Excellent reporting this week by Susan Smallhear on Vermont Yankee issues.   Click on the headline for the full article at the Rutland Herald. 

Click on Susan's name to send her a nice thank you note.  It's easy to beat up on Vermont's press corps, so please be nice and let them know if you think they're doing a good job, too.  We wouldn't have anything to write about on GMD if we didn't have reporters.  

( – promoted by odum)

Absolutely stunning.  Jim Douglass becomes more of a George Bush every term he serves.  It's bad enough he recently appointed professional politico, Neale Lunderville, to the top cabinet post of Sec of Administration.  Lunderville, of course, has no background in professional public administration, except for his brief tenure as the Sec of Transportation.  Of course, he had no experience whatsoever in either transportation or administration when Douglass appointed him to that post.  That's old news.  Today's news on two appointments offer new evidence that Governor Jim Douglass is a true crony's Crony; a  Crony-in-Command or Crony-in-Chief, offering his loyal supporters top posts.

What's worse is that, besides having no experience, it appears that his appointments are purposefully intended to gut the agency they oversee.

Today's appointments below the fold.

Longtime political advisor, Jason Gibbs, is the pick for Forest, Parks and Recreation.  His experience?  Well, like a lot of Vermonters, Jason Gibbs likes to “hike, bike, climb, paddle and snowboard.”  This makes him just as qualified as 9 out of 10 Vermonters on Two 2 Tango (the 7 Days online dating site).  I wonder what his cover letter says.  Maybe something like this:

Loyal, smart, outdoorsy guy seeks top agency post. I enjoy skiing, hiking, kayaking, and authorizing large scale logging operations. 

The full story is just below, but first, here's Jim Douglass'  reasoning on his pick for Secretary of Human Services, Rob Hoffman.  

“Rob shares my views that the best social program is a good job and the best way to balance the budget is to grow the economy,” the Governor said. “He has proven to be an innovative, caring and pragmatic leader at the Department of Corrections, addressing some of our state's most pressing challenges with balance and common sense.

The best social program is a good job?  Huh?!!!  Grow the economy?  Why didn't Douglas put Rob Hoffman as director of Economic Development?  Oh, sorry I forgot.  That's a real job with minimum qualifications.  Can't do that.

Hoffman is moving from — get this — Corrections.  The guy in charge of Michael Jacques time off for good behavior is awarded top position over Human Services?  Here's a little nugget from Hoffman's Dec. 12, 2007 cost-savings plan for Corrections (PDF download):

F. Curtail or Eliminate Treatment Programs
The Department of Corrections provides treatment for incarcerated offenders combating hose factors that affect the risk of re-offending. These programs target violence, sexual buse, domestic violence, and substance abuse.

But cos-savings achieved by eliminating treatment programs for sex offenders, Hoffman says, will only be short-lived.

It perhaps need not be stated that the result of this saving would be short-lived, as Vermont Corrections programs (particularly Cognitive Self-Change and VTPSA[Sex Offender Treatment]) have a demonstrated and significant effect on re-offense and re-incarceration.

So there you have it.  Rob Hoffman is the financial bean-counter who recommends eliminating services to save money, despite the fact these programs work pretty darn well. 

I can't wait to hear what Hoffman will say about cost savings in Human Services.  Maybe he'll start by putting the axe to the emergency oil program.

Ok, here are the two press releases on Jason Gibbs and Rob Hoffman, courtesy of Vermont Business Magazine.  

Gibbs Appointed Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation
Montpelier, Vt. November 12, 2008 – Secretary of Natural Resources Jonathan Wood has announced that Jason Gibbs will be the next Commissioner of Forest, Parks and Recreation (FPR).

Secretary Wood said Gibbs' policy knowledge, experience in government, communication skills and passion for Vermont's natural resources will serve the state well. “Jason's expertise, creativity and ability to manage many issues will be a valuable asset to the agency and FPR, and we look forward to welcoming him to our team,” Wood said.

“FPR is a department with a highly skilled staff and experienced natural resources professionals on its management team. Jason's leadership skills will be a great match with that team,” Wood said.

Gibbs has been Governor Douglas' Press Secretary and Communications Director since 2003. He also currently serves as the Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs and the governor's liaison to the National Governors Association, the Coalition of Northeastern Governors and the Agency of Natural Resources.

“Jason is smart, energetic and experienced in the intricacies of policy and government,” Governor Douglas said. “Most importantly, he is knowledgeable and passionate about Vermont's natural resources and wholly dedicated to serving the people of Vermont. Jason's talents will be a great fit at the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation.”

