Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s Covid-19 press conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 3/22/22.
At Governor Scott’s press conference today the main focus was on housing, a top priority of the Scott administration for the last five years. The Administration’s request was partially funded with ARPA funds and Governor Scott is asking the legislature to fund the balance, $145 million this session. Proposals are focused on housing for working families and Vermonters and supporting the “missing middle” where housing is practically nonexistent. He asked for $70 million of this year’s money be put in the budget adjustment to be immediately dispersed, but instead the monies went into two distinct bills and he has concerns that it is moving too slowly and now includes bills that he has previously vetoed, the contractor registry, and rental registry. “Let’s pass a bill that includes the areas we agree on quickly so we can begin the work we need to do.”
NOTES:
- Commissioner Hanford:
- We have a housing availability and affordability problem in Vermont
- Build new houses; fix the ones we have; and leave vulnerable neighbors behind
- Federal aid and strong state revenue gives us a once-in-a- generation opportunity to make a real difference
- Governor’s proposed comprehensive & strategic housing investment plan
- $250 million from ARPA with 2/3 yet unused; funding currently slowed by unrelated policy discussion in legislature
- Must reinvest and revitalize housing stock
- 650 units wanting to participate in program; invest in manufactured housing for underserved population
- 350 vacant home lots could be prepped and made into homes with this funding
- New programs to address crisis and affordable home equity gap will continue to grow; tangible proposals mired in legislative policy bills; allocate federal funding to make happen as soon as possible and use federal recovery dollars as intended
- Dr. Levine:
- Recent change to testing program–make appointment to take home rapid test at many locations;
- Testing most important to high risk situations – symptoms, close contact with positive case, not up to date on vaccines
- Advises taking action as soon as possible if tested positive
- Vaccine clinics – robust clinics throughout the state thanks to many schools, business clinics barnstorming, special events
- Majority of Vermonters are highly protected
- Use of state clinics very low now, moving to getting vaccine much like other vaccines, from pharmacy, healthcare providers
- Still waiting on approval 6 month to 4 years and when available get through clinician’s office rather than health department registration system
- Will continue to fill gaps through small community clinics
- Remain prepared to ramp up if needed
- Continue to monitor BA2 here and abroad; more contagious and may see uptick in cases; uncertain if US will surge or prolonged tail
- Less severe illness; hospitalization more meaningful measure and not showing at this time in VT
- Plenty of testing and access to treatment for those at serious risk
- 5+ should have their 2 shots; 12+ should have their booster; 65-69 up to date, 79%; 70-74, 87%; 75+, 84% highest in country but should be even higher
Questions:
- Auditors report on overpayment of healthcare providers?
- Gov. Scott – Will look at report in depth; think we made best decisions at the time
- How’s your road?
- Gov. Scott – Fine but know some places are being challenged
- Can you put BA2 variant in perspective? What about 4th shot?
- Dr. Levine – experience from other countries where low rate previous infection:
- Europe a lot of cases but not serious outcomes
- UK seeing surge along with hospitalizations but most of that area has not
- US NE and west more concentration of signs of BA2– higher percentage of whole genome sequencing with NE now 55% prior 38
- 1.4 – 1.6 x more transmissible
- Not taken off as a surge at this time; wait and see; may have enough in US vaccinated or already have Covid
- In US Moderna & Pfizer submitted data to FDA; advisory panel will review
- Right now not saying 4th needed but more annual booster much like the flu
- Dr. Levine – experience from other countries where low rate previous infection:
- Should legislature move forward on contractor registry other rental registry?
- Gov. Scott – laid out position and clear path forward for both in veto letter; have ability to fix the two bills or override veto;
- Don’t have to add to housing crisis; will add conditions, insurance, level of bureaucracy for small contractors that may close up shop and choose to work for larger businesses;
- Those that may supplement portion of income precludes them from doing so because of regulation that comes with it
- Comm. Hanford – focused on choice for housing; not registries
- Gov. Scott – laid out position and clear path forward for both in veto letter; have ability to fix the two bills or override veto;
- Clean heat standard, can you sign that bill?
- Gov. Scott – will depend on how they move forward – problem is with advocating position/authority to PUC
- How will changes at the Canadian border impact VT business?
