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State Advances Stripped-Down Economic Development Bill

Vermont State House
WAMC/Pat Bradley

The Vermont Senate has given preliminary approval to pared-down economic development legislation, but its principal backer says he'll continue fighting to restore some of its initial provisions.

The bill won preliminary approval Tuesday without a hotly debated provision that would have lowered the wages companies could pay and still be eligible for state job-creation tax credits.

It also removed provisions that would have rolled back changes to Vermont's Act 250 land-use law that were designed to limit strip development.

Sen. Kevin Mullin — the Rutland County Republican who chairs the economic development committee — says he usually likes to view the glass as half full. In this case, he says there are just a couple of drops left.

The bill is up for final Senate action on Wednesday.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.