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is responsible for the conservation and management of Vermont's forest resources, the operation and maintenance of the state park system, and the promotion and support of outdoor recreation for Vermonters and visitors. In addition, FPR is responsible for the acquisition, planning, coordination and administration of all Agency of Natural Resources lands.

Gibbs' appointment is effective November 23, 2008.

ABOUT JASON GIBBS

A native of Forestdale, Vermont, Gibbs, 32, graduated from Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon and attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he earned a degree in Political Science.

Gibbs is an Eagle Scout, avid outdoorsman, snowboarding coach and adventure racer who hikes, bikes, climbs, paddles and snowboards as often as his schedule permits.

Early in his career Gibbs worked for the Alliance for Small Contractors, a nonprofit organization offering business development and public policy consultation to small businesses owned by women and minorities. He was later appointed Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project in Boston, where he worked with local and national media, managed public outreach activity, and conducted all policy-level briefings.

Gibbs returned to Vermont in the spring of 2001 to work in the Office of Communication and Public Affairs at Fletcher Allen Health Care. He later joined the campaign of Jim Douglas for Governor as a communications consultant and the candidate's aide. Following the election, Gibbs was appointed Press Secretary and Communications Director and has served as liaison to a variety of state agencies and departments and as Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs.

Jason lives in Duxbury with his wife of 7 years, Amy Gibbs, and their daughter Addison.

### 

HOFMANN APPOINTED HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Montpelier, Vt. (November 12, 2008)- Governor Jim Douglas has announced that Commissioner of Corrections Rob Hofmann will soon be Secretary of Human Services. Cindy LaWare, the current agency head, is stepping down to explore other opportunities to serve Vermont.

Governor Douglas thanked LaWare for her service. “Cindy has been an important and dedicated member of my cabinet and has served Vermonters with diligence and professionalism for the past seven years. I greatly appreciate her work to advance important elements of our agenda, including fighting to make health care more accessible and affordable, improving services for Vermonters with mental illness through the Futures plan, and implementing the Incarcerated Women's Initiative, the Children's Integrated Services initiative, and the statewide Housing Now initiative,” Governor Douglas said. “I hope and expect she will continue to serve Vermonters in the future.”

Governor Douglas said Hofmann, who served as Vermont's finance commissioner before moving to the Department of Corrections, has the right financial and human services management expertise for the new post.

“Rob shares my views that the best social program is a good job and the best way to balance the budget is to grow the economy,” the Governor said. “He has proven to be an innovative, caring and pragmatic leader at the Department of Corrections, addressing some of our state's most pressing challenges with balance and common sense. He also understands the challenge of building a responsible and compassionate budget during difficult financial times that protects the most vulnerable.. He will serve Vermonters very well as secretary of human services.”

Hofmann's appointment is effective November 23, 2008.

ABOUT ROB HOFMANN

Robert D. Hofmann of Waterbury Center, Washington County was born on August 3, 1960. He graduated from SUNY College at Cortland (BA History: Summa Cum Laude 1985). After working as a Business Analyst at Dun and Bradstreet in New York City, he attended Columbia Graduate School of Business (MBA Finance 1985), where he met his future wife, Kit Walker, a former Vermont teacher. Rob worked at American Express in New York City (1985-1990) in progressively challenging positions in financial services. From 1990-2003 he worked at Chittenden Bank in Burlington, VT first as Director of Marketing and later as Senior Vice President for Business Services.

Rob served as Vermont's Commissioner of Finance and Management from 2003-2005 and Corrections Commissioner since February 2005. He has been involved in his church, coaching his children's sports teams and is a former board member of his college alumni association and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The family holds dual citizenship: United States and Ireland and Rob hopes to work overseas after the kids leave the nest.

###

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It's been out on the shelves since September, but who knew until John Stewart plugged "Hot, Flat and Crowded" on The Daily Show?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  At least, more and more business sectors are sending their wish lists to Treasury Secretary Paulsen to get their piece of the bailout package. 

Hmmm….  Are homeowners getting any help here?  Or are we just going to bail out every for-profit company in the country?  

Vt Fuel Dealers Association is making their case when they get their day with Paulsen.  Check out their press release below the fold.

From Vermont Business Magazine:   

November 10, 2008

(Submitted by the VFDA) The Vermont Fuel Dealers Association and eight other trade associations have asked US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulsen for a meeting to discuss the financial issues faced by heating fuel retailers. Late Friday, we received word that a meeting is in the works. We all took this extraordinary step to ensure that the voice of small businesses, not just Wall Street and multinational corporations, gets heard.

