Scott, Janoo clash on tax plans in Burlington debate

Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic-Progressive challenger Amanda Janoo presented opposing economic visions to voters during a debate on WCAX on Wednesday, October 28. The two candidates focused their discussion on how to manage Vermont's finances as the general election approaches.

Scott has consistently opposed creating new taxes. His strategy relies on expanding the state's tax base by increasing housing construction and attracting new residents to Vermont. Janoo proposed a different path. She supports a policy known as the Fair Share proposal. This plan would tax the income of individuals earning more than $250,000 annually. The revenue would help recoup federal tax cuts and fund a universal primary care system.

Scott challenged the financial viability of Janoo's plan during the final segment of the debate. He argued that free services require other people to pay the cost. “A lot of things that sound good, free this, free that, and let’s make everyone else pay for it. But when you are the governor, the math has to add up,” Scott said.

Matt Dickinson is a political science professor at Middlebury College. He observed that Scott is working to define clear differences between the two candidates in the final days of the campaign. Dickinson noted that Scott balances his critiques with a calm demeanor that appeals to many voters. “He wants to point out the critiques he’s making, but his strong suit is his affability. That’s who he is,” Dickinson said.

Janoo adjusted her stance on military spending during the exchange. She moved away from her earlier call to permanently ground F-35 jets. She continued to advocate for a bottom-up approach to economic growth and addressed the root causes of high costs in the state.

Dickinson noted that Janoo appeared to soften the timeline for her health care proposals. “Looking at our budget, I don’t know how we can move to a full universal system, but I do think that is the ultimate destination of where we need to go,” Janoo said. Dickinson said Janoo signaled that reforms would not happen overnight. “I thought she was not pulling her punches, but definitely trying to present the proposals as more realistic. We have to take baby steps to get here, and she was definitely aware of that,” Dickinson said.

Dickinson said general election voters often differ from primary voters in their level of partisan engagement. He stated that candidates on both sides often moderate their tone to appeal to a wider audience. The race now centers on Scott's ability to question Janoo's economic policies against Janoo's message that the current system requires change.