There was hope during the recent race for Governor that the questions regarding Governor Douglas’s inadequate response regarding reimbursing  the State for campaign related costs (other than security )would remain in the news.It is a legitimate question and was lost after a brief yet tantalizing flair-up at the tail end of the race . I don’t believe he has even accounted for any distinctly campaign related costs .Ironic that this issue and his 14 person strong  PR pay role people seem to disappear from the forefront in the mist of the budget cutting steamroller facing the State .

Shay Totten at Seven Days Fair Game has kept a good eye on this and has an additional tidbit on the care and feeding costs of our Governor.

We followed up to find out what other taxpayer perks the gov enjoys. In particular, we were curious about travel and meal reimbursements.

..Not much to report. The gov, like lawmakers, receives a $54-a-day meal allowance. While lawmakers only ride the gravy train when in session, Douglas gets his lunch money five days a week, 52 weeks a year.

That adds up to $14,040 – just shy of what a Vermont minimum-wage worker earns in a year ($15,662).

http://www.7dvt.com/2008gettin…

Some are feeling pretty good about the early moves from the Obama proto-administration. From Jim Gerghaty at National Review Online:

All That Hard Work By Liberals This Year Is Finally Paying Off

So Joe Lieberman is keeping his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee on the say so of 42 Senate Democrats AND President Obama; his Secretary of State might be Iraq War supporter and preconditionless-summit opponent Hillary Clinton; no one will be prosecuted for waterboarding, Bush’s guy John Brennan may take over at CIA and Bush’s man Robert Gates may stay on as Defense Secretary.

I don’t know how the liberals feel, but so far the Obama administration rocks.

Sigh. And I was working on a checklist of the cool things Obama looks to be doing. Maybe next week I’ll feel more up to it.

Congratulations to JDRyan for his Lieberman diary generating a HUGE spike in visitor traffic yesterday.  One link from the Kos himself and look at what the 30 day graph tells us.  Damn.  And I thought breaking the 1000 mark was pretty impressive.  

Nice work, JD! 

” alt=”” border=”” hspace=”” vspace=”” width=”” height=”” align=”” title=”undefined” onmouseover=”undefined” onmouseout=”undefined” />

MONTPELIER – Barring a legal challenge Paul Poirier will be heading to the House come January and, for the first time in eight years, Leo Valliere will be staying home.

A recount that was requested by Valliere last week today dashed the four-term Republican lawmaker’s long-shot bid to retain his local legislative seat in Barre. The final tally, according to the hand recount wrapped up shortly before 3 p.m., was Poirier, 918, Valliere, 893.