This is what we intend to tell Secretary Paulsen.

The Economic Emergency Stabilization Act isn't supposed to pay for bonuses to executives. The $700 billion appropriated by Congress is supposed to free up lending to small businesses and consumers in order to jumpstart the economy. That isn't happening. Just be patient, some argue, the impact will take time to trickle down. But time is a luxury the heating fuel industry does not have. It is getting colder and peak winter demand is approaching.

Wall Street speculators drove energy prices through the roof this spring and early summer. Consumers came to us in great numbers and demanded protection in the form of fixed price contracts. Our companies had to lock in very expensive wholesale supply contracts in order to meet that consumer demand.

A critic from a Texas based energy consulting firm read our letter to Secretary Paulsen and wrote to VFDA:

“Your customers made an unwise choice. That's not the oil dealer's fault. It was just a dumb decision by the customer. Are you suggesting your dealers give their customers $3 heating oil with no consequences to the customer for being stupid and buying at a higher fixed-price?”

The comment demonstrates the arrogance of speculators who made billions at our expense. Vermonters are decent, hard working and thoughtful people who were simply trying to protect themselves and their families while Wall Street was cheering a bull market in crude oil. This summer heating oil customers were told by everyone, from environmentalists to T. Boone Pickens, that the end of oil was coming. Crude oil had increased by $50 in a matter of months– rising to $147 a barrel in July. During this run-up they were told by Goldman Sachs that $200 a barrel was next. Facing $4.50 a gallon retail heating oil in July, they were told by the best and the brightest on Wall Street and CNBC to expect to pay $7 a gallon by the time the snow flies.

There was a panic. Many consumers locked in a fixed price. And, as required by Vermont law, so did the dealers.

We are the face of Main Street, local business men and women who live in the communities where we work. We are not asking for a bail out or a hand out. We want to borrow money and pay it back. We simply want the system to work as Congress intended, to free up commercial and consumer lending. This is the point of EESA, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. We want the Treasury Secretary to know that for all of the attention to Wall Street, small businesses employee 95% of the nation's workforce. We are the engine that drives the national economy. It is time to put the EESA to work for all Americans.

Over the last two-plus years I have enjoyed my experience on GMD and refer to this site as the primary place of my learning in Vermont politics.  But I'm not blogging here anymore. 

The reason why is just below the fold. 

It's about semantics, which as we know is an important part of political debate.   At risk of coming off as a bit of a language snob, I would like to put forward the  following for your serious consideration:

GMD as an online political forum.  It's not a “blog” and those who write on GMD should not be considered, “bloggers.”  

First, the word “blog” is a bit passe, deriving from the beginning of Web 2.0.  Second, the use of the words “blog” and “blogger” sets up an unnatural distinction between the so-called “blogosphere” and main stream media.  Now that “blogs” are widely used by mass MSM and corporations, the concept of the “blogosphere” as the domain of self-published individuals is long gone.  Additionally, a blog is just one medium among many forms of communication that we all use on a daily basis.  To refer to oneself or another  person as a “blogger” is a pretty restrictive identity.   

GMD  is a left-leaning political forum.  If these discussions took place in a coffee shop, we wouldn't refer to our activity by the medium of voice or the place in which the conversations occur.  GMD isn't a “web log” in the sense of how paper logbooks are used, either.  Log books are used to track events or observations in a chronoligical order.  Log books are only interactive in the sense that multiple contributors also track events and observations in chronological order.  GMD doesn't work this way at all.  It's a political conversation using the formats of debate, commentary and dialogue in a non-linear time line.  Unlike logbooks, which are generally limited in the scope of discussion,  GMD discussions blend advocacy, ideology, opinion and arguments along with observations and the record of chronological events.  GMD and those who participate here has become one of several go-to statewide resources in the formation of news and opinion.  This isn't to suggest GMD is bigger than it is; it's just a small part of Vermont political views.  But it also happens to be continuing to rise in professionalism.  We're doing a good job through the rating system and self-regulation to provide a level of political conversation that earns a slowly growing audience.  Collectively, we have acheived a level of credibility that suggests professionalism enough to engage elected officials, the staff of political opponents, leading political commentators and journalists.  GMD has a different function, purpose and role to play, but we have become part of Vermont's political environment.

