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Gov. Scott expresses hope for Springfield Hospital and addressing opioid crisis

By JEFF EPSTEIN
[email protected]
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Gov. Phil Scott, speaking to a Rotary luncheon at the Hartness House here Monday, said he is watching the “critical situation” at Springfield Hospital, and the state still wants to help it, although it is ultimately up to the hospital as a private business to financially recover from its financial distress.

“This situation is critical to this region,” Scott said. “We want to help in any way we can.”

Scott said he thought the state had given the company as much as $1 million in emergency funds. That suggests an increase over the state’s infusion of $800,000 late last year, although he made it clear he was speaking approximately.

“I think they are on the right course at this point,” he said of hospital managers. “We are paying attention.”

Scott spoke to about 70 people at the event, with remarks that generally repeated his standard economic themes of stopping labor and business from leaving Vermont, bringing new labor into the state and improving education. Declining school enrollment, he said, is “like a canary in the mineshaft,” a harbinger of a looming crisis.

Scott mentioned his plan with New Hampshire Gov. Sununu to create a joint family and medical leave product not currently available in either state. The insurance industry appears to be interested in supporting the plan, he said.

He also stated his opposition to a $15/ hour minimum wage, pointing out that while New Hampshire has a $7.25/hour minimum wage, Vermont businesses would be at a disadvantage.

In response to a question from the audience, he said Vermont is trying to improve its response to the opioid crisis by having state agencies coordinate their efforts through the Opioid Coordination Council, an ad-hoc body set up for this purpose.

“We’re not the only state facing this,” Scott said. While treatment and support for addicts is important, he said, “we need more emphasis on prevention.”

Opioid addiction is a nonpartisan issue, and “is an issue we all need to get behind,” he said. “It is a priority for us.”

“We also need to help those who are addicted,” Scott said.

After the luncheon, Springfield Select Board Chair Kristi Morris said he he agreed with Scott that a coordinated effort between the state and local communities was necessary to deal with the opioid crisis. Years ago, “all the [state] agencies were siloed,” he said. Now there is more collaboration, and he likes that, as the governor does, he said.

“We didn’t get into this overnight, and we’re not going to get out of it overnight,” Morris said, but with the current lineup of the select board, it is possible Springfield will have new local initiatives this year. 

Morris did not name any specific plan, but said “We have a good nucleus of board members” to address the issue.

Many other local town officials and state representatives attended the luncheon, including state Reps. Alice Emmons and Bob Forguites, new select board member George McNaughton, and others. The Rotary also conducted a raffle drawing for small prizes, which the governor helped out with, drawing out names  from the rotating ticket drum.

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