Gov. vetoes two bills, Burlington ranked choice voting passed into law - WCAX

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MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Governor Phil Scott announced action on several bills Thursday.

Scott vetoed two bills, one would create a drug use standards advisory board within the Vermont Sentencing Commission.

He also vetoed a bill expanding eligibility for expungement of criminal records for non-violent crimes.

Representative Selene Colburn, a Progressive in Burlington, supported both bills. She says she’s upset about the outcome.

“We are not talking about reducing penalties for violent crimes or changing expungement eligibility. We are simply talking about treating people who have used drugs and who have struggled with substance use disorder with dignity and respect and the basic belief that their lives are valuable,” said Colburn.

Rep. Colburn says these bills also would have gotten rid of outdated language in Vermont laws.

Meanwhile, ranked choice voting in the Queen City passes into law without the governor’s signature.

In a ranked choice voting system, voters rank their choices 1, 2, 3 and so on.

Ten years ago, Burlingtonians rejected it, saying it had flaws. But voters approved it last year.

City charter changes need approval from the State Legislature.

Governor Scott says he does not support ranked choice voting, but since he didn’t sign it or veto it, it becomes law.

This ranked choice voting applies to city council races.