Mr. Lisman’s name has been clattering in our heads for a while now. Finally, the penny has dropped…actually two pennies and a plugged nickel.
“Campaign for Vermont’s” frontman and the below-mentioned Angelo Pizzagalli both figure in one of part-time auditor/ part-time Boy Wonder Tom Salmon‘s temporary distractions from Job One.
You might recall that, in the fall of 2010, Mr. Salmon released a “situation report” on the dairy industry in Vermont.
Apparently the job of auditor required so little of his attention that he found the resources to conduct a summer-long think-tank on agricultural policy; the goal being to generate three bang-up great ideas
“to increase agriculture related profits by $500 million by 2016.”
His hand-picked team of collaborators was long on Republican businessmen and short on farmers. Among those Republican businessmen were Mr. Lisman and Mr. Pizzagalli, and of course Rich Tarrant.
By the way; whatever happened to those bang-up great ideas?
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Early in December, jvwalt took a first and second look at the so-called “Campaign for Vermont.”
What he found under the guise of “non-partisan” Vermont hugs, was a chorus of familiar dog whistles clearly intended to prick Republican ears while leaving everyone else none the wiser.
It seems not so much a “Campaign for Vermont,” as it does a “Campaign for Battleground Vermont” in the coming election year.
With businessman Bruce Lisman as the ubiquitous frontman, the Campaign for Vermont lists on its website a roster of businessmen that looks suspiciously like it might have been handed down directly from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is described as “founding partners.”
Now a second “Campaign for Vermont” voice has been heard from: one James Pizzagalli.
Appearing tonight in the Messenger (and, no doubt, coming soon to a paper near you) Mr. Pizzagalli’s letter to the editor praises to the skies the founders of Campaign for Vermont, without mentioning his possible bias due to the fact that Angelo Pizzagalli is listed on the website as one of those founders.
If there could be any doubt left as to the legitimacy of “Campaign for Vermont”s “non-partisan” claim, the debut of this letter on Vermont Tiger let the cat and her whole litter of kittens out of the bag.
This iteration is much more to the point than Mr. Lisman’s rather innocuous debut. Take a look at a few nuggets:
Perhaps without knowing it, but in countless ways, Vermonters in sufficient numbers to control the agenda of the State have taken us in a direction that is contrary to economic growth, job creation and economic prosperity.
Woof!
When job creators are prevented from growing, workers disappear. When entrepreneurship is not rewarded, others states reap those benefits.
Woof-woof!
We should ensure all citizens have some skin in the game. And we should ensure that the high standards of our environmental ethic continue to be achieved but not to the detriment of pragmatic outcomes.
Woof-woof-woof…SNAP!
Alpo time.
…Or could it be Super PAC time?
on WDEV during common sense yesterday. Yes, I listen to Common Sense occasionally, just because it lets me know what crazy thinks sometimes. Yesterdays show was about how welfare=slavery. It was a classic. I’m sure he has a black friend though which makes it okay to say some of the things he said. One of the particularly colorful things was that welfare traps people, doesn’t lift them up, and it somehow penalizes you in the way runaway slaves were penalized by stripping their skin in front of the other slaves, to teach them a lesson. This analogy was somehow made with a straight face.
Anyway, the radio ad for Campaign for Vermont was talking about how they wanted to “expand opportunity” and “bring in more money” not by “expanding taxes” but by “growing the job base” and thus “bringing prosperity” to all Vermonters. Low on specifics, high on Republican phrasing.
This is rich… “We should ensure all citizens have some skin in the game.” Says Mr. Pizzagalli.
We’ll let the late great Peter Freyne back in 2005 take it from here –
http://7dvt.com/2005/judgment-…
Democrats & Progressives “have taken us in a direction that is contrary to economic growth, job creation and economic prosperity.”
Let’s take a look.
Change in total non-farm jobs, 2001 – 2011
NY 2.4%
NH 2.2%
VT 0.7%
US 0.6%
MA -1.4%
ME -1.4%
CT -2.9%
Change in Median Household Income, 2001 – 2010
NH 5.8%
VT 3.7%
CT 1.3%
MA 0.9%
ME 0.8%
NY -2.4%
US -4.7%
Change in per capita GDP, 2001 – 2010
NY 13.6%
VT 10.5%
CT 8.7%
MA 8.2%
NH 6.9%
US 6.2%
ME 4.7%
Unemployment (current)
NH 5.2%
VT 5.3%
MA 7.0%
ME 7.3%
NY 8.0%
CT 8.4%
US 8.6%
Change in Self-Employment 2002 – 2009 (sole proprietors & partnerships without employees)
US 19.5%
NY 14.3%
VT 8.8%
CT 8.2%
NH 7.1%
ME 6.8%
MA 5.4%
As we know, very very few Americans have done especially well in the last decade. But state by state comparisons consistently show Vermont doing comparatively well nationally and in the region.
Is it too much to ask that those who continue to paint Vermont as an economic basket case be required to provide some evidence to support their position?
Nice stats from Doug Hoffer. My guess is that the retort will be that many of the years from 01-11 were under the repub Douglas admin?
What an interesting assertion- take away rich people, and everyone else suddenly leaves too!
I’d propose, actually, that when we take away “job creators” (I’m using that term in the assumed manner, ie, “job creators” are wealthy people/members of the “capitalist class”) workers have an opportunity to be happier in their lives and make higher wages:
http://disjointedthinking.jeff…
“Vermonters in sufficient numbers to control the agenda of the State…”
You mean, the MAJORITY? Like, in a democracy?
When VHCB need to move they had reserves set aside…..using the past flood as that reason…and VHCB employees deserved better than shared offices!
They were used to relocate their offices from 149 State street, where they lies to the current leaseholders about flood…hence the reason they moved. They used those funds to renovate lease property in one of the nicest buildings in Montpelier, VEDA. They spent 250K on those renovations, including 350-400 dollar lamps to put over a 2500+ desk, living room furniture, and a magazine rack that was in the 100’s, believe it was cherry. They put in a shower, for the 6 bikers to bathe in after they go on their 2 hour lunches…paid for by us taxpayers. They have the highes salaries of any organization of this type, they pay full insurance health, dental life, std & ltd. No employee contribution, then on top of those high salaries they get funds placed in a retirement fund. If anyone asked for public access to those records, they would see alot!!! They would see that most of them dont arrive until after 9am, they leave early and take long lunches. While on VHCB time, they process tax returns for friends and volenteer on VHCB payroll. When the Governor was looking for money to take, they hid those reserved funds, saying they werre committed to projects.
The current govenment could reduce the staff by 1/2 and still get as much work!!! The high dollar employees would have to work!!
Then VHCB employees are not suppose to lobby, but are provided information and encouraged to do so, and are supported in that…matter of fact I know someone who let the iffice use their name to type a letter to the paper, and it was edited on the computers and emailed.
These programs can be moved…move the Lead Program to the Health dept, do away with conservation for now and help the flood victims….Americorp move to Dept of Housing, along with low income housing…and Farm Viability to Dept of Ag….then watch the savings!!!!
It is all public information…ask for internet records, financial records and emails…and then if that is not enough I know a former worker you can call…..she has information and supporting docs!