>> WELCOME TO THE VERMONT PUBLIC GENERAL ELECTION DEBATES.

I'M MIKAELA LEFRAK, ONE OF THE HOSTS OF VERMONT EDITION.

TODAY IT'S THE THIRD IN OUR SERIES OF DEBATES AHEAD OF THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEN TO VOTE.

BALLOTS HAVE ALREADY GONE OUT IN THE MAIL TO ALL REGISTERED VERMONT VOTERS.

TODAY'S DEBATE IS FROM THE MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF VERMONT.

JOINING ME LIVE IN THE VERMONT PUCKLY STUDIO IN DOWNTOWN WINOOSKI IS THE REPUBLICAN 234078 KNEE, INCUMBENT PHIL SCOTT OF BERLIN.

HE WAS FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR IN 2016 AND IS NOW SEEKING A FOURTH TERM.

PHIL SCOTT, WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALSO IN OUR STUDIO TODAY DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE BRENDA SIEGEL OF NEWFANE.

SHE'S A STATE HOUSE ADVOCATE ON ISSUES LIKE HOUSING AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND SHE'S ALSO WORKED AS A TEACHER AND CHOREOGRAPHER.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN THE FIRST SEGMENT I'LL ASK COMMON QUESTIONS TO BOTH CANDIDATES.

THEY WILL EACH HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER NASHUA IN THE SECOND SEGMENT CANDIDATES WILL ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS.

THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ASK A QUESTION AND 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER.

NEXT QUESTIONS BY VERMONTERS.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ANSWER.

IT'S POSSIBLE I WILL ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS DURING ANY OF THE THREE SEGMENTS.

THEN WE'LL HAVE A LIGHTNING ROUND WITH VERY BRIEF ANSWER, SENDING SECONDS MAX AND CONCLUDE WITH CLOSING STATEMENTS FROM EACH CANDIDATES.

LET GET STARTED WITH SOME QUESTIONS FOR BOTH OF YOU.

PLEASE LIMIT YOUR ANSWERS TO 60 SECONDS AND A REMINDER I MAY ASK FOLLOW-UPS LET'S BEGIN WITH A QUESTION ABOUT CLAIMANT CHANGE.

40% OF VERMONT'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS COME FROM VEHICLES ON OUR ROADS AND MORE THAN A THIRD FROM HEATING HOMES AND BUILDINGS.

THE STATE'S DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR SCOTT HAVE DIFFERED ON HOW TO CURB EMISSIONS AND IN PARTICULAR HERE OF THE CLEAN HEAT STANDARD WHICH YOU VETOED LAST SEX.

GOVERNOR SCOTT, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO LOWER EMISSIONS FROM TRANSPORTATION AND HEATING AND WHAT'S YOUR BENCHMARK FOR SUCCESS.

>>O TOUTED IT TROM ABOUT WHICH WE DISAGREED BUT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION ISSUE A CLEAN HEAT STANDARD.

THEY DIDN'T COME UP WITH ONE THEMSELVES, THAT WAS JUST THE NAME OF THE BILL.

WE DO AGREE ON MANY DIFFERENT PROVISIONS.

FOR INSTANCE ELECTRIC VEHICLE -- ELECTRIFICATION.

SOMETHING I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN, SOMETHING WE STARTED WITH WITH THE VCATHOLIC CHURCH SETTLEMENT.

WE PUT IN CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREPARE FOR THIS, AND WE HAVE BEEN MAKING STRIDES EVER SINCE WITH ELECTRIC PUBLIC BUSES, WITH SCHOOL BUSES, AS WELL AS TRYING TO CHANGE OUR FLEET IN THE STATE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

AS WELL WEATHERIZATION.

ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE AGREE ON.

I BELIEVE THIS SAVES MONEY FOR THE HOMEOWNER, MAKES VERMONT MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, YOU BROUGHT UP ELECTRIC VEHICLES PARTICULARLY AROUND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SCHOOL BUSES, BUT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, FOR PERSONAL USE, BUT SEE THAT PRICE TAG AND SAY THAT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY RIGHT NOW WHAT CAN THE STATE DO TO HELP?

WHAT COULD YOU DO TO HELP?

>> IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP.

WE HAVE INCENTIVES, CREDIT AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS INCENTIVES AS WELL AS GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER HAS INCENTIVES, BURLINGTON ELECTRIC HAS INCENTIVES, NOT LONG AGO YOU COULD BUY A NISSAN LEAF WITH ALL THE INCENTIVES FOR BETWEEN 10 AND $15,000 BRANGD NEW.

THESE INCENTIVES WORK.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I BELIEVE WITH MORE COMPETITION WE ARE SEEING THE MAJOR MANUFACTURERS WHETHER IT BE FORD WHO HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THEY WON'T HAVE ANYTHING BUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN 2030, I BELIEVE OR 2035, SO THAT'S THE ANSWER.

MORE COMPETITION, THE PRICE WILL COME DOWN, BATTERIES WILL BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

BRENDA SIEGEL, SAME QUESTION.

HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE REDUCING EMISSIONS AROUND HEATING AND TRANSPORTATION?

>> WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE MINDSET IT'S GOING TO BE DONE WON ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT A TIME.

FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD 10 OR $15,000 EVEN WITH INCENTIVES IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

I'M ON THE PUBLIC TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMISSION WITH A FRONT ROW SEAT TO WHAT WE COULD DO.

WE NEED TO INCREASE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SUPPORT OUR SMALL FARMS INTO CARBON SEQUESTRATION.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE SOLAR PANELS AND LICK VEHICLES CAN MAKE IT TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ALLOWING US TO BUILD IN-STATE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

THE CLEAN HEAT STANDARD WAS A STRONG MOVE TOWARDS OUR 2030 GOALS AND THE VETO OF THAT WAS REALLY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT MEANT OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE DONE A LOT OF HARD WORK AND DONE RESEARCH WE DIDN'T ALL GET TO EXPERIENCE THE OUTCOME OF THAT LEGISLATION.

>> I ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THE CLEAN HEAT STANDARD.

LEGISLATURE, GOVERNOR SCOTT VETOED IT BUT THE LEGISLATURE THEN FAILED TO OVERRIDE THAT VETO.

IT DOESN'T HAVE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE SO I'M CURIOUS, IF IT COMES BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE WHAT CHANGES DO YOU THINK NEED TO BE MADE?

>> I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT WAS 99 OUT OF 100 VOTES SO THERE IS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT, THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD TO GOVERN FAR TOO MUCH BY A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN THE LAST SIX YEARS AND WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A GOVERNOR THAT CMES TO THE TABLE AND STAY THERE'S UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE.

UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS CASE THE GOVERNOR'S ADVISORS GAVE HIM THE WRONG INFORMATION AND HIS CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THAT BILL ALREADY.

>> THE ONLY PERSON THEY DIDN'T ASK ABOUT WHETHER MY CONCERNS WERE SATISFIED WAS ME.

THEY JUST ASSUMED THAT TO BE TRUE.

YOU KEEP SAYING THAT IT'S MY ADVISORS GOT THE WRONG INFORMATION.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE.

