Vermont Dems call GOP gov.'s family leave plan ill-conceived

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Democratic Party is calling a voluntary family leave plan by Republican Gov. Phil Scott and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu “inadequate” and “ill-conceived.”

In a statement released Thursday, Vermont Democratic Party Chair Terje Anderson accused Scott of “engaging in photo-op politics” with Sununu, also a Republican.

On Wednesday, the two governors announced a proposal for a voluntary, two-state family leave program that would be based on the combined buying power of the 18,500 public employees in the two states, whose coverage would be provided by the states.

Last year, Scott vetoed family leave legislation that had been approved by the Vermont Legislature. In New Hampshire, a family leave proposal passed the House, but not the Senate .

Democratic lawmakers from New Hampshire were also critical of the governors’ plan.