Down the memory hole: Phil Scott’s Act 250 overhaul team strikes “climate change” from policy paper

local/regional, National, , , ,

Climate ChangeScottbalance

Vermont’s governor not only shares a name and party with Florida’s GOP governor but he apparently shares Governor Rick Scott’s documented problem using the term climate change. While using a maneuver right out of Florida’s playbook here in Vermont, Phil Scott’s administration has been caught eliminating the term climate change from proposed changes to Act 250 — the state’s environmental development law.

The scoop from the Burlington Free Press: At issue is a report by Scott administration officials that was submitted in October to legislators who are reviewing the nearly 50-year-old land-use law. As part of their review, legislators are looking specifically at whether development should be judged through the lens of climate change during the Act 250 permit process.

Tayt Brooks  — remember him? founder of right-wing conservative super pac Vermonters First, who now works as Director of Affordability and Economic Growth Initiatives for Phil Scott — took credit (or blame) for the editing climate change. Tayt Brooks, […] said the Scott administration remains receptive to possible provisions in Act 250 that would address climate change.

“We didn’t view it as a substantial change,” Brooks said of the edits.

He pointed out that the final draft of the administration’s report suggests that lawmakers’ review “should include consideration of climate change in Vermont.”

Yeah, right: consider it but for god’s sake don’t write it or say it out loud!

Governor Scott (ours) after a little trouble with the issue during his campaign — in 2016 he was evolving — has made some encouraging noises about climate change since taking office. He was even tagged recently by governing.com as a glowing example of : “[…] today’s moderate governors.” Phil may have trouble with that moderate label if he continues to try to have try to have it both ways on climate change — especially if he lets Tayt Brooks edit his policy proposals.

So, Tayt, when and where did you have your memory hole installed?

3 thoughts on “Down the memory hole: Phil Scott’s Act 250 overhaul team strikes “climate change” from policy paper”

  2. I’m disappointed this has not gotten more coverage. It is clear that Scott, while soft peddling in a aw shucks stile is work consistently to decouple from the current state energy agenda. We DO have an energy plan and are NOT complying with it.

    1. Yup,this one flew by well under the radar.
      At the end of last week, Scott in a business suit and toting garden hose posed outside in Montpelier for a photo-op in support of the state ice rink.
      Kind of ironic coming on the heels of news his admin edited out “climate change” (previously called global warming) from policy docs .

Comments are closed.