I MEET WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

THEY DIDN'T COME TO ME AND ASK ME ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE SOLUTIONWE HAVE COME UP WITH.

NEVER.

NOT A SINGLE THING.

DIDN'T HEAR A PEEP.

>> THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU COULD HAVE TOLD THEM IF YOU MEET WITH THEM EVERY WEEK.

>> I DID.

>> THEN THEY DIDDED A DRESS YOUR CONCERNS.

>> NO, THEY DIDN'T.

>> THEY DID.

>> THE ONLY PERSON THAT WOULD KNOW THAT IS ME, BRENDA.

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO.

LET'S MOVE TO A QUESTION ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL PARTIES.

GOVERNOR SCOTT, AHEAD OF THIS DEBATE WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS FROM VERMONTERS ABOUT HOW YOU SQUARE YOUR POLITICS WITH THOSE OF THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY.

ONE PERSON POINTED OUT THAT REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS IN OTHER STATES HAVE PASSED VOTING RIGHTS RESTRICTIONS AND ABORTION BANS, STYMIED ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, ET CETERA.

IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THOSE TYPES OF POSITIONS WHY NOT RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT?

>> I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO I ADMIRE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHETHER IT BE GOVERNOR BAKER OUT OF MASSACHUSETTS, GOVERNOR HOGAN OUT OF MARYLAND, GOVERNOR ROMNEY, FORMER GOVERNOR ROMNEY NOW SENATOR ROMNEY OUT OF UTAH.

JOHN McCAIN.

HE WAS A REPUBLICAN.

BUT HE BUCKED THE PARTY.

HE WAS A MAVERICK.

HE DID WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT AND I CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME.

THE PARTY DOESN'T DEFINE ME.

I JUST VIEW MYSELF AS A COMMON SENSE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

>> NOW, GOVERNOR SCOTT, YOU HAVE DISAVOWED THE TRUMP WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND SAID YOU VOTED NOR JOE BIDEN IN 2020.

MANY VERMONTERS MIGHT REMEMBER WHEN VERMONT SENATOR JIM JEFFORDS LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN 2001 TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT AND CAUCUSED WITH THE DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU FEEL AT HOME ON THE SAME TICKET AS OTHER REPUBLICAN NOMINEES IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE IN VERMONT LIKE GERALD MALLOY, H. BROCK PAGE, OR DO YOU FEEL THE VERMONT GOP HAS IN A WAY LEFT YOU AND THE VALUES YOU'VE BENES POWSING TODAY?

>> WELL AGAIN, THEY DON'T DEFINE ME.

I DETERMINE WHO I AM.

I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT.

THERE ARE A MAJORITY OF VERMONTERS THAT ARE MODERATE CENTERRISTS.

THAT'S WHERE MOST PEOPLE ARE.

THEN YOU HAVE FOLKS ON THE FURTHER LEFT, FOLKS ON THE FURTHER RIGHT THAT GET A LOT OF THE ATTENTION, A LOT OF THE HEADLINES.

BUT I THINK MOST VERMONTERS ARE CENTERIST MODERATES LIKE ME AND CARE ABOUT TAXES, THEY CARE ABOUT FISCAL ISSUES.

THEY CARE ABOUT MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT.

MAYBE THEY EVEN AGREE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA SIEGEL, YOU HAVE NOT HELD POLITICAL OFFICE BEFORE YET YOU'RE RUNNING AGAIN FOR THE HIGHEST SEAT IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE ENACT LEAVING DEMOCRATS AND VERMONT'S LEGISLATURE HAVE REPEATEDLY DECLINED TO RUN AGAINST GOVERNOR SCOTT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S A CHALLENGE TO RUN IN A RACE THAT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

I HAVE BEEN CLEAR THIS IS A TOUGH FIGHT.

BUT THERE ARE VERMONTERS THAT ARE SUFFERING ALL ACROSS THE STATE THAT NEED US TO DO MORE, THAT NEED US TO WALK OURSELVES OUT OF THESE CRISES AND I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO WHY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOT RUN, BUT WHY I RAN WAS BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE WAYS THAT BEST SUPPORT VERMONTERS.

I MEAN ALL VERMONTERS.

EVERYONE FROM LOW INCOME FOLKS TO UPPER MIDDLE INCOME FOLKS, ALL OF WHOM ARE STRUGGLING SURVIVE ACROSS THE STATE.

>> I ALSO WANTED TO ASK ABOUT SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH MAJOR ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

SPECIFICALLY VERMONT'S LARGEST CHILD CARE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION LET'S GROW KIDS.

THEY HAVE A POLITICAL ACTION ARM THAT IS TELLING VOTERS TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR SCOTT.

YOU WOULD SEEM TO BE A NATURAL FIT FOR THIS TYPE OF ADVOCACY GROUP'S ENDORSEMENT BUT THEY ARE SUPPORTING YOUR OPPONENT.

I'M CURIOUS IF YOU THINK THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE WORK TO DO TO STRENGTHEN SOME OF THE ALLEGIANCES.

>> I THINK THERE'S A STRONG POWER OF INCUMBENCY IN THIS SITUATION.

ANYONE WHO GETS FEDERAL DOLLARS WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND THEM IN THE LAST SIX YEARS BUT WE HAVE TO COMMIT, NOT MAKE A GOAL.

MY OPPONENT HAS ONLY MADE IT A GOAL TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES ONLY PAY 10% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS CHILD CARE.

WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL CHILD CARE CENTERS.

THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED A BUNCH OF FUNDING AND THE THINKING WAS THESE SMALL CENTERS WOULD FRONT THE MONEY FOR THE BONUSES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY GETS OUT THE DOOR WHEN IT'S ALLOCATED.

THIS PAST YEAR I WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT A SMALL SCHOOL THAT WAS ABOUT TO CLOSE IN A TWO WEEK TURN-AROUND BRINGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER IN MY HOMETOWN OF BRATTLEBORO MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOL SURVIVED.

I THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY IN THIS SITUATION.

>> ONE MORE QUICK FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

I HAVE HEARD YOU NOTE THIS DISTINCTION BETWEEN A COMMITMENT AND A GOAL.

CAN YOU ELABORATE WHAT THAT MEANS OR WHAT QLIEWR ASKING OF GOVERNOR SCOTT OR SOMEONE IN THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION IN TERMS OF THAT COMMITMENT TOWARDS CHILD CARE?

>> SURE.

OFTENTIMES WHEN WE SAY WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON POLITICAL STUFF WE SAY GOAL WE SAY, SURE, THAT'S A GOAL.

WE CAN MOVE FORWARD THIS WAY.

A COMMITMENT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

THAT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOF OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR FAMILIES.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, YOUR RESPONSE.

>> I AGREE WITH GOALS.

I AGREE WITH INCENTIVES.

I TRY TO AVOID MANDATES AND IT APPEARS THAT MANY OF WHAT BRENDA IS TALKING ABOUT ARE MANDATES.

FORCING PEOPLE TO DO THINGS.

