 Well, good afternoon. Thank you all for coming in this afternoon I know you're looking forward to getting started on your pregame exercises as well as holiday celebrations So I'm going to keep this as short as possible I wanted to take a moment to wish all Vermonters a very happy and safe Thanksgiving Day and weekend I hope everyone has the opportunity to spend this time with family and friends To recharge and of course to kick off another Vermont winter The skier areas have opened up many cross-country skiing centers as well beginning Friday Killington will host a world cup tour which would be a great event for Vermont and it's I believe third year It also looks as though it's going to be a great snowmobile season It's the probably the best start in a number of years And it's also the last weekend of deer season at least for rifle season and to top it all off this also marks the start of the holiday season and As well, I hope many get out to support our great Vermont businesses At a time when the nation feels so divided Let's consider using this time of year to reflect on our shared values and what brings us together I know Vermont can lead the way in restoring our sense of unity And there's no better time to start than Thanksgiving when we give thanks to all the good in our lives Kicking off the Salvation Army Kettle campaign this morning was a reminder to think more about helping and supporting our neighbors This sense of community and responsibility to each other is an important part of what makes Vermont so special I know we can carry that spirit throughout the year as well as a reminder It will be cold this week starting tomorrow So if you or someone else, you know needs heat heat or shelter Please call 211 our team at AHS is ready to help and of course Let's stay safe on the roadways and drive responsibly as we celebrate the holiday And finally as we celebrate this one of our oldest traditions I want to thank the men and women who serve or have served our country Those who can't be with their families today or tomorrow Including our Vermont National Guard members that were currently deployed Again, I hope for honors have a very happy Thanksgiving That we look out for each other and remember those in need And those who are serving away from their families today And so with that, I'll be happy to open up the questions Were you thankful for not necessarily as governor but just what's got you? Well, I'm of course thankful for my family, the great support of my friends And the world we live in here in Vermont, where it's a special place We're very insulated I think from some of what I see across the country That's happening today and across the world So we should reflect on that and think about how special this place is It's been to me, some place that I've spent my entire life thus far And I believe that again, we can make even better And I'm just, you know, for the respect I believe that Vermonters have And the core values that we experience, I think it just makes us a little bit different And I'm very appreciative of that That's just something to be told when I want to shop 25 to 30 miles from Be careful on your drive today, by the way, Stuart I'm snowing out Oh man, I walked into that Does it make you, does it change your calculus about having something so close To the inevitability of Vermont following suit? Is Vermont going to be the next day? Again, you know, we've debated this, discussed this over the last couple of years And it's no surprise, we knew that Massachusetts had voted by referendum To go to a tax and regulate system We know that Maine isn't far behind We know that Canada has voted to legalize as well And Quebec, sharing a border with Quebec Is going to be something that's surrounding us in some respects We moved forward with a decriminalization bill last year Voted to legalize up to an ounce, grow in your home So this next step, again, isn't a surprise Well, it would be a surprise to me as if there wasn't a bill to move forward with this in the next year or so My feelings stay the same I'm not saying never, but I want to be sure That we have a way to deter and as well to detect impairment on our highways I think that's important and it's not just for marijuana but for alcohol As well as a combination of drugs and marijuana So I think we have to step up our game in that respect So I look forward to having that debate as well as prevention For our kids, more education, for our students And we need a marketing campaign in that respect So I'm sure that we'll be having that debate in this next session And we'll put forth a number of initiatives if that comes to be About where we go from here I'm still looking forward to hearing from the seeing the report That has been, draft form has been distributed, I guess, for some I haven't seen it yet, but mid-December I believe that I will have the final report and then we'll go from there So what will you do if the legislature sends you a bill this spring? Well, we'll be working together I would hope along the way to be sure that some of the areas that I feel are important are covered And then we'll just have to see how the process goes Is there any way to move forward without a roadside testing mechanism? I just, again, I've said this over the last couple of years I just don't know what the hurry is We have all the opportunity in the world to make sure that we get this right And so if we all agree that public safety is important