORE GENERAL LIGHT MATERIAL, THAT WAS A LITTLE SURPRISING IN THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT.

>> KIND OF CALLING OUT THE GOVERNOR FOR SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ANECDOTES OF RESILIENCY AND BUILDING COMMUNITY AND SAYING WE WANT THE SPECIFICS.

WE KNOW MANY OF THE SPECIFICS COME LATER IN THE MONTH IN THE BUDGET ADDRESS.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE DEVIL WILL BE IN THE DETAILS IN SOME OF THESE MAJOR POLICY ISSUES GIVEN THEY MIGHT AGREE ON THE 30,000 FOOT VIEW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WITH ANY STATE OF THE STATE IT'S A POLITICAL VISION, A POLITICAL MESSAGE.

REALLY IS WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD IS THE BUDGET ADDRESS.

WAOEUPL WHAT I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IN HIS ADDRESS IS THE FLOOD ANGLE.

A LOT OF WHAT THE SENATOR WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE ANECDOTES AND STORIES OF VERMONTERS THOSE WERE ALL IN A FLOOD CONTEXT.

WE HAD AN 85.5 MILLION DOLLAR PROPOSAL FROM A COALITION, A GROUP OF CENTRAL VERMONT LAWMAKERS FOR FLOOD RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY, MORE HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES THAT WERE CLOBBERED AND ARE STILL STRUGGLING FROM THIS SUMMER'S FLOODS.

I'M GOING TO BE CURIOUS LOOKING INTO THE BUDGET PROPOSAL WHAT DIRECT AID IF ANY WILL THERE BE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT DOES THE GOVERNOR SEE THE ROLE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION BEING IN FLOOD RECOVERY.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

I THINK HE ACTUALLY STARTED ADDRESSING A LITTLE OF THAT IN THAT LAUNDRY LIST OF HAPPY FLUFFY STORIES SENATOR BARUTH CALLED OUT WHICH WAS TRUE.

IT'S REMARKABLE HOW MUCH OF THE SPEECH WAYS THERE'S ALWAYS THE CALL OUT TO THE KIDS IN THE LEMONADE STAND WHO MAKE DONATIONS.

I THINK THERE WAS A POLITICAL REASON BEHIND THAT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID NEITHER GOVERNMENT NOR MONEY BUILDS COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE DO.

THAT'S A CLASSIC REPUBLICAN SORT OF CONSERVATIVE MESSAGE.

BUT HE'S TELEGRAPHING THAT THE MONEY WON'T COME TO FIX ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS.

I THINK HIGHLIGHTING THOSE HAPPY INDIVIDUAL STORIES WAS THE GOVERNOR'S WAY OF LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR HAVING TO SAY NO FRANKLY COMING FORWARD TO A LOT OF THE AID PACKAGES THAT WILL COME.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL INSTANCES OF PEOPLE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY REALLY KIND OF SIT IN OPPOSITION TO WHEN LAWMAKERS WERE PROPOSING THIS OMNIBUS BILL.

THEY HAD SEVERAL BUSINESS PEOPLE, HOMEOWNERS IN THE MONTPELIER BARRE AREA SAYING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SIX MONTHS.

WE HAVE GOTTEN THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT BUT WE STILL NEED HELP.

WE HAVE UNMET NEEDS.

WHETHER OR NOT SCOTT REALLY FEELS LIKE WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT THE LAWMAKERS SAY WE KIND OF CAN'T NOT HELP PEOPLE.

THAT'S THEIR ARGUMENT.

BECAUSE IF BUSINESSES GO UNDER WE LOSE THOSE BUSINESSES WE LOSE THAT MONEY.

THAT'S KIND OF THE COUNTER ARGUMENT THAT THEY WERE MAKING.

EXPECTING SCOTT TO OPPOSE THEM DURING THE SPEECH.

>> THERE'S THE BIG EXISTENTIAL QUESTION WE HAD HORRIBLE FLOODS THIS SUMMER, A VERY SIGNIFICANT FLOOD IN DECEMBER.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A FLOOD NEXT SUMMER IN THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM OR DOWN IN SOUTHERN VERMONT?

>> MONTPELIER AGAIN, KNOCK ON WOOD.

>> RIGHT.

DO WE DO ANOTHER AID A PACKAGE?

THAT'S THE CYCLE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN.

THAT'S I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THEMES I'M HEARING IN THE BUILDING OF, OH, BOY, WE NEED TO ADDRESS FLOOD RELIEF.

PEOPLE NEED HELP BUT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM THAT VERMONT HAS.

IT'S NOT JUST VERMONT.

NEW ENGLAND IS PRONE TO THIS, BUT IT'S A BIG QUESTION WITHOUT AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

WANT TO COVER MORE THINGS QUICKLY.

DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO SEE THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY START TO FLEX ITS MUSCLES, THE SECOND DAY OF THE SESSION THE HOUSE VOTED TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S BOTTLE BILL.

IT'S A HIGHER DEPOSIT, TEN CENTS INSTEAD OF FIVE.

A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

MAYBE NOT REALLY TO SEE A VETO OVERRIDDEN THAT QUICKLY.

>> I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

IT HAPPENED THE DAY OF THE STATE OF THE STATE STPAOEFP.

THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY.

>> WE WILL LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S VISION IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS WHICH IS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

MARK DAVIS, EDITOR AT VERMONT PUBLIC, ERIN PETENKO FROM VTDIGGER, AND CALVIN CUTLER AT WCAX, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

I'M CAT VIGLIENZONI.

YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

TAKE CARE.