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Vermont Senate gives preliminary approval to Budget Adjustment Act ahead of final vote

Vermont State House
WPTZ
Vermont State House
SOURCE: WPTZ
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Vermont Senate gives preliminary approval to Budget Adjustment Act ahead of final vote
The Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to the Budget Adjustment Act on Wednesday afternoon, as legislators approved the bill for a second time.To date, nothing about the BAA has changed, and lawmakers are still looking to extend the eligibility format for the Hotel-Motel Voucher Program through the end of June, even though many people were already exited from the program on Tuesday.On the floor, Democratic senators questioned the legality of Gov. Phil Scott's executive order from Friday that extends stays for families with children under 19, as well as expecting mothers in their third trimester and people with certain disabilities.They said they feel that the move is an overextension of Scott's power as governor and that it circumvents the legislative process.Members of the Vermont House already gave preliminary approval for the BAA last month, with a vote of 91-55. When asked about those concerns before the BAA hit the floor on Wednesday, Scott said he believes he is within his full legal right to make those changes."If they have concerns about the legality, they can just adopt our executive order and put it on the BAA. And that would be something I could sign," he said.A vote for final approval of the bill is expected on Thursday.

The Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to the Budget Adjustment Act on Wednesday afternoon, as legislators approved the bill for a second time.

To date, nothing about the BAA has changed, and lawmakers are still looking to extend the eligibility format for the Hotel-Motel Voucher Program through the end of June, even though many people were already exited from the program on Tuesday.

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On the floor, Democratic senators questioned the legality of Gov. Phil Scott's executive order from Friday that extends stays for families with children under 19, as well as expecting mothers in their third trimester and people with certain disabilities.

They said they feel that the move is an overextension of Scott's power as governor and that it circumvents the legislative process.

Members of the Vermont House already gave preliminary approval for the BAA last month, with a vote of 91-55.

When asked about those concerns before the BAA hit the floor on Wednesday, Scott said he believes he is within his full legal right to make those changes.

"If they have concerns about the legality, they can just adopt our executive order and put it on the BAA. And that would be something I could sign," he said.

A vote for final approval of the bill is expected on Thursday.