And impairment on our highways, I believe the vast majority would recognize that And why don't we do that either simultaneous to the passage or before the passage So I'm going to continue to make my argument in terms of why we should do this Either concurrently or before I wonder, do you worry about the safety of marijuana that Vermonters are legally consuming now Given that it's not regulated? You know, again, this isn't just about marijuana It's about the combination of all different types You could be, as I've said before, in Colorado, I believe And I don't know if it's five nanograms or whatever it is Detection of THC You could be under five You could be under the legal limit for alcohol And you could be taking prescribed prescription drugs and be impaired I think that's the point we need to make sure that we're moving forward In areas where we can detect impairment What that means, I'm not quite sure But at the same time, having some sort of testing I think makes a lot of sense Considering everything that we've seen on our roadways And learn from other states as well Again, I'm sure that they're experiencing this And what we can learn from them To make sure that we set this up We do so appropriately If they're monitors who use cannabis Decide they'd like to go down to Massachusetts To make sure they're getting something that's regulated and tested Do you have a problem with that? Well, again, you know, in some respects We decriminalize up to an ounce It's there And if they choose to drive to Massachusetts That's up to them Do you have any real problem with that Sort of activity going on? Philosophically, no So there's been a conversation about How you'll be forced to change your Your approach a little bit with the Given the new house dynamic That you might be willing to compromise On the bills that you previously mentioned One of those bills is something that you've got You can't proceed with tax irregularly Until there's a technology which does not now exist I would hope that there's You know, this is obviously Changes the landscape It's a different situation Than it was two years ago But I would hope that we can make our argument Work together in order to be sure That the Vermonters are safe And I believe that we can make that Legitimate argument So, again, I've worked in the minority Throughout my entire political life This is no different And you can accomplish a lot When you reach across the aisle But it takes some reaching on both sides But I believe that we can come to agreement Whatever it is, the subject is But I feel strongly that we need to To make sure that we're protecting our citizens It's the highest priority of any government Where's the vetoing? Well, we'll see again I'm not going to use the veto threat It has less effect at this point But again, I feel strongly about this And I hope that we can come to agreement I believe that the others as well Would agree that we need to Make sure that Vermonters are safe And those coming to Vermont Not just Vermonters, but those coming to our state Are safe as well So I think we have an obligation To make sure that we get this right At the last legislative session With a bit of a fight with lawmakers Over education spending Will you have a specific proposal To reduce the rate of growth education Spending in your budget proposal? We'll continue to have measures Where I think investing in education In different ways, changing the way We look at education To make sure that we're focusing on kids You can expect to see some of that And we'll look for savings as well Will those proposals be as far reaching Or as bold as the first two attempts? Well, I would say that It probably won't be as bold Because we saw how that worked out But again, I believe that we all have We have to face the challenges here In Vermont, they haven't gone away We have a demographic that's changing We have a shortage of workers in the workforce We have fewer kids in our school systems And we have increased costs in education And across the board And this unfunded pension liability That we've been facing for 10 years That we recognize So having said all that I believe that it's in all our best interests To look for any opportunities To give a better education At a more price that we can afford Commissioner Greschen talked last week About the pension obligations Plus debt service Total amount of about 40 million And projected revenues from July For 2020 fiscal year It was about 32, 33 million So there's already sort of a gap there How will your budget Reflect those realities? Are you going to have to make cuts? We're going to have to live within our means Once again, I believe that Vermont has elected me With that in mind that they have appreciated The approach that we've taken in terms of What they keep in their pockets And not raising taxes Should be the last resort And so we'll continue to present a budget That does just that That doesn't spend more than we're taking in And reflects the values that we have So, yeah, I mean it's going to be It's going to be difficult We're going to, even if we have a surplus Which it looks as though we may have a surplus That will probably go towards this Increase amount of unfunded liability That we are on a path We have an obligation to keep paying down Now that the election is over Are you going to reveal your clean water plan? Well, you know, again It's not a clean water plan It's the way that we fund it I think that got mixed