I WOULD RATHER LIFT PEOPLE UP AND LEAD THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

IT ISN'T ALWAYS ABOUT INCUMBENCY.

I HAVEN'T BEEN AN INCUMBENT FOREVER.

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHILD CARE ADVOCATES AND DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND úWE'LL DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN THE FUTURE.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW VERMONT USES LAND.

THE COLLECTION OF DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS KNOWN AS ACT 250.

WHAT REFORMS WOULD HELP THE STATE BALANCE CONSERVATION WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT?

BRENDA SIEGEL, WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

>> I THINK THAT THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO FULLY STAFF OUR OFFICE.

OUR ACT 250 OFFICE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY UNDERSTAFFED WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO MOVE PERMITS FORWARD ACROSS THE STATE.

WE CAN COME UP WITH AS THE LEGISLATURE DID LAST SESSION BUT WAS VETOED FOREST BLOCKS AND CITY CENTERS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL SUPPORTING THE LAND THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH BUT WE'RE ABLE TO ALSO BUILD HOUSING AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IN THIS STATE.

>> LET'S DIVE INTO THAT DEVELOPMENT A BIT MORE.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ADVOCATED FOR AGGRESSIVE MEASURES TO BUILD HOUSING THAT THE STATE NEEDS.

BUILDING NEW HOUSES TAKES MONTHS, YEARS, FRANKLY, AND IT'S NOT A SHORT-TERM FIX.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT ACT 250 REFORM THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO BUILD IN VERMONT'S DOWNTOWNS AND VILLAGE CENTERS?

SPECIFICALLY HERE FUNDING MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWAGE UPGRADES.

>> ABSOLUTELY THAT'S PART OF MY PLAN I RELEASED A FEW WEEKS AGO ON HOUSING.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM.

WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC THAT THE HOUSING THAT WE'RE PUTTING ONLINE NOW IS NOT GOING TO MEET THE NEED NOW OR IN FIVE YEARS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING THE NEED AND HAVING A TEMPORARY FIX RIGHT FLOE SO PEOPLE REMAIN HOUSED.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, WHAT SPECIFIC ACT 250 REFORMS DO YOU SUPPORT?

>> WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT HAVE HAD SUPPORT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS INCLUDED FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM BRENDA'S PLAN THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE DOING.-THED WE HAD AGREEMENT UPON BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE AGREEMENT WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.

WE JUST NEED TO MODERN QLIEZ ACT 250 TO MAKE IT EASIER TO UTILIZE.

WE NEED MORE COMMUNICATION THAT CAN'T BE DIFFERENT FROM ONE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER.

THERE HAS TO BE CONSISTENCY.

ACT 250 AS WELL SHOULDN'T BE USED JUST TO BLOCK DEVELOPMENT.

IT SHOULD BE USED TO IMPROVE DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AGAIN WE HAD SOME AGREEMENT WITH SOME ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ON THIS AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BUT THE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T AGREE.

WE'LL GO BACK AT IT.

THE BILL THAT THEY PASSED WAS WORSE THAN WHAT WE HAD.

MANY, MANY DEMOCRATS AGREED WITH THAT.

SO WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BUT WE CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON ACT 250.

IT'S ABOUT ZONING AS WELL.

OTHER PERMITS WITHIN THE AGENCY NATURAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS FEDERAL PERMITS.

ACT 250 SOMETIMES GETS THE BLAME AND IT ISN'T ALL THEIR FAULT.

>> I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT ANOTHER PROGRAM, VERMONT FUNDS AN EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM BUT THE ELIGIBILITY IS MUCH STRICTER THAN THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MANY VERMONTERS RELIED ON THAN DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

I'M CURIOUS IF YOU WOULD COMMIT TO EASING RESTRICTIONS IN FUNDING AND EXPANSION OF THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM AS A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS AND TO HOUSING ISSUES IN THE COMING WINTER AND SPRING.

>> AGAIN, THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY PROGRAM THAT WAS PUT FORTH BY THE GOVERNMENT TO GET US THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

WE WERE AT THAT POINT IN TIME WE HAD 90,000 PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED.

WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SEPARATED TO KEEP PEOPLE TO STAY HOME, STAY SAFE.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING, PAY THEIR RENT.

WE WANTED TO KEEP THEM WHOLE, KEPT LANDLORDS WHOLE AS WELL, KEPT APARTMENTS GOING, KEPT THE ECONOMY GOING BUT THE PANDEMIC IS OVER SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT IS MUCH MORE REASONABLE.

SOMETHING WE CAN AFFORD.

WE CAN'T AFFORD EVERYTHING THAT WAS PROVIDED DURING THAT TIME.

WE'RE SPENDING $12 MILLION A MONTH WITH FEDERAL HELP TO DO THIS.

NOW, THEY HAVE CHANGED THE RULES AND THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO END THIS PROGRAM.

PANDEMIC IS OVER.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THAT.

WE NEED TO GO TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THIS ANY LONGER.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER TOPICS TO GET TO TODAY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OPIOID CRISIS.

VERMONT HAS BROKEN ITS OWN RECORD FOR OVERDOSE DEATHS TWO YEARS IN A ROW NOW AND I KNOW THAT YOU BOTH SUPPORT SOME OF THE SAME IDEAS TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS INCLUDING WHAT ARE KNOWN BROADLY AS HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES BUT SOME SAY THESE DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

CANADA IS PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE OVERDOSE CRISIS.

PEOPLE CAN USE STREET DRUDGES OR GET PRESCRIPTIONS AS A SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO STREET DRUGS.

DO YOU THINK THESE STRATEGIES COULD HELP VERMONTERS EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY SANCTIONED BY THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND BRENDA SIEGEL, WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

>> YES.

IN FAC IN OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF OVERDOSES BUT NOT A SINGLE DEATH.

THEY HAVE CLIENT UP NEEDLES, THEY HAVE SYRINGES ON THE STREET, REDUCED HEPATITIS C AND HIV IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE USED WHICH REDUCES COSTS OVER ALL.

IN 2017, THAT'S BEFORE WE HAD ALL OF THESE OVERDOSES, THE STATE COST 1.8 BILLION TO HAVE PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN OUR STATE.

SPENDING THE MONEY THAT IT TAKES TO ADDRESS THE OVERDOSE CRISIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR VERMONTERS.

I WANT TO GO A STEP FURTHER.

IN "MARCH" OF 2018 MY NEPHEW DIED OF AN OVERDOSE.

HE WAS THE SON OF MY BROTHER WHO DIED 20 YEARS BEFORE HIM ALSO WHILE USING HEROIN.

THEY BOTH SUFFER FROM BIPOLAR AND EXTREME TRAUMA AND WITH 20 YEARS BETWEEN THEM THEY COULD NOT GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED IN THE STATE.

AN OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTER AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE SUPPORTSWE ARE NOT BURYING OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.

ONCE THEY DIE WE DON'T GET THEM BACK.

>> WOULD SAFE INJECTION SITES WORK IN SUCH A RURAL STATE AND HOW MUCH WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DIVERT TOWARDS THEM?

