April 22, 2022
This story originally appeared in VSEA’s Week In Action Newsletter. Subscribe here!
VSEA members, retirees and supporters are being asked to continue to contact the Governor’s Office to voice opposition to his last-minute demand to insert “choice” language in the bill that was previously rejected by the bipartisan Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force, which included a representative from the Administration (who supported the proposal that is now being held up by his boss).
The Governor used his press conference this week to continue dangling the threat of a veto of the budget if the Task Force’s proposal moves forward without his desired language. Standing beside the Governor at his press conference was David Coates; the wealthy Vermonter who is chief cheerleader for destroying the defined benefit pension plan.
Press from Tuesday’s press conference.
- WCAX: [State] Says The Bipartisan Pension Pay Down Plan Doesn’t Go Far Enough
- WAMC:Vermont Governor Focuses On State Pension Fund Bill During Weekly Briefing
Shortly after the Governor’s press conference wrapped, VSEA leaders issued a press release to respond to and rebut what was said from the presser’s podium.
Many VSEA members and retirees who saw or listened to the press conference contacted headquarters to let VSEA know that they appreciated the union’s response because they are also very angry about the last-minute obstructionism by the Administration.
VSEA continues to remind members about these key points:
- The Governor signed the bill that created the Pension Task Force, which included an appointed representative of the Administration who supported the compromise;
- The unanimous vote in support of the compromise was bipartisan with members of all parties in agreement;
- The Governor failed to propose these changes during five months of Task Force’s meetings.; and
- Now, at the very last minute, the Governor continues to threaten the entire deal by demanding that the agreement be reopened, so the State can make major changes to the existing pension plan.
On Thursday, three members of the Governor’s team tried to make the State’s case about the pension plan to the legislature’s Joint Pension Oversight Committee. Thankfully, their testimony was met with some pushback, primarily from the lawmakers on the committee who sat on the Task Force for months negotiating the bipartisan proposal.
Press from Wednesday’s hearing:
- VPR: [State] At Odds With Lawmakers Over Pension And Budget Bills
- Seven Days: Lawmakers Push Back On [State’s] Budget, Pension Complaints
- WCAX: State Demands Changes To Lawmakers’ Pension Deal
Keep Calling & Emailing!
VSEA is encouraging members to continue calling the Governor at (802) 828-3333, or e-mailing him using this link! Tell him you want him to support both the pension bill and the State budget. A deal is a deal.
See Also:
- ACTION ALERT! Governor Scott Threatens To Reopen Pension Fight!
- Legislative Update: April 19, 2022
- View More Recent VSEA Pension Posts
Questions About This Page?
Please email vsea@vsea.org.