This isn't a self-congratulatory pat on the back, and indeed, there's an important point I'll soon be getting to.  But first, let me tell you why.  By saying I'm not “blogging” anymore, I'm not packing up my bags and leaving the GMD community.  Rather, I am asserting an identity many of us should consider as one we share as participants on GMD.  We are political commentators.  We write.  We research.  We debate and record.  We advocate and dissent.  We engage the political process.  GMD is one of the media we use to offer our work.  We use other media, too:  public access television, op-eds, letters to the editor, emails to party leaders and elected officials.  We engage the process through local, county and state caucuses.  We run for office.  We offer “citizen journalism.” 

Now here's the point I'd like to make, very simple yet meaningful nonetheless.  Many of the conversations, issues and topics we discuss on GMD aren't worth a hill of beans when it comes to the people we need to affect most:  party leadership.  I believe the reason we seem to be ignored or not taken very seriously has quite a bit to do with our current identity as “bloggers.”  It smacks of amateurism.  “Bloggers” can be dismissed as unworthy of the time it takes to read the discussion.  A semi-professional online forum, however, can spur a stronger debate in party leadership and the decision-making process.  

I'm not “blogging” anymore.  It may be semantics, but in politics, a single word carries a lot of weight.

In a way, Jim Douglas and Brian Dubie really got what they deserve:  a requirement and a necessity to work for a living.  It may be the first time they will ever have to face the kind of challenge so many Vermonters experience on a daily basis. 

The question is, can they live up to the job?

The next two years will be an incredible challenge for the governor.  Jim Douglas will be responsible for guiding Vermont through a deep recession.  He will have to provide essential government services at the same time revenues are dramatically decreasing.  And of course, Vermonters will expect a balanced budget.

Here are just a few must-do issues Jim Douglas has inherited from himself:

1. Economy:  Job losses, Unemployment, Foreclosures & Bankruptcies, New Business development, Competitive Wages.
2. Affordability:  Food, Heating fuel and Health Care.
3. Transportation:  Bridge, road and public transit infrastructure.
4. Entergy:  Entergy's decomissioning fund, Entergy contract renewal, Entergy post 2012 cost per kilowatt.

How will Douglas and Dubie work on these issues, and will they produce tangible results?  Here are the most important questions to ask.

1. Taxes:  How will Jim Douglas escape the necessity of raising taxes?  Will he use hidden fees to raise revenue? 
2. Bonding:  Will Douglas borrow his way through the next two years?
3. Government Relations: Will Douglas work with Legislature to pass critical, time-sensitive bills so Vermonters can realize immediate benefits?
4. State Employees:  Will Douglas shave unnecessary positions, such as spokespeople, advisors and communications positions?  Will he eliminate bonuses and freeze wages at the top? 
5. Administration:  Will Douglas hold his political appointees accountable for outcomes?  Will Neale Lunderville bring agency decision-makers around the table to learn what resources they need to deliver services more effectively?  Or will the new Sec of Admin continue to deliver top-down political slogans?  Will Neale Lunderville assume the same responsibility of professional development that many of his subordinates have done by earning a Masters Degree in Public Administration?  
6. Accountability: Will Douglas fulfill prior initiatives, including his 2006 E-State and Green Valley initiatives?  Will he create new private-sector jobs?
7. Brian Dubie:  Will Dubie run off on yet another two-week glory-soldiering mission in September 2009 or another politically convenient moment?  Will he continue to brag about his military adventures while Auditor Tom Salmon continues to serve in Afghanistan?  Will he be present in his office at least 20 hours per week?  Will he show us his tax return.  Dubie, as you may recall, was the only candidate who refused to show his financials when challenged, mocking Costello by saying, “What's next?  My medical records?”

Over the next two years Vermonters will see that we, too, have gotten what we deserve in leadership.  We now stand with Utah, Indiana and North Dakota with our 2008 decision for a Republican governor.  Meanwhile some of the most conservative states in the country chose a Democratic governor.  The day has come when West Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, Delaware and New Hampshire are trending left while Vermont moves more to the right.  We may like to think otherwise, but in reality we are falling behind on many progressive issues, most noticeably in the area of renewable energy.  Ouch.   

Below the fold:  who we need to hold accountable in the Democratic party and an open invitation for Progressives to do the same.

In the same way that grassroots Dems hold our own accountable, it would be refreshing to hear at least a token of self-criticism from grassroots Progressives.  A single word of legitimate critique on Anthony Pollina, please?  

I posted the following in the comment section of another diary, but it's definitely worth repeating.  Democrats need to demand more from our “leaders.”

Here are my thoughts once again and for the record. 

Why are  Democrats Peter Welch, Jeb Spaulding, and Tom Salmon running as Democratic/Republican?

What's up with that?  Do we have a new kind of “fusion” party candidate?  