>> YES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CITY OR TOWN CENTERS WHERE THERE ALREADY IS A BE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INJECTING DRUGS, HAPPENING IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN ON THE STREET.

THIS IS A WAY TO PROTECT THAT AND THERE IS IN OTHER COUNTRIES WE HAVE USED THINGS LIKE MOBILE UNITS WHERE WE BRING THE HARM REDUCTION CENTERS TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE IT'S HAPPENING.

IN NEWFANE ON GREENUP DAY I FOUND WRAPPERS IN THE WOODS.

WE KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR STATE AND I SO DEEPLY KNOW THE IMPACT OF THAT ON OUR FAMILIES AND IF WE DON'T FOCUS ON HARM REDUCTION FIRST WE'RE NOT GOING TO WALK OURSELVES OUT OF THIS CRISIS.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, SAME QUESTION.

DO YOU SUPPORT SOME OF STRATEGIES THAT OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH ARE TRYING IN TERMS OF PREVENTING AND CURBING THE EPIDEMIC?

>> OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS WE HAVE INCREASED EFFORTS AND INVESTMENT IN ALL AREAS OF THE ISSUE.

FENTANYL NOW IS DRIVING THE DEATHS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GO AFTER DISTRIBUTION POINTS.

THEY ARE PREYING UPON OUR YOUTH HERE IN VERMONT.

SOME OF IT IS TARGETED AT VERMONT BECAUSE OF SOME OF OUR RULES, REGULATIONS AND LAWS.

I THINK WE HAVE FOUR ELECTION TO THE STOOL.

PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RECOVERY AND ENFORCEMENT ARE FOUR EQUAL LEGS OF THE STOOL THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH.

I DON'T BELIEVE USING GOVERNMENT INJECTION SITES IS THE ANSWER FOR VERMONT.

NOT AT THIS TIME.

WE KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WE NEED TO PUT OUR LIMITED RESOURCES TOWARDS THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM THOSE PROVEN WITH THE HUB AND SPOKE MODEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH IN VERMONT TO DO SOMETHING WITH AN EXPERIMENT.

IN A RULES STATE LIKE VERMONT IN PARTICULAR.

>> MEDICATED ASSISTED THERAPY IS A COMMON PRACTICE TO HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH OPIOID ADDICTION BUT NOT LONG AGO IT WAS VIEWED WITH SKEPTICISM AS AN EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICE.

SO IN SOME WAYS DON'T YOUING EXPERIMENTATION IS NECESSARY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THIS EVER SNOWBALLING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS?

>> AGAIN, IF WE WANT TO EXPERIMENT AND LEAVE BEHIND STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

IF WE WANT TO DO THAT, THEN THAT'S FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE AND FOR ME TO DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO GO FORWARD OR NOT.

I DON'T BELIEVE GOVERNMENT INJECTION SITES WORK FOR A RURAL STATE LIKE VERMONT AND I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING PROVEN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

INFLATION IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR VERMONTERS RIGHT NOW.

IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR FARMERS OPERATING ON ALREADY SLIM MARGINS ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD FUEL, OTHER NECESSARY SUPPLIES.

PARTICULARLY IN THE ORGANIC DAIRY MARKET THE MAIN COOPERATIVE SAYS IT CAN'T RAISE PAY PRICES FOR FARMERS EVEN THOUGH THE COST OF FEED IS UP BETWEEN 35 AND 50%.

STAGGERING.

HOW CAN THE STATE BETTER SUPPORT DAIRY FARMERS DURING THIS PERIOD OF INFLATION?

GOVERNOR SCOTT?

>> THE DAIRY INDUSTRY OBVIOUSLY IS SUFFERING THROUGH INFLATION.

IT WAS SUFFERING BEFORE.

WE ARE LOSING FIRMS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I THINK FARMING, AGRICULTURE IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR STATE.

I BELIEVE DURING THE PANDEMIC AS WELL THAT WE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO BE AS SELF-SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

WE NEED TO FEED OURSELVES AND OUR FARMERS PROVIDE FOR THAT.

SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HELP THEM, TO UTILIZE THEIR PRODUCTS IN EVERY WAY WE CAN.

WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN VERMONT.

THE QUALITY OF 9 PRODUCTS THAT WE PRODUCE ARE FAR BETTER THAN MANY OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE INCREASING OUR MARKETS SO THAT WE CAN SELL THEM IN OTHER MARKETS.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK THERE.

WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.

BUT THE INFLATION WE'RE SEEING NOW, FUEL IN PARTICULAR, FEED PRICES.

ACROSS THE BOARD, EVERYTHING, MACHINERY, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR FARMERS BUT WE CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM INCLUDING ARPA MONEY WE FORWARDED TO THEM AS WELL.

>> AS WE KNOW, VERMONT'S CANNABIS MARKET JUST OPENED UP AND THE WAY IT'S SET UP SELLERS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH SMALL GROWERS FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUSINESS.

CAN YOU SEE A SIMILAR SETUP WORKING FOR THE ORGANIC DAIRY INDUSTRY?

>> WELL, AGAIN, THE ORGANIC MARKET WAS SOMEWHAT TAILORED THE SAME WAY.

SMALLER MARKET, SMALLER NUMBER OF PRODUCERS, SMALLER NUMBER OF HERD.

IT DID WORK BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE L TO BUY THAT AT A HIGHER COST.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS WITH OUR CANNABIS MARKET AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

BRENDA SIEGEL, SAME QUESTION.

>> OUR DAIRY INDUSTRY IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF VERMONT AND IT'S REALLY TRUE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR DAIRY FARMERS ARE AT THE TABLE AND WE'RE ASKING WHAT THEY NEED AND THAT INFORMS OUR DECISIONS.

THEY ARE NOT JUST COMMODITIES, THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR ECONOMY, HUMAN BEINGS LOSING THEIR LIFE'S WORK AND GENERATIONAL LAND.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON HOW WE BETTER SUPPORT THE ONES WHO WANT TO TRANSITION TO ANOTHER TYPE OF FARMING INTO THAT TYPE OF FARMING AND THE ONES WHO WANT TO STAY IN THAT INDUSTRY TO HELP THEM SUP -- HELP SUPPORT THEM IN PAYING HIGHER WAGES, MAKING SURE PEOPLE THEY BRING TO WORK ON THEIR FALSE CAN ACCESS HOUSING AND SUPPORTING A STRONGER INDUSTRY IN THAT WAY.

YES TWOULD BE GREAT FOR THEM TO BE WORKING WITH OUR SMALL FARMS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL FARMS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S SUSTAINABLE AND SUPPORTS THEM THE BEST.

>> CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE?

>> I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING THE GOVERNOR BUT I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE TO WHEN I HAVE TALKED TO DAIRY FARMERS ACROSS THE STATE WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD ME IS THAT THEY NEED BETTER SUPPORT IN MAKING THE TRANSITIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE TO GIVE HIGHER WAGES, TO HAVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE SO THAT THEY CAN DO BETTER WHEN THEY ARE SELLING THEIR PRODUCT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES THE FIRST SEGMENT OF OUR DEBATE.

WHEN WE COME BACK THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS.

