Vermont legislator Tim Ashe has taken notice of the potential portal to conflict of interest that may open in the last year of the Douglas administration. From the Times Argus:
A Senate committee will begin today to consider a bill that would prevent the state's commissioner of public service from working for any state-regulated utilities for five years after he leaves office.
Speaking about the bill O’Brien said “It’s sad” but offered no noticeable pledge not to take future employment with those he now regulates.
"Given its extreme importance there can be no question that our lead enforcement agent be unencumbered by any future conflict," Ashe said.
Public Service Commissioner O’Brien raised eyebrows in the past over the appearance of a close relationship with those he regulates when Entergy’s VP Thayer attended one of his Christmas parties. Entergy contributions in the past to Douglas have also drawn attention. VP Jay Thayer donated $ 2,000.00 to Gov.Douglas in 2008. Entergy also gave $5,000 to Governor Douglas for his inaugural Balls’ favorite charity. All of this raised questions about the distance this administration was keeping form Entergy Vermont Yankee. Most recently former Douglas administration Chief Mike Smith was in the spotlight for taking a high profile job with FairPoint Communications lobbying the legislature and his former colleagues
When has it NOT been the case that the gold watch given to pro business regulators in primarily Republican administrations ISN’T a sweet deal from the business community that gained either favorable treatment in regulation or favorable advantage in contracting??? Ya THINK if Corrections Corp of America got to build a facility in Vermont that as soon as Jim=jobs lost his that a good portion of the department would not show up there?? OR VY or FannyFletcher if the state hospital closed, or…… damn there are a lot of blanks to fill in.
Everything goes back to campaign finance reform to me and the revolving door is just an extension of that issue…
And if we are in such a fever to control state expenditures, additional vigilance against the exercise of such conflicts of interest should be a high priority of the legislature. The governor himself should rightly endorse this net-tightening measure, or abandon his feigned concern for the budget. It is long past time for effective conflict of interest legislation with truly stinging penalties for violators.
a couple months ago and it sounded like he already was working for Fairpoint. HIs “let’s give’em a chance” mantra didnt square well with his regulatory responsibilities one bit.