It was a busy and productive week at the State House, with major agreements on rebuilding state offices damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. And I’d like to record my appreciation for hard work and reasonable outcomes. Whether or not you agree 100% with the decisions made, it’s remarkable how much was accomplished in the seven days since the release of the French Freeman French report on replacing the Waterbury complex.  

Governor Shumlin and the Legislature worked through the options in the FFF report in a matter of days. The result, with about 900 state workers to be relocated to Waterbury, some to be permanently stationed in Burlington or Montpelier, and about 200 shifted from Montpelier to Barre, looks like a solid plan that will accomplish a number of good things.

Waterbury will get back most of its workers. Not as many as it would have liked, but I thought Shumlin did a decent job of balancing the needs of Waterbury and other communities with bringing the costs to a reasonable level.

I was also pleased — and frankly, surprised, given how stubborn the Governor can be — that he gave ground on sizing a replacement State Hospital. You can argue with the result; some advocates will say it’s too big, many in the medical community think it’ll be too small. But the process was impressive.  

The danger of one-party government is that it can become lazy and complacent. With the Vermont GOP in a prolonged and perhaps permanent eclipse, and the Progs in rebuilding mode, it’s incumbent on Democratic officeholders to use their power wisely and prudently. On the events of the past week, I give Shumlin and the Legislative leadership high marks.