I'M MIKAELA LEFRAK.

THIS IS THE DEBATE WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR LIVE ON VERMONT PUBLIC.

>> RESISTANCE WAS A NECESSITY.

>> SLAVES WERE FREED BUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE NOT BECOME TRULY EQUAL CITIZENS.

>> ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE.

AND BLACK LIFE, BLACK JOY.

>> CREATING SPACES OR ENCLAVES THAT ALLOW US TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES, GOOD IN THE WORK EVEN IF THE WORLD ISN'T GOOD.

>> TONIGHT AT 8:00 ON VERMONT PUBLIC.

TRUE.

>> I'M CONNOR CYRUS.

I'LL BE MODERATING THE UPCOMING DEBATE IN THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

JOE BENNING WILL FACE OFF WITH DEMOCRAT DAVID ZUCKERMAN.

IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES SEND AN EMAIL OR VOICE METABOLISM OTOVOTE@VERMONT PUBLIC.ORG.

>> THIS IS THE VERMONT PUBLIC DEBATE WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.

I'M MIKAELA LEFRAK.

WITH US TODAY ARE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BRENDA SIEGEL OF NEWFANE AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT OF BERLIN.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS.

THE QUESTIONS SHOULD NOT BE LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS AND THE RESPONSES ARE LIMITED TO 60 SECONDS.

YOU CAN ASK A BRIEF FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

BRENDA SIEGEL, FIRST QUESTION TO YOU.

>> IN 2018, MY NEPHEW DIED OF AN OVERDOSE ALONE IN A BATHROOM.

IN 2020, MY FRIEND'S BROTHER ROY DIED OF AN OVER DEATH ALONE IN A BATHROOM.

IN 2021, MY FRIEND'S SON DIED OF AN OVERDOSE ALONE.

OVER 845 VERMONTERS, MOTHERS, FATHERS, SIBLINGS, SPRINS HAVE DIED ALONE SINCE YOU BECAME GOVERNOR.

IF THEY WERE AT AN OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT BEEN A SINGLE DEATH IN OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS.

MY QUESTION IS, WERE THEIR LIVES WORTH SAVING?

>> SOMEWHAT OF AN UNFAIR QUESTION.

WE HAVE ALL LOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES INCLUDING OVERDOSES.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, GOVERNOR SHUMLIN BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION YEARS AGO.

WE PICKED UP ON THAT.

WE HAVE INCREASED TREATMENT THROUGHOUT VERMONT, ACCESS TO TREATMENT.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.

WE ARE A RURAL STATE.

WE CAN'T PROVIDE A GOVERNMENT RUN INJECTION SITE IN EVERY SINGLE TOWN AND CITY IN VERMONT.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO THINK THAT PROVIDING THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED ALL OF THE LIVES BUT UNFORTUNATE THAT WE LOST THEM TO BEGIN WITH.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE EXPERIMENTING, TAKING THOSE RESOURCES, PRECIOUS RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE MEASURES WE KNOW WORK.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE LEGALIZING SMALL AMOUNTS OF RECREATION AT DRUGS EITHER.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ERASING THE RECORDS OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS AS WELL, WHICH MEANS THEY COULD BUY A GUN EVENTUALLY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BRENDA, A RESPONSE?

>> YES.

I THINK IT WAS UNTHEIR I HAD TO BURY MY NEPHEW.

UNFAIR WE HAD TO BURY MY BROTHER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S AN UNFAIR QUESTION FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST SOMEONE TO ASK YOU IF THEIR LIVES WERE WORTH SAVING BECAUSE MANY OF THEIR LIVES WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED.

SO I'M NOT ASKING IF WE SHOULD DIVERT RESOURCES AWAY BECAUSE WE NEED IT ALL.

I SUPPORT RECOVERY CENTERS AND PLACES THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT BUT I'M ASKING WERE THEIR LIVES WORTH SAVING.

>> OBVIOUSLY.

EVERY LIFE IS PRECIOUS.

EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO SAVE LIVES.

WE HAVE IT ACROSS THE BOARD WHETHER IT'S DRUG OVERDOSES, CAR CRASHES, WHETHER IT'S CANCER.

I LOST A COUSIN YESTERDAY DUE TO CANCER.

IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHAT WE CAN AFFORD TO DO AND WHERE WE WANT TO FOCUS.

I BELIEVE THE STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE USED IS SAVING LIVES.

AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOUR STRATEGY WILL SAVE EVERY SINGLE LIFE.

I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION.

>> YOU HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROMISES DURING THESE DEBATES.

WHETHER IT'S HOUSING PROPOSALS WHICH WILL COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITHOUT FEDERAL AID IN THE FUTURE, CHILD CARE PROPOSALS, ANOTHER HUNDRED MILLION.

PAID FAMILY LEAVE, UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS, PROBABLY ANOTHER 100 MILLION.

UNIVERSAL PRIMARY CARE.

ABOUT ANOTHER 200 MILLION.

YOU HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROMISES AND THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES OF YOURS.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO COME UP WITH A HALF MILLION TO BILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THAT?

>> SO WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS ALREADY.

I'M GOING TO START WITH HOUSING.

RIGHT NOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR THE COST PER PERSON EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS $35,000 A YEAR.

WE HAVE ABOUT 3,000 UNHOUSD PEOPLE IN VERMONT.

THAT MEANS WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $105 MILLION A YEAR.

525 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS.

1.05 BILLION IN TEN YEARS.

IF WE ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS UP FRONT THEN WE END UP SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS MONEY.

I CAN GO THROUGH THAT WITH HEALTH CARE, PAYING 6.5 BILLION RIGHT NOW IN CHILD CARE WE'RE PAYING WITH OUR WORKFORCE NOT BEING AVAILABLE AND IN THE OPIOID USE DISORDER WE PAY 1.8 BILLION IN 2017, THAT'S BEFORE IT EXPLODED.

SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING QUITE A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW BY NOT SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH VERMONT TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> I'M NOT SAYING WE AREN'T SOLVING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE ARE.

I'M ASKING YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING ALL THESE PROMISES WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH HALF A BILLION TO A BILLION DOLLARS TO DO THIS.

I KNOW YOU SAY WE'RE PAYING FOR IT NOW BUT THERE HAS TO BE A TRANSITION.

>> YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH.

IT.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO INVEST.

>> EXACTLY.

WE HAVE TO INVEST.

ONE OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS YOU HAVE NOT MADE THOSE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT% SO WE HAVE PAID OVER $5,000 A MONTH FOR HOTELS WHEN INSTEAD WE COULD HAVE STARTED WITH THAT PLAN AND COME UP WITH A TRANSITIONAL PLAN SO PEOPLE WERE HOUSED AND WE WERE NOT WASTING SO MUCH MONEY AND WE HAD MOVED OURSELVES FURTHER OUT OF THIS CRISIS.

WE CAN'T JUST THROW MONEY AT NEW BILLS AND HOPE IT SOLVES THE PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN THAT TRANSITIONS US FROM POINT A TO B, AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

>> I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE TO ASK A QUESTION TO GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> YOU SAID IN OUR LAST DEBATE THAT PEOPLE CAN'T BE EVICTED IN THE WINTER.

