27-2
Purpose: To benefit economic development by attracting new workers to Vermont and promoting Vermont as a good place to live and work.
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Analysis: The original “pay to move” program was enacted in 2018 and went into effect for people moving to Vermont who work remotely for jobs in other states in January 2019. The program reimburses moving and other expenses of up to $5000 a year for two years ($10,000 total maximum). This bill would expand the program to include workers moving to Vermont to take a full time job with a Vermont based employer with a maximum payout of $7500. Payments would only reflect actual, itemized expenses, and would only be made when the income tax liability of the mover reached the amount of the claim.
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Those voting YES believe this is a cost-effective economic development plan, necessary to deal with Vermont’s chronic labor shortage and demographic crisis.
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Those voting NO believe the money could be better used elsewhere, specifically citing student loan repayment.
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Other concerns with the program cite the negative branding of Vermont as a place so economically unattractive you have to pay people to move here. A better approach would be to make Vermont economically attractive to all workers through lower taxes and meaningful regulatory reform, not just the small number who qualify for and receive a subsidy.
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Senate Journal, Friday, April 12, 2019. “Thereupon, third reading of the bill was ordered on a roll call, Yeas 27, Nays 2.” (Read the Journal, p. 567-571)
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Related: $10,000 Bribe Undercuts Vermont’s Brand
How They Voted
Timothy Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) – PRESIDING
Becca Balint (D-Windham) – YES
Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) – YES
Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia) – YES
Christopher Bray (D-Addison) – YES
Randy Brock (R-Franklin) – YES
Brian Campion (D-Bennington) – YES
Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor) – YES
Brian Collamore (R-Rutland) – YES
Ann Cummings (D-Washington) – YES
Ruth Hardy (D-Addison) – YES
Cheryl Hooker (D-Rutland) – YES
Debbie Ingram (D-Chittendent) – YES
M. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) – YES
Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) – YES
Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) – YES
Richard Mazza (D-Chittenden-Grand Isle) – YES
Richard McCormack (D-Windsor) – YES
James McNeil (R-Rutland) – YES
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor District) – YES
Corey Parent (R-Franklin) – YES
Chris Pearson (P-Chittenden) – NO
Andrew Perchlik (D-Washington) – YES
Anthony Pollina (P/D/W-Washington) – NO
John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Sears (D-Bennington) – YES
Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden) – YES
Robert Starr (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) – YES
Jeanette White (D-Windham) – YES
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
These people are friggin crazy. What do they think they are really accomplishing? If they would reduce government overreach and over taxation, people would come here on their own, because there would be more jobs. Please give these people and economics 101 book.
The 2 members who voted no were Progressives.
once again it’s the “we know better them (citizens)” mentality!
how about incentivizing people to move here by having less taxes and regulation.
i hope they put in the brochure: we are doubling the taxes on fuel, we are mandating $15 min wage which will cost you more for products and you cant build easily, your property taxes will continue to go up. the school system is a mess.
Lastly the state has no evidence/data that the laws they have passed over the last shumlin decade has not shown any benefit other than politicians getting votes for saying its free and it wont cost you anything, only the rich pay not the politicians. we never tax ourselves, that would be wrong