I am honored to serve you as Vermont’s 80th Lieutenant Governor. As a small business owner, farmer, former Legislator, husband, and father I look forward to working with all Vermonters to ensure our state remains a viable, beautiful, and safe place to live.
In Vermont, the Lieutenant Governor has three constitutional duties:
- Standing in for the Governor when the Governor is out of state, and becoming acting Governor if the current Governor cannot perform the duties due to death or other circumstances;
- Presiding over the Senate;
- Casting a tie-breaking vote in the Senate if necessary.
I look forward to additional opportunities to serve Vermonters. I believe our democracy is strongest and works the best when participation is high. Having been a Representative and Senator for 18 years prior to being elected your Lt. Governor, I have seen the power of individuals getting involved in legislation that will impact their lives.
COVID-19 Update: I have been hearing from a lot of Vermonters with questions and concerns about the impact of the novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, on their family and our communities. There is an abundance of information that shows that to slow the spread and flatten the curve, social distancing is the most important step that can be taken. Additional preventative actions can also be taken. Please go to the department of health website for further, up to date, information on the steps you can take: https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus
Here are some key Resources:
For free help navigating healthcare issues, call the Health Care Advocate at 1-800-917-7787 or go https://vtlawhelp.org/health.
Vermont Legal Aid is also available to help with questions regarding payment of rent and mortgage; go to https://vtlawhelp.org/housing.
For employers seeking guidance, go to the Agency for Commerce & Community Development page at https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19-guidance.
Federal and state income tax deadlines are currently shifted from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020; state Meals & Room Tax and Sales & Use tax payments are also modified. Go to https://tax.vermont.gov/coronavirus.
For employees seeking unemployment assistance, you can file your claim online: https://vermont.force.com/DOLClaim/s/ as well as at this automated phone line: 800-983-2300. Go to https://labor.vermont.gov or call 1-877-214-3332 or 1-888-807-7072.
For families seeking assistance with childcare, food, heating, and more, go to the Department of Children & Families at https://dcf.vermont.gov/COVID-19 or call 1-800-479-6151.
This is a rapidly changing environment and challenging for all of us in our business and personal lives.
What should I do if I think I have the virus?
If you have fever, cough, difficulty breathing and your symptoms feel worse than a common cold and you have travelled to an affected area within 14 days of symptom onset, call Vermont Department of Health Epidemiology at 802-863-7240. If you have been exposed to the 2019 novel coronavirus, including during travels, staying home, and limiting contact with others will help prevent further spread. If you are sick or concerned about your health, contact your health care provider by phone. Please avoid going to the hospital, except in a life-threatening situation. More here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/COVID-basic-fact-sheet%20English-formatted.pdf
First and foremost, we must protect the people working on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic: teachers, school staff, child care workers, health care workers, police, fire and EMS personnel, staff at licensed homes for older Vermonters and people with disabilities, and food service employees.
RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS
Department of Labor FAQs for Employers and Employees
https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions
Specific guidance for Employers
https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19/employers
Specific Guidance for Employees
https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19/employees
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION
Agency of Education Guidance to Schools:
https://education.vermont.gov/news/covid-19-guidance-vermont-schools
AOE Food Service Guidance During School Closures:
I have been encouraged by all of the community organizing that has been going on all across the state to make sure that we are taking care of each other. We are fortunate to live in Vermont and to have such strong communities.
We will update this as more information comes in.
