Vt. House delays minimum wage veto override vote

The Vermont House is delaying a vote on whether to override Governor Phil Scott's most recent veto on raising the minimum wage.

Wednesday was the earliest day lawmakers could vote, but House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, has decided to postpone the action due to a number of lawmakers being absent.

The Senate voted last week to override the governor's veto by a vote of 24-6, but Democratic leaders are facing an uphill battle in the House, where the original vote on the bill passed 93-54, seven votes shy of the two-thirds majority required to override a veto.

As of this week, only one of the seven-- Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury-- confirmed she would vote to override. House leaders say they are trying to form a coalition of independents and Progressives to hit the 100-vote mark.

The stakes are high for Democratic leaders after a previous veto override on a paid family leave bill failed by just one vote two weeks ago.