Your thoughts?

(The latest on this rapidly moving, largely Nate-powered story. Promoting despite the weird comment about “GMDers” and “new point(s) of view” that I don’t really grok… – promoted by odum)

UPDATE:  “Weird comment” deleted. 

November 1st, 2008 may become the tipping point toward Vermont's political future.  Along with the Saturday night time-change, we may just see a big step backward for he who has been ahead.  Jim Douglas's clock is beginning to run out.

First, a tip of the hat to Vermont's 4th Estate for their coverage of quickly evolving issues surrounding Shay Totten's illuminating October 15th report, “The Governor's Free Ride.”  Indeed, Halloween day proved busy, heated and a little on the scary side of Vermont politics.

The political debate today began two weeks ago with the unexpected revelation deriving from Jim Douglas' campaign finance reports.  Totten noticed no accounting, reporting or reimbursing of taxpayer resources overlapping into the Douglas campaign.  He may not have been the only journalist to pick up on this, but he was the first to ask the question, follow up, ask again, follow up and finally get to an absolute response.  

After a week of dodging repeated questions about whether the Douglas campaign follows Dean’s lead, the governor’s campaign manager Dennise Casey told “Fair Game” on Monday: “No, we don’t.” 

It shall be no surprise that the second-in-the-polls candiate, Gaye Symington, found some Douglas meat to chew; although it's probably more accurate to say that Symington was grossly appalled to witness Douglas as the bully in the school yard who steals your lunch money and later that day pretends to be your pal.

This is where th ball was kicked into play.  Truth be told, Symington jumped on the ball right away but no one was watching.  Douglas was starting to fear Pollina, so the guys pushed out chins and bellies posturing in the press for a good 10 days.  Then, with an October 27th post by Adam Quinn, the ball came into our court here on GMD.  

On Wendnesday, the 29th, Quinn returned and helped inspire us to get back on track and maybe even move out of the GMD microcosm into the fresh air of face-to-face politics.  Symington staged her press conference, VDP blew the trumpet and we were off to play the game of politics, real world.  

Since then Douglas has been trying to dodge, evade and deflect Gaye Symington as she pushed the issue forward into the press.

Douglas moved from one angle to the next, starting from a position that he didn't need to reimburse the state despite the fact that former governor Howeard Dean did so over his decade-long tenure.  Then he countered that Howard Dean only reimbursed, “a token” amount of campaign-related expenditures back to the state (about $7500).  

After Douglas' tenuous shift of blame to Dean, he and his campaign manager, Dennise Casey, attempted a side-shuffle fake-out by answering Symington's charge exclusively on the cost of a required security guard.  The Douglas/Dean comparison was still ascending, however, and on Thursday the Attorney General and Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources interrupted the play with a call of  no-foul.  But by Thursday afternoon, Douglas was once again on the defense at an appearance in Bennington, where Banner reporter Neal Goswami asked the question again:

“Aside from you security detail, is your campaign reimbursing the state for all campaign-related expenses?”

Douglas fell back to his safety:  Symington's pro forma tax returns.  A savvy player, he's never had to down the ball behind the 20 yard line when running the pro forma tax return play.  In the world of politics you play the play the same way over and over again and it almost always works.  But when the sport starts to get rough it's only a matter of time before a Douglas fade back will risk either a safety or a sack behind in the defensive endfield.  In “bogus” tax return play, Douglas' 20 yard line is his life-long experience in government and his complete awareness that pro forma tax returns are accepted by the Vermont Tax Department on a regular, ongoing basis.  Since he still hasn't been sacked by Symington, who could respond with an fast-throw quote from the tax department, Douglas predictably faded back into the play.  

The only thing “bogus” about the tax return squabble is Douglas' utter disrespect for Symington's husband, who stated early on that he wished to protect his financial privacy.  And then there's self-described “cheerleader,” Brian Dubie, laughing and somersaulting away from Costello's 1040 Challenge.  What's really bogus is that the governor's #2 gets a free pass as he stays on the sidelines, cheerleading away.  

Meanwhile, outside the conference room in Bennington, a small group of protestors held cardboard signs reading, “We're not your ATM, Jim.”  By Friday, larger clusters of protests were organized and took place in every county across Vermont.  The morning papers and mid-morning reports revealed an incumbent governor at wits end.  Throwing an over-the-barn-roof Hail Mary Pass to GOP chair Rob Roper, Team Douglas filed a counter-complaint to the Attorney General's office alleging illegal activity betwwen the Symington campaign and Democracy for America