up in the message And maybe that's partially my fault But we've always had a plan For clean water We're moving forward with that We have a number of capital projects That are being utilized at this point And we're spending about 70 million dollars Over these last, these two years In doing so It's the funding mechanism that makes up That amount of, say, 15 million or so That we need to come up with an ongoing source So, again, you'll see that in the budget proposal In January The President's Council of Economic Advisers Should report this week About employment, job growth That sort of thing And noted that Vermont is very well with its unemployment rate But we're dead last in terms of jobs created Do those two numbers make sense to you And what's the plan here To address that last place Finish and job growth? Yeah, it's unfortunate There were 50th out of 50 In that respect But I think it's indicative Of the situation we're in And it goes back to our shortage Of the workforce and demographics And everything that I've been talking about And I believe the legislature And others are understanding that More and more every day What's unfortunate is We have jobs available here in Vermont Right now Hundreds of jobs At least a couple thousand openings Right now We don't have the workers to fill them And it's difficult When you think about job growth It's difficult to have conversations With companies To encourage them to expand Which many of them are, by the way UTC, Aerospace, and Virginia Is an example of one who They want to expand by 150 jobs right now But it's tough to convince them To expand when you don't have the labor force And that's why everything that we've been doing Trying to encourage more families to move to Vermont Trying to lure more people in Showing what we do so well That we're a great place to live, work, and play So we'll continue You'll see some proposals to continue to do that We've seen some, I think, positive Positive growth in that area But again, what we're looking at When you see some of the major employers in the state Have had some significant downgrades in jobs We've made up, in some respects In some of the smaller areas as well So it's not, it looks bad But from my standpoint I look more at how many jobs are available And the opportunities that surround that When you hear companies approach you About wanting to come to Vermont What companies are they? What's the top sort of sector That's interested in Vermont? It's interesting when I went on the trip Last week to Quebec And on the first trade mission Since I think it was 2003 by a governor And we talk with one company That will become more visible In the next month or so I would say That it's going to be coming to Vermont And that one is a manufacturing company So we've seen some areas Specifically from Canada That we've had landed, I think, Three companies thus far This will be the fourth But they're manufacturing And so manufacturing isn't dead here And I think that we have a great In some respects A really talented workforce in that area And I believe that there's some room for growth there But also in the tech industry The food industry and so forth Is that ISUN or the one year that's about to come? That one is coming So that's of course ISUN is the fourth ISUN is the fourth This would be a new one Yeah, a different one than that So this is one that we don't know about Right So in this next term Can you give a couple of examples On how you'll address that sort of workforce shortage? I know you had several proposals in the first term Anything new you could point to That you'll try and it's lawmakers We make a go back in trying to encourage The Think Vermont Home campaign Because I still think that's viable I mean look at the success we had In some respects I mean just from the notoriety Of the remote worker program The $10,000 incentive That isn't even implemented at this point But we had I think 2,500 inquiries About that program alone So there's an interest in coming to Vermont I think we just have to find Different unique ways to do that The status day weekends Have been effective Not at all in nature But effective We'll continue to find different ways Different approaches to doing that And again the remote worker program Was something the legislature came up with So they have some ideas as well If we can all again identify the problem And we have that goal Of attracting more families More people to Vermont If we all can accept that And have a vision And I believe that we can change The trajectory here in Vermont But we're going to have to work together In order to do so Are you concerned at all about how the GMP race rate case has planned out here And if so are you thinking of looking into What's going on there Well I'm not sure exactly what you're Referring to but there's the rate case That's in the before the PUC At this point right And we know we are Had spoken to our commissioner I believe last week And we are going to Take maybe a different approach there And make sure that we're doing What we're supposed to do In the public service department To make sure that we're working For rate payers of Vermont That's their mission And so there'll be some pushback In that regard but we'll make our case With the PUC And what would that look like That new approach Well it's just that we may Litigate at this point And so that's what the Commissioner wants to do And we'll move forward with that How do you feel about