“Feels Good with the Direction Vermont” is Going Without Joining Scheme
During a 10:00 a.m. Zoom call with the New England Council, Vermont Republican Governor Phil Scott was asked about the controversial Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) and Gov. Scott provided a lengthy explanation for why he feels Vermont should not join.
Below are excerpts from Gov. Scott’s response against TCI:
“I had a lot of pressure to join TCI.”
“I wasn’t seeing how this could work for Vermont and I am not convinced today that it works for Vermont”
“At one point someone had said ‘You would get more out of this than you would put in’ and we tried to use that formula and never did came to the conclusion that we would get more out of this, more resources out of this, than we would put in. Every time we do the calculus, we come up with we will spend more money to help other states and it wasn’t going to help us all that much.”
“I didn’t see the merits.”
“I saw other states dropping out as well”
“I feel good about the direction we are going without the need to raise taxes and certainly not a regressive carbon tax.”
The video of Governor Scott’s comments to the New England Council may be found by clicking here and look to the 33:10 mark. Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance offered the following response.
“Governor Scott delivered a strong case for why TCI does not work for Vermont and wont work for the rest of New England. Gov. Scott is right to describe it as a regressive carbon gas tax because that is exactly what it is. The scheme would force ordinary working people and low-income families to subsidize electric vehicles, something currently seen as mostly a luxury toy for rich people. The scheme has a very limited appeal and Gov. Scott is correct to reaffirm his opposition to TCI,” stated Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.
“Yesterday, a bi-partisan group of citizens took the first step to bring TCI before the voters of Massachusetts in 2022. The people that will most feel the pressure of the price increases and shortages that will result from TCI deserve a voice in this process. Drivers should be free to make their own decisions and TCI should never restrict the amount of gasoline Massachusetts consumers can use,” concluded Craney.