THEY CAN BE.

SIMILAR LAST YEAR YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T THINK ANYONE LIVING ON THE STREET WAS STILL LIVING ON THE STREET AND THEY WERE.

AND THEY ARE.

NOW 8411 FAMILIES ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR THOSE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR VOWMPERS DIRECTLY RELATED TO KEEPING THEIR HOUSING AND ALREADY 3,000 FAMILIES HAVE HAD THEIR VOUCHER RIPPED AWAY.

MEANWHILE YOU AWARDED 4.3 MILLION TO A COMPANY TO CREATE JOBS THAT EXISTED.

IS IT A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO INSTEAD OF KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED?

>> I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH.

WE HAVE TO GROW THE ECONOMY, LIFT PEOPLE UP AND WE HAVE MORE JOBS AVAILABLE TODAY THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE TO FILL THEM.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR A JOB WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.

WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO HELP THEM.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING TO THEM.

DURING THE PANDEMIC OBVIOUSLY THAT INCREASED.

YOU MENTIONED WE WERE SPENDING $5,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON HOTELS.

I THINK YOU MIEWFT HAVE MEANT A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRM WE HAVE TODAY.

WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

IT WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, FEDERAL MONEY, THAT'S ENDING.

SO WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

>> I SAID 5,000 PER PERSON PER MONTH.

THERE'S NO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING BECAUSE THAT ENDED SEPTEMBER 30.

OUR SHELTERS ARE FULL AND THE PRE-PAM DEMOCRATIC PROGRAM HAS NEVER BEEN ADEQUATE AND WON'T BE NOW.

LAST DEBATE YOU ASKED HOW WE WOULD READ THE BUDGET, GO LINE BY LINE IN THE BUDGET AND REEVALUATE PRIORITIES.

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

>> THE QUESTION?

>> WHEN YOU'RE SPENDING 4.3 MILLION TO A COMPANY THAT NEVER CREATES THE JOBS THAT WE GIVE THE MONEY TO THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN REPRIORITIZE.

DO YOU THINK IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO GIVE $1 MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPANIES THAT DON'T BRING ANY NEW JOBS TO VERMONTERS?

>> CAN YOU NAME THE COMPANY?

>> I I DON'T HAVE THE NAME WRITTEN DOWN.

>> I DON'T RECALL WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOU CAN TELL ME THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE.

IT'S THE -- THEY GOT THE 4.3 MILLION.

YES, THEY MADE THE GRANT TO HACIAL.

>> TO WHO?

>> MARVEL.

ELIMINATED JOBS.

MARVEL TECHNOLOGY.

>> THAT WAS IMB GLOBALFOUNDRIES.

AGAIN, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

>> THE QUESTION IS, WE ARE GIVING $4.3 MILLION TO MARVEL TECHNOLOGIES WHO DIDN'T CREATE JOBS WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GOING LINE BY LINE IN THE BUDGET AND REPRIORITIZING IS THIS A GOOD PRIORITY WITH OUR MONEY OVER HOUSING PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND WILL LOSE THEIR VOUCHERS NOW?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE HAD AGREED TO.

WE PUT IT INTO THIS INDEPENDENT BODY TO MAKE THESE GRANTS.

THEY HAVE TO FULFILL THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.

THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.

IF FAR VERY WELL DIDN'T PROVIDE FOR THAT THEN THEY DON'T GET THE MONEY.

>> THEY ALREADY GOT THE MONEY.

>> THEN THEY HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.

THAT'S A REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE GRANT PROCESS.

THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT BODY.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DID.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WE NEED TO KEEP THE ECONOMY GOING.

WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU WANT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY ECONOMY THAT BRINGS IN TAX REVENUE, THEN WE DON'T HAVE -- WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THE VERY PEOPLE YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEALTHY ECONOMY.

THAT'S ONE SMALL LITTLE PIECE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROVIDE FOR A GROWING, GROWING ECONOMY IN VERMONT.

IT'S THE ONLY ANSWER.

WE NEED THE RESOURCES.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, ONE MORE QUESTION.

>> ACROSS THE STATE WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSTAFFED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE STATE POLICE ARE DOWN IN RECORD NUMBERS.

WE KNOW BURLINGTON, RICHMOND, SHELBURNE, MON PEELT PEELER AND BRATTLEBORO AND MANY OTHERS ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND STRUGGLING TO HIRE.

MANY CITE MORALE AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ADVOCATED FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE DO YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO ADMIT YOU WERE WRONG AND INVEST MORE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER?

>> WHAT ALWAYS THAT MEANT WAS FUNDING POLICE TO DO THE WORK THAT POLICE DO AND FUNDING SOCIAL WORKERS AND PEOPLE WHO WORK ON SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND OUR COMMUNITIES TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

THAT'S ALWAYS WHAT THAT MEANT.

UNFORTUNATELY REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER REALM.

WHAT WE DO NEED TO DO NOW IS MAKE SURE WE ARE BOTH SUPPORTING ACCESS TO TREATMENT FOR THE ROOT CAUSE AND SUPPORTING THE POLICE IN WHAT THEY NEED.

AND REGARDLESS, IN BRATTLEBORO WE HAVE A POLICE CHIEF, CHIEF NORMA HARDY, WORKING EXTREMELY HARD, HAS BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT SOME POLICE OFFICERS, HAS BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN MORE OF HER POLICE OFFICERS AND SHE'S WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE NAACP TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS BUILDING UP SUPPORT.

THOSE KINDS OF COMMUNITY POLICING MODELS DO WORK.

ARE WORTH SUPPORTING AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT POLICE LIKE ALL WORK REMEMBERS FUNDED SO THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THOSE JOBS AND THRIVE AND SURVIVE HERE.

>> I AGREE.

THE CHIEF IS DOING A GREAT JOB IN BRATTLEBORO.

NOT CONDEMNING ANY OF HER ACTIONS.

SHE IS DOING WELL.

BUT THAT WORKFORCE IS DOWN BY 30 TO 50%.

SO IT'S NOT WORKING THERE EITHER.

THERE'S A MORALE PROBLEM.

YOU SAID DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU SAID DEFUND THE POLICE.

>> THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.

I DID TALK ABOUT FUNDING THE WORK POLICE DO AND SUPPORTING OUR SOCIAL WORK, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT TO DO WHAT THEY DO.

THE REALITY -- THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

WITH THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ADDRESS OUR ROOT CAUSES.

WHEN I LOOKED AT YOUR PLAN ON CRIME THE 10-POINT PLAN.

IT DID NOT ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, IT WAS LAW AND ORDER AND WE KNOW LAW AND ORDER ALONE WON'T ADDRESS THESE CRISES.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CRIME IN OUR STATE HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR SUICIDE.

BOTH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> WE HAVE TO STOP HERE.

WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM VERMONTERS NEXT.

THIS CONCLUDES THE SECOND SEGMENT OF OUR PROGRAM.

