Scott urges lawmakers to take ‘another path’ on paid family leave

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Gov. Phil Scott on Wednesday again urged lawmakers to abandon their plans for an expensive universal paid family leave program and instead adopt his plan.

House and Senate lawmakers are negotiating the details of an $8 billion state spending plan including big investments in child care and paid family leave.

At his weekly press briefing, Scott said his administration’s voluntary paid family and medical leave plan is already in motion. He says his child care plan will open 4,000 slots without raising taxes.

Scott has said he’s opposed to new taxes and fees, and he is urging lawmakers to adopt his proposals. “It’s hard to communicate to Vermonters as to why we are raising their taxes and fees, it doesn’t make sense to them and it doesn’t make sense to me either. I think there’s another path forward,” said Scott, R-Vermont.

The conference committee on the budget is expected to wrap up its work in the coming weeks. A timeline for adjournment remains up in the air.

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