- Gov. Scott – will help in some respects, see more activity with travelers and tourists; COVID is not gone and we’ll learn how to deal with that – protecting others when sick and testing
- Dr. Levine – observed 1/4 to 1/3 still wearing masks out in grocery stores etc.; people are out there and that‘s what important
- Comment on Feds raising interest rates?
- Comm. Hanford – added cost to Vermonters but right now lack of supply is more of a concern; mortgage rates obviously have impact but need more homes for people to find
- Congress’s lack of funding for COVID and related?
- Gov. Scott – okay for now; COVID not over and there’s still a role for government to play; pharmacies, insurance companies playing a role; feds not for perpetuity but for a bit longer
- Number of clinics being dropped as we transition?
- Sec. Samuelson – looking closely at numbers and availability of testing and vax in each community to ensure opportunity within 30 mins. from home
- Rising gas prices – anything administration is doing?
- Gov. Scott – ratcheting effect impacts all of us especially given VT is so rural; nothing we can fix; some states eliminate car gas tax but that is temporary and would preclude us from using that money in the future; 28 cents not that significant; not off the table but don’t see it happening; promote public transportation; encourage carpool.
- The $2,500 construction bill – is there a number that would work?
- Gov. Scott – believe veto letter raised the amount to $10,000
- Progress of evaluation of cooling systems in schools?
- Gov. Scott – not certain of where it’s at; it’s not just AC but HVAC and need for better circulating air
- Sec. French – focus is on air quality policy work, pulling initiatives together, and collecting information to put into project for schools over a couple of years;
- Will information be made public when you make an initial determination?
- Sec. French – reviewing first draft of inventory report and will report to general assembly to set groundwork for future policy deliberations
- Housing crisis – one area of state of more concern than another?
- Gov. Scott – really all sectors there is a need
- Comm. Hanford – needs across state but needs may be different; rehabilitation; smart growth; diverse set of needs and solutions but every corner has housing problems
- Housing and the general assistance program – way to avoid keeping folks in program?
- Gov. Scott – initial goal to help those that need it most; temporary housing is not the answer
- Comm. Hanford – $150 million last year towards housing development largely to help folks exiting homelessness
- $50 million approved this year for same with another $50 in the works
- of the $250 million put forward about $200 million is for affordable housing stressing need for most vulnerable
- about 800 units built and 800 in construction and about half of those for those existing homelessness
- successful in moving about 1300 families in exiting homelessness into permanent housing
- Ukraine refuges in VT?
- Gov. Scott – nothing to report at this time; it will take some time; focusing on Afghan refugees and will support Ukraine refugees if opportunity presented
- How do you perceive how the legislature is moving on Act 250 changes?
- Gov. Scott – not moving quickly enough; perennial issue and need to modernize; the time to act is now
- Comm. Hanford – common understanding on Act 250 relief areas that can be developed now with those that have adequate infrastructure; need to remove barriers to smart growth
- Date for last state-run vaccine clinic and winding down of registration portal?
- Sec. Samuel – not a specific date; probably sometime in mid-April
- It’s been several weeks since optional masking in schools, any reports at state level on how it is going?
- Sec. French – Not seeing pattern change; schools welcoming the change and focusing on getting back to normal, as best they can
- Have you had change to study H 606?
- Gov. Scott – 30 by 30 not problematic, almost there (higher 20% range)
- 50 by 50 more concerning; see how it works it way through the legislature
- Gov. Scott – 30 by 30 not problematic, almost there (higher 20% range)
- You vetoed S30 and S4 was approved by House and Senate, are you considering a veto?
- Gov. Scott – laid out in veto letter and if followed veto letter will let that go; not aware of Sen. Benning’s argument when initially conferred with senate
- Three largest hospitals looking to increase rate to insurers pushing back. Can Vermonters pay more?
- Gov. Scott – always concerned about costs for Vermonters, effect of inflation, and increase in cost of goods and services
- Auditor’s report, if found to be true – do you think that money should be given back?
- Gov. Scott – no one has asked for it, this is the auditor’s opinion
- Sec. Samuelson – important to remember context of when these payments were made; program was successful in stabilizing at that time
- Always planned to do a post-payment review of providers and have started that process and not seeing fraudulent behavior
- Feel overall has been a success