the Neenah news I think it's great news I heard about it last week But we were obviously Wanted to be Didn't want to say anything Before it became evident That it was going to happen And it looks as though it's Going to happen We're looking forward to Working with this new New organization, this new company In order to preserve the jobs And it looks like in fact That there may be more jobs Attached to that which would be Great news for that region In particular We'd be looking to make any Staffing or administration Changes depending on Your second term Well I'm going to be meeting With all the cabinet members Over the next month or so To see if there's any You know I haven't asked them If they want to continue Either to be fair So we'll have those conversations I don't expect any Any drastic changes So you're happy with the team Yeah I've got a very talented Team and I'm very grateful For everything they've done Over the last two years We're more seasoned now Than ever and I believe That again when you look back Two years ago to where we were Then to where we are today We are light years ahead But all because of them And their talent Just one clarification On the GMP story That essentially paints Commissioner Tierney And cohoops with Mary Powell And that there's really no one Who's defending the rate Payers interest now Do you believe that anonymous Letter that's circulating? Can you talk to your commissioner now? Yes I spoke with her actually Yesterday about that No I have no reason to Believe that whatsoever In fact it might be just The opposite it's Unfortunate that this anonymous Letter came out And that again Anonymous is the key word here And I believe that In many respects it's unfounded So I have complete faith In the integrity of my Commissioner and we'll Continue to do what we've Been doing is watching out For repayers The Department of Motor Vehicles Was named in the lawsuit for ACLU Recently that they worked With immigration and Customs And enforcement officers Targeted migrant farmers here in Vermont Specifically for their activism work With migrant justice Is this something that you're concerned about? Well always a concern But I believe that we've been Working together We came to agreement With ACLU And others earlier And I believe we're following through On that some of these cases That are referenced Are before Before the agreement And so we'll We'll look into it obviously We're taking this seriously We want to treat everyone fairly And we'll continue to do so If I remember correctly The law that you signed It doesn't require Cooperation with federal S79 But it allows individual state employees To share if they want to Is that correct? I wouldn't want to get as specific As that but I don't believe so So Are they allowed in any way To provide information To the federal government? Well there's always There are opportunities To share information In many different ways With the federal government Not just in regards To this situation Sometimes it's in conflict And it's difficult to define So I'm not sure In this particular case Whether it has any merit I don't believe so But we'll look into that Are you aware of any instances Since F79 was signed In which information has Improperly flowed I have no reason to believe that it has But again we'll look into the merits Of the case And be sure that we're following The letter of the law We want to make sure that people feel safe here I mean we're fairly clear I thought in F79 And that's my feelings as well We don't want to be the Enforcement arm of the government We want to make sure that we protect Vermonters Are you aware of any pressure Oh I'm sure there is I don't know specifically But I'm sure that there's been pressure So Would you have any problem With the guy working for the DMV To call up ICE and say There's an illegal 123 Main Street apartment Yeah I'd have a problem with that You don't want them to do that What is your favorite part Of the Thanksgiving meal And do you cook any of them The favorite part for me Obviously I think is turkey Because you know It's the gift that keeps on giving For the next week And I like leftovers so I'm good With whatever is cooked at Thanksgiving Did you shoot a turkey this year No I did not Did you try to shoot a turkey this year No I did not Can you cook any part of the meal Or do you just sit around and wait for it to be served For the capability Of helping If needed But my services Are not usually required Or requested or wanted You're banished Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions That you and your family Follow over here Well the family in some respects My daughter has moved to Providence She's married now My other daughter has been Going to other areas So we Our traditions have been Simplified let's say So it's going to be a very Very Small gathering in our In our home Stuart's always hungry Stuart I thought Stuart was going to Massachusetts I want to get back One more young guy One more quick question What do you think about the report That's seven days ago today About a super fact that supported you During the campaign being the biggest Spender during the election I didn't see the article But I guess That doesn't surprise me It's not anywhere near what it was Two years ago But obviously We worked in our success Could you One without it We certainly could Yes That's a lot of money Finds a lot of spots We will never know Thank you very much Have a happy Thanksgiving