VT Senate Overrides Gov. Scott's Veto Of Global Warming Solutions Act: It's Now The Law
The Vermont Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of the Global Warming Solutions Act — legislation that legally requires the state to meet targets for reducing carbon emissions in the coming years. Since the House had already voted to override the veto, the measure is now law.
Without debating or discussing the legislation, the Democratic-controlled Senate swiftly voted, 22-8, to reverse Scott’s decision, meeting the two-thirds majority needed to override a gubernatorial veto. The House overrode Scott’s veto, 103-47, last week.
The Global Warming Solutions Act, HB 688, requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas pollution to 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. Emissions would need to be 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below by 2050. If the government fails to meet these goals, the bill allows individuals to sue the state, to force it into compliance. During Tuesday’s vote, the six Republicans in the Senate and two Democrats — Sens. Bobby Starr and John Rodgers of Essex/Orleans — voted to affirm the governor’s veto, while the rest of the upper chamber voted to override it.
While the legislation sets up new emissions reduction requirements, it does not spell out or dictate how the state will meet them. Instead, it forms a 23-member climate council — with the governor’s secretary of administration acting as the chair, and other members including state government officials, representatives from the manufacturing sector, citizen experts and others — to come up with a pollution reduction plan.
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https://www.vnews.com/Vermont-Senate-overrides-veto-of-Global-Warming-Solutions-Act-making-it-law-36398308
