For Immediate Release
September 24, 2020
Contact:
Mike Donohue
mike@scottmilne.org
202-525-9835
Molly Gray’s Proposals Would Bust Vermont’s Budget; Cost Over $500 Million
POMFRET, VT - Mike Donohue, press secretary for the Scott Milne for Lieutenant Governor campaign, released the following statement regarding candidate Molly Gray’s proposals:
“Vermonters deserve to know the truth regarding what the candidates for Lieutenant Governor are promising,” said Donohue. “During last night’s Channel 17 gubernatorial debate, Molly Gray ducked a question regarding the cost of her plans, and indicated Scott Milne probably didn’t consider the cost of his plans. In the limited areas where there has been specificity in Gray’s proposals, the Scott Milne campaign was able to identify unaffordable ideas that would bust Vermont’s budget.
“Across just six policy ideas, Gray has proposed more than half a billion dollars in new state spending, in both one-time and recurring appropriations. Gray’s proposals are unrealistic, unachievable, and would force both higher taxes and deep programmatic cuts. Importantly, Gray has laid out no plan to pay for this more than $500 million in state spending.
“In contrast, Scott Milne has released ProgressVT, a comprehensive policy blueprint that addresses key issues facing Vermont in a fiscally responsible manner. Indeed, Milne’s proposal includes opportunities to achieve significant cost savings in state government without making deep cuts to crucial programs, such as by merging certain agencies and departments, repealing Certificate of Need (CON) laws, modernizing outdated boards, reining-in the budget growth of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, and more.
“The choice is clear in this election. Scott Milne’s reforms would set Vermont on a strong path forward to prosperity. In the midst of an economic crisis and global pandemic, Vermonters deserve a Lieutenant Governor who not only has experience balancing a budget, but also has a clear and realistic vision.”
Proposal | Cost |
TOTAL | $563.78 million |
Proposal | Cost | Proposal | Savings |
Social Security Tax Repeal | $23.9 million recurring | Repealing Certificate of Need Laws | $45.6 million recurring |
EITC Expansion | $3.3 million recurring | Asset Testing Property Tax Adjustments | $6 million recurring |
Military Retirement Income Tax Repeal | $2.8 million recurring | Unifying Law Enforcement Under APS | $2.93 million recurring |
Expanding Medical Deduction | $2 million recurring | Merging ACCD and DOL | $2.13 million recurring |
Angel Investor Tax Credit | $1.25 million recurring | UI Program Integrity | $750,000 recurring |
VSC Funding Boost | $23.8 million one-time | Lt. Gov Office Budget Restraint | $25,000 recurring |
TOTAL | $57.05 million | TOTAL | $57.44 million |
Scott Milne knows how difficult COVID-19 has been for so many Vermonters whose lives and livelihoods have been upended. Now more than ever, we need more leaders in Montpelier who understand the challenge of running a small business and creating and protecting good jobs. Scott is running for lieutenant governor in order to help move Vermont through our economic recovery and toward a more prosperous future. https://www.scottmilne.org/.
For more information, please visit our website at www.scottmilne.org.