AS I SAID WHEN WE COME BACK THE CANDIDATES WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO US BY VERMONTERS.

EYE MIKAELA LEFRAK AND THIS IS THE DEBATE WITH CANDIDATES FOREGOVERNOR ON VERMONT PUBLIC.

>> HE KNEW HIS KILLER.

>> HE HAD DECIDED TO MAKE A NEW WILL.

>> HE NEVER MENTIONED THAT IN LONDON.

>> YOU STAY OUT OF MY WAY.

>> THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCE.

>> THAT'S A GUN.

>> PREMIERS SUNDAY AT 9:00 ON VERMONT PUBLIC.

>> I'M CONNOR CYRUS.

I'LL MODERATE THE UPCOMING DEBATE IN THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE JOE BENNING WILL FACE OFF WITH DEMOCRAT DAVID ZUCKERMAN.

LEARN WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT YOU AND YOUR COMMUTE.

IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A QUESTION SEND AN EMAIL OR VOICE MEMO.

>> WATCH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DEBATE THURSDAY RIGHT HERE AT 7:00 P.M. OR STREAMING AT VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG AT NOON.

>> WELCOME BACK TO THE VERMONT PUBLIC DEBATE.

I'M MIKAELA LEFRAK.

JOHNING ME LIVE IS GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT, REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT, AND DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE BRENDA SIEGEL.

TIME FOR SOME QUESTIONS FROM VERMONTERS.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED QUESTIONS TO US.

JUST A REMINDER CANDIDATES PLEASE LIMIT YOUR ANSWERS TO 30 SECONDS AND I'M GOING TO BE STRICT ON THIS ONE.

OUR FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE FROM IRVIN IN NORTHFIELD.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT, YOUR VETO IN PENSION REFORM WAS OVERRULED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE LEGISLATURE.

HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU'RE WORKING WITH LEGISLATORS WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN GET MEMBERS OF YOUR OWN PARTY TO SUSTAIN YOUR VETO?

BRENDA SIEGEL, IF ELECTED HOW WOULD YOU USE YOUR VETO POWER AND COORDINATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE PRIOR TO ISSUING A VETO?

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS BASED ON PRINCIPLE.

I WASN'T PART OF THE THE PROCESS COMPLETELY.

I HAD ASKED THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE UP SOME OTHER INITIATIVES AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE FIXING THE PROBLEM.

THEY PUT A BAND-AID ON IT.

I BELIEVE IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS WE'LL BE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN THE SAME POSITION WE WERE IN BEFORE WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.

WHEN I VETO SOMETHING I TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES.

>> THANK YOU.

BRENDA SIEGEL.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT TOOK -- THAT VETO TOOK WAS WASTING OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ESPECIALLY AS A PERFORMATIVE VETO.

I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH THE LEGISLATURE IS WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY ON SOMETIMES VERY COMPLICATED BIMS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE EASY YES IN THE BEGINNING.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVES.

I'M KNOWN TO SIT AT THE TABLE UNTIL WE FIND A COMPROMISE AND CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> NEXT THE QUESTION FROM JAMES IN SOUTH BURLINGTON.

>> AS A DAD OF A FOUR-YEAR-OLD MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THE EARLY CHILD CARE FUNDING CRISIS SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR EARLY EDUCATORS AND MAKE THAIRG TEACHING POSITIONS COMPETITIVE?

>> FIRST OF ALL WE NEED TO AGAIN COMMIT TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE ONLY PAYING 10% OF INCOME TOWARDS CHILD CARE.

ADDITIONALLY WE NEED TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE EDUCATION INITIATIVES FOR EARLY EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND WHICH WE HAVE SOME OF BUT WE NEED MORE SO THERE'S NO RISK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE AND HIGH WAGES WHEN THEY COME OUT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR FAMILIES TO SUPPORT HAVING CHILD CARE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY NEED AND THE HOURS THAT THEY NEED AND TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S HOUSING AND BENEFITS.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR EARLY CARE AND LEARNING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

I BELIEVE IT'S A CRADLE TO CAREER APPROACH.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN THE SYSTEM WHEN WE HAVE OVER 1 BILLION WE'RE SPENDING FOR EDUCATION.

SO WHAT I AM ADVOCATING FOR IS TO UTILIZE, USE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES WITHIN THE SYSTEM ITSELF BUT ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE, I PROPOSE THE WAY FAIR DECISION.

I PROPOSED TO USE ALL THE MONEY FROM THE WAY FAIR FOR CHILD CARE.

THE LEGISLATURE TURNED ME DOWN.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN $30 MILLION A YEAR.

>> THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ANNAN DA RUPA.

HOW WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE RESETTLEMENT EFFORT OF AFGHAN REFUGEES ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LACK OF HOUSING.

GOVERNOR SCOTT?

>> AGAIN, WE HAVE.

I WOULD SAY DOWN IN BRENDA'S REGION IN PARTICULAR WE HAVE A LOT OF REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT HAVE LANDED THERE.

WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCEPT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

I HAD ASKED THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION, TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, TO INCREASE OUR ALLOTMENT.

WE NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

I DID THE SAME WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THEY HAVE INCREASED OUR ALLOTMENT.

SO WE ARE USING THAT AGAIN FROM A MORAL PERSPECTIVE, RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALSO PRAGMATICLY WE NEED MORE PEOPLE, MORE DIVERSITY HERE IN THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

BRENDA SIEGEL.

>> I ALSO REALLY DO SUPPORT THAT.

IN MY AREA THERE ARE INCREDIBLE ACTIVISTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE WORK AND I'M JUST PROUD OF THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WORKING SO HARD ON THAT.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT IN MANY AREAS OF THE STATE PEOPLE WHO ARE REFUGEES WHO DON'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE AND DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION ARE BEING SOMETIMES HOUSED IN PLACES THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARILY RURAL AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO GROCERY STORES BECAUSE OF IT AND OTHER TYPES OF SUPPORT.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT EXTRA WORK WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DOING THAT TO FOLKS WITHOUT RESOURCES.

>> WE DO HAVE TIME TO SQUEEZE IN A BRIEF LIGHTNING ROUND BEFORE THE END OF THE DEBATE.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR ANSWERS AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.

TEN SECONDS OR A COUPLE OF WORDS, PLEASE.

QUESTION ONE, DO YOU THINK VERMONT'S LAWS REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS LIAR ACHE BEEBE SHOULD BE TIGHTER, LOOSER OR STAY THE SAME?

>> I WOULD SAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DAYING THE SAME AND COULD BE TIGHTENED UP A BIT.

>> DEFINITELY NEED TO BE TIGHT YNDENED SO WE GET A BETTER REVENUE.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO LEGALIZE SPORTS GAMBLING IN VERMONT?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO DO A FULL ANALYSIS OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE BUT IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND SO ANY EFFORTS WE CAN MAKE TO BETTER PUT IT IN LIGHT SO PEOPLE CAN GET HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT IS BETTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WE HAVE ADVOCATED EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR THIS.

FINELY IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL COME TO FRUITION.

>> WOULD YOU SUPPORT A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT THE GOVERNOR'S ROLE TO FOUR YEARS IN OFFICE?

>> I THINK FOUR YEARS IS NECESSARY.

YES.

>> AT THIS TIME I THINK WE NEED úTO STICK WITH TWO YEARS.

>> BRENDA SEEJTS, YOU HAVE CRITICIZED GOVERNOR SCOTT.

CAN YOU NAME ONE POLICY YOU AGREE WITH HIM ON?

GOVERNOR SCOTT I'LL ASK THE SAME OF YOU.

>> REENCH RESETTLEMENT.

>> I WOULD SAY WE AGREE WITH THE GOALS IN TERMS OF LIKE OUR OPIOID MISUSES AND OVER DOSES AND SO FORTH.

THE GOAL IS THE SAME.

HOW WE GET THERE IS DIFFERENT.

>> THANK YOU.

PLEASE NAME ONE INDIVIDUAL ACTION YOU HAVE TAKEN TO LOWER YOUR OWN CARBON FOOTPRINT.

GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> WELL, WHETHER IT'S THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE FOR OUR STATE SECURITY THAT DRIVES ME AROUND, BUT ALSO I HAVE LIVED THAT.

I RECYCLE.

I HAVE SOLAR PANEL.

I DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP OUR HEAT DOWN TO 58.

WE DO EVERYTHING.

>> VERY COLD.

BRENDA SIEGEL.

>> I RECYCLE AND I USE COMPOSTING AS MUCH AS I CAN.

UNFORTUNATELY SOME SOLUTIONS LIKE SOLAR PANELS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO ME AS SOMEONE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.

>> THANK YOU.

WHAT IS ONE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OR POLICY ABOUT WHICH YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR MIND?

BRENDA SIEGEL.

>> DRUG POLICY.

I WOULD SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF MY FAMILY JOURNEY I FELT VERY DIFFERENTLY AND HAD A LOT OF SIMILAR DRUG WAR TYPES OF BELIEFS.

BECAUSE I LEARNED THROUGH SCIENCE AND DATA I CHANGED MY MIND.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> I WOULD HAVE TO SAY PROBABLY THE GUN POLICY.

SOME OF THE CHANGES WE MADE BACK IN 2016, 2017.

WHICH DISAPPOINTED A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY.

>> VERMONT IS THE ONLY NEW ENGLAND STATE THAT APPLIES THE RENEWABLE LABEL TO LARGE HYDROPOWER PRODUCERS LIKE HYDRO-QUEBEC.

SHOULD VERMONT CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE?

>> YES.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

DISPLACES INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT UPDATING THE STATE'S RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD TO CAP LARGE HYDROPOWER IN FAVOR OF MORE LOCAL THERE WIND AND SOLAR POWER?

>> YES.

>> WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT ALL.

>> NAME ANOTHER STATE'S GOVERNOR WHO YOU ADMIRE.

GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> GOVERNOR BAKER FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

>> WHY?

>> HE JUST IS A VERY STRAIGHT AND NARROW -- HE'S JUST A GREAT PERSON THAT DOES FOR THE PEOPLE.

HE WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE.

HE JUST WANTS GOOD GOVERNMENT.

I TRY TO FOLLOW HIS LEAD.

>> BRENDA SIEGEL.

>> GOVERNOR MILLS, JANET MILLS FROM MAINE.

SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB LISTENING TO ADVOCATES AND BRINGING THEM TO THE TABLE L. SHE'S BEEN INCREDIBLE.

>> VERY HUMOROUS AS WELL.

>> WE'LL END WITH ONE MORE QUESTION AND MAKE IT A FUN ONE.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VERMONT TOWN TO VISIT?

>> OH, BOY.

TO VISIT.

THAT'S HARD!

LET'S SEE.

I THINK MY FAVORITE VERMONT TOWN TO VISIT IS THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM.

SOMETIMES BURLINGTON BECAUSE MY SON IS THERE.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> ELMORE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE DID IT.

TIME NOW FOR ONE MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENTS FROM EACH CANDIDATE AND THE ORDER WAS DETERMINED RANDOMLY BEFORE THE SHOW AND BRENDA SIEGEL STARTS US OFF.

>> IN THE LAST SIX YEARS THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO VERMONTERS HAVE NOT GOTTEN BETTER, THEY HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.

VERMONT HAS NOT BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE, IT'S BECOME LESS.

THE HOUSING CRISIS A IS BARRELING AT US AND THERE'S NO PLAN.

WE HAVE SEEN THE MOST OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE AND THE GOVERNOR IS VETOING THE BILLS.

THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS EXPLODING AND WE HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STOPPING PROGRESS.

THERE ARE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WE FACE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO THROW OUR HANDS UP ANY MORE.

TOGETHER WE CAN HAVE SAFE AND STRONG COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS A TOUGH FIGHT.

BUT IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE TOUGHEST I HAVE FACED IN MY LIFE AND I AM STILL STANDING.

I KNOW VERMONTERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE TO GET UP EVERY DAY AND FIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT'S HARD AND I'M INVITING ALL OF YOU TO JOIN ME AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BUILD A BLIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE VERMONT THAT WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE READY FOR THIS MOMENT.

I'M BRENDA SIEGEL AND I WOULD BE PROUD TO SERVE AS YOUR NEXT GOVERNOR.

>> GOVERNOR SCOTT.

>> WHETHER IT'S MANAGING ONCE IN A CENTURY CRISIS OR BUILDING A BUDGET THAT LIVES WITHIN OUR MEANS, BEING GOVERNOR IS ABOUT MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE NO EASY OR PERFECT ST. LUKE'S SO YOU END UP WEIGHING YOUR OPTIONS AND MAKING A DECISION TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY AND BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE.

AFTER YEARS OF PRESS CONFERENCES I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW I MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE FACTS.

ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS RIGHT AND WHAT WILL HELP EVERYDAY VERMONTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES THE MOST.

WHAT I WON'T DO IS OVER-PROMISE TO GET YOUR VOTE.

WHAT I WILL DO IS TO CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, RESPECT, AND CIVILITY.

WE HAVE MANY HISTORIC CHALLENGES HERE IN VERMONT RIGHT BEFORE US.

THEY HAVE PLAGUED US FOR DECADES BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THAT TODAY.

IF WE PUT PARTISANSHIP ASIDE AND THEN WORK TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON THESE THREE GUIDING PRINCIPLES.

GROW THE ECONOMY, MAKE VERMONT MORE AFFORDABLE AND PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> THANK YOU TO BOTH OUR CANDIDATES.

THIS S CONCLUDES THE DEBATE WITH THE CANDIDATES GORE GOVERNOR.

THANK YOU TO BRENDA SIEGEL FROM NEWFANE AND INCUMBENT GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT.

JOIN US AGAIN ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, WHEN MY COLLEAGUE CONNOR CYRUS WILL MODERATE THE DEBATE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

YOU CAN STILL SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THAT DEBATE BY EMAILING VOTE@VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG I'M MY CLAY LEFRAK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.

WE'LL CATCH UP AGAIN SOON.