MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont Governor Phil Scott says a budget bill at the Statehouse will put the kibosh on his bundled sale of flood relief license plates and socks.
After this summer’s floods, Scott revived the “Vermont Strong” plates first introduced after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. But this time he also partnered with sock company Darn Tough through an executive order to raise money, something lawmakers say he does not have the authority to do because the Vermont Constitution says raising fees is a power reserved for the legislative branch.
The House passed its mid-year Budget Adjustment Act, which clarifies that license plate revenue go to the General Fund and be earmarked for natural disaster relief. There’s also additional language in the bill that would end bundling plates and socks together over concerns of a lack of process for other companies to be involved with flood recovery.
But the governor Wednesday took a dig at lawmakers saying they are trying to ban his bundled fundraiser. “We have some socks that we need to get rid of, this is more of a promotion for us. So, if you don’t have your socks and plates, get them while you can,” Scott said.
“We all support flood recovery and love Darn Tough but we want to make sure there is a process that allows for equitable access for all of our great Vermont businesses,” said Conor Kennedy, the Chief of Staff for House Speaker Jill Krowinski.
The plates — which will remain available for purchase on their own — have so far raked in about $1 million.
The feud is the latest dust-up between the Republican governor and Democratic lawmakers this early in the session, and with it being an election year, it likely won’t be the last.
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