House suspends rules to take up H.10 and concurs in Senate amendment to Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program

The Vermont House suspended its rules to take up House Bill 10 and voted to concur in the Senate's proposal of amendment to the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive Program on Friday afternoon.

Member from Coventry, reporting for the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, told the chamber that when H.10 left the House it included committee changes to the VE-GI board, the use of the REMI model, and joint fiscal office involvement. "The Senate now sent back the bill that has taken all of that language out, but simply extends the sunset on the program itself for another two years," the Member from Coventry said, and asked the House to concur with the Senate proposal of amendment.

Member from Brattleboro — speaking for the House Ways and Means Committee — said Ways and Means had also reviewed the Senate changes and that the committee met with the new program director and was hopeful for future collaboration with Commerce on strengthening the program. The House then took the question on concurrence and, by voice vote, recorded that "the ayes do have it."

The action on H.10 was taken by suspension of the rules to allow immediate consideration; the House recorded concurrence in the Senate amendment and moved the bill forward consistent with the Senate's printed proposal of amendment. No roll-call tally of individual yeas or nays was recorded in the floor transcript; the passage is recorded as a voice vote.

The House recessed to continue other business later in the afternoon.