Roll Call! House Fails to Override Governor’s Veto on Paid Family Leave (99-51), 2020

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FAILED
in the State House of Representatives
on February 5, 2020 by a vote of 
99-51

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Purpose: To override Governor Scott’s veto by attaining 100 votes. This would establish a new payroll tax on employees ($30 million annually) in order to fund a government-mandated Paid Family Leave program allowing employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child, or 8 weeks for family care.
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Analysis:  This vote would establish a government-mandated insurance program. The program would be funded by a new employee payroll tax of 0.2%, on income up to $137,000. Employees can elect to pay an additional 0.38% of their wages to obtain medical leave of 6 weeks maximum.
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While all Vermont employees would have their wages taxed, only employees who work at least 675 hours annually (13 hours a week) for a single employer would be eligible to receive the paid leave or to opt-in to the medical leave. A Vermont wage earner making the median income ($50k/year) would be taxed an additional $100 annually. Employers would have the option to pay some or all of the employee’s 0.2% wage tax.
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JFO analysis indicates that employees who use the benefit would receive 90% of their weekly wages that are at or below the $13.26/hr Vermont Average Weekly Wage ($27,582/yr). They would get an additional 55% of their weekly wages that exceed the VAWW. For example, a worker making $20/hr ($41,601/yr) who uses the benefit would receive $625 weekly ($477 for their income qualifying as VAWW, plus $148). The maximum benefit would be capped at $1,334 per week.
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In 2022, Vermonters are estimated to be taxed $30 million to pay for $25 million to Vermonters opting for birth and family leave according to Joint Fiscal Office analysis. In 2023, Vermonters are projected to pay less into the program than is needed to cover the cost: $30.8 million in taxes to fund $30.4 million in benefits, a 1.3% shortfall. The underfunding is projected to continue.
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So, we can expect the tax (0.2%) and the price (0.38%) to increase in the future, with no hard cap set.
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Those voting
YES believe this program is a desirable benefit that will help retain and attract young families to Vermont. They argue the program must be mandatory or a lack of voluntary participation will drive up premium costs for those who do choose to enter the program. They believe Vermonters who would turn down coverage are too optimistic about their chances to never need coverage. The Legislature needs to override their lapse in judgement and force them to receive what’s in their best interest.
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Those voting NO believe Vermont cannot afford another tax/entitlement program. Many of these “no” votes favor a bill for creating a program that would give Vermonters the option of paying into a program in order to obtain coverage. They may also fear the tax rates will have to rise to continue coverage.
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House Journal, Wednesday, February 6th, 2020. “Pursuant to Chapter 2, Section 11, of the Vermont Constitution the Clerk proceeded to call the roll and the question, Shall the bill pass the failure of the Governor to approve notwithstanding? was decided in the negative. Yeas, 99. Nays, 51. A two thirds vote of 100 required…” (Read the Journal, p. 239-242) 
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Related:
Roll Call! House Passes Payroll Tax to Fund Paid Family Leave, 2020, initial vote before override
JFO Analysis (Jan 2020)  
 Roll Call! Senate Passes Payroll Tax to Fund Paid Family Leave, 2020

How They Voted

(Click on your Rep’s name to send an email)

Janet Ancel (D – Calais) – YES
Peter Anthony (D – Barre) – YES
Sarita Austin (D – Colchester) – YES
Robert Bancroft (R – Westford) – NO
John Bartholomew (D – Hartland) – YES
Lynn Batchelor (R – Derby) – NO
Christopher Bates (D – Bennington) – NO
Scott Beck (R – St. Johnsbury) – NO
Matthew Birong (D – Vergennes) – YES
Thomas Bock (D – Chester) – YES
Patrick Brennan (R – Colchester) – NO
Timothy Briglin (D – Thetford) – YES
Nelson Brownell (D – Pownal) – YES
Cynthia Browning (D – Arlington) – NO
Jessica Brumsted (D – Shelburne) – YES
Thomas Burditt (R – West Rutland) – NO
Mollie Burke (P – Brattleboro) – YES
Scott Campbell (D – St. Johnsbury) – YES
William Canfield (R – Fair Haven) – NO
James Carroll (D – Bennington) – YES
Seth Chase (D – Colchester) – YES
Robin Chesnut-Tangerman (P – Middletown Springs) – YES
Annmarie Christensen (D – Weathersfield) – YES
Kevin “Coach” Christie (D – Hartford) – YES
Brian Cina (P – Burlington) – YES
Sara Coffey (D – Guilford) – YES
Selene Colburn (P – Burlington) – YES
Hal Colston (D – Winooski) – YES
Peter Conlon (D – Cornwall) – YES
Charles Conquest (D – Newbury) – YES
Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (D – Bradford) – YES
Timothy Corcoran (D – Bennington) – YES
Mari Cordes (D/P – Lincoln) – YES
Lawrence Cupoli (R – Rutland) – NO
Carl Demrow (D – Corinth) – YES
Eileen Dickinson (R – St. Albans) – NO
Kari Dolan (D – Waitsfield) – YES
Anne Donahue (R – Northfield) – NO
Johannah Dovan (D – Burlington) – YES
David Durfee (D – Shaftsbury) – YES
Caleb Elder (D – Starksboro) – YES
Alice Emmons (D – Springfield) – YES
Peter Fagan (R – Rutland) – NO
Charen Fegard (D – Berkshire) – YES
Martha Feltus (R – Lyndon) – NO
Marianna Gamache (R – Swanton) – NO
John Gannon (D – Wilmington) – YES
Marcia Gardner (D – Richmond) – YES
Dylan Giambatista (D – Essex) – YES
Diana Gonzalez (P – Wioski) – NO
Kenneth Goslant (R – Northfield) – NO
Maxine Grad (D – Moretown) – YES
Rodney Graham (R – Williamstown) – NO
James Gregoire (R – Fairfield) – NO
Sandy Haas (P – Rochester) – YES
Lisa Hango (R – Birkshire) – NO
James Harrison (R – Chittenden) – NO
Nader Hashim (D – Dummerston) – YES
Robert Helm (R – Fair Haven) – NO
Mark Higley (R – Lowell) – NO
Matthew Hill (D – Wolcott) – YES
Robert Hooper (D – Burlington) – YES
Philip Hooper (D – Randolph) – YES
Mary Hooper (D – Montpelier) – YES
Lori Houghton (D – Essex) – YES
Mary Howard (D – Rutland) – YES
Kathleen James (D – Manchester) – YES
Stephanie Jerome (D – Brandon) – YES
Kimberly Jessup (D – Middlesex) – YES
Mitzi Johnson (D – Grand Isle) – YES
John Killacky (D – S. Burlington) – YES
Charles Kimbell (D – Woodstock) – YES
Warren Kitzmiller (D – Montpelier) – YES
Emilie Kornheiser (D – Brattleboro) – YES

Jill Krowinski (D – Burlington) – YES
Robert LaClair (R – Barre) – NO
Martin LaLonde (D – S. Burlington) – YES
Diane Lanpher (D – Vergennes) – YES
Paul Lefebvre (R – Newark) – NO
Felisha Leffler (R – Esburgh) – NO
William Lippert (D – Hinesburg) – YES
Emily Long (D – Newfane) – YES
Terence Macaig (D – Williston) – YES
Michael Marcotte (R – Coventry) – NO
Marcia Martel (R – Waterford) – NO
James Masland (D – Thetford) – YES
Christopher Mattos (R – Milton) – NO
Michael McCarthy (D – St. Albans) – YES
Curtis McCormack (D – Burlington) – YES
Patricia McCoy (R – Poultney) – NO
James McCullough (D – Williston) – YES
Francis McFaun (R – Barre) – NO
Leland Morgan (R – Milton) – NO
Kristi Morris (D – Springfield) – YES
Mary Morrissey (R – Bennington) – NO
Michael Mrowicki (D – Putney) – YES
Barbara Murphy (I – Fairfax) – NO
Linda Myers (R – Essex) – NO
Logan Nicoll (D – Ludlow) – YES
Terry Norris (I – Shoreham) – NO
William Notte (D – Rutland) – YES
Daniel Noyes (D – Wolcott) – YES
John O’Brien (D – Tunbridge) – YES
Jean O’Sullivan (D – Burlington) – YES
Carol Ode (D – Burlington) – YES
“Woody” Page (R – Newport) – NO
Kelly Pajala (I – Londonderry) – NO
John Palasik (R – Milton) – NO
Carolyn Partridge (D – Windham) – YES
Avram Patt (D – Worcester) – YES
David Potter (D – Clarendon) – YES
Ann Pugh (D – S. Burlington) – YES
Constance Quimby (R – Concord) – NO
Barbara Rachelson (D – Burlington) – YES
Zachariah Ralph (P – Hartland) – YES
Marybeth Redmond (D – Essex) – YES
Peter Reed (I – Braintree) –  YES
Lucy Rogers (D – Waterville) – YES
Carl Rosenquist (R – Georgia) – NO
Brian Savage (R – Swanton) – NO
Robin Scheu (D – Middlebury) – YES
Heidi Scheuermann (R – Stowe) – NO
Patrick Seymour (R – Sutton) – NO
Charles “Butch” Shaw (R – Pittsford) – NO
Amy Sheldon (D – Middlebury) – YES
Laura Sibilia (I – Dover) – NO
Brian Smith (R – Derby) – NO
Harvey Smith (R – New Haven) – NO
Trevor Squirrell (D – Underhill) – YES
Thomas Stevens (D – Waterbury) – YES
Vicki Strong (R – Albany) – NO
Linda Joy Sullivan (D – Burlington) – YES
Mary Sullivan (D – Dorset) – NO
Randall Szott (D – Barnard) – NO
Curt Taylor (D – Colchester) – YES
Thomas Terenzini (R – Rutland) – NO
George Till (D – Jericho) – YES
Tristan Tole (D – Brattleboro) – YES
Catherine Toll (D – Danville) – YES
Casey Toof (R – St. Albans) – NO
Maida Townsend (D – South) – YES
Matthew Trieber (D – Rockingham) – YES
Joseph “Chip” Troia (D – Stannard) – YES
Tommy Walz (D – Barre) – YES
Kathryn Webb (D – Shelburne) – YES
Rebecca White (D – Hartford) – YES
Theresa Wood (D – Waterbury) – YES
David Yacovone (D – Morristown) – YES
Michael Yantachka (D – Charlotte) – YES
Samuel Young (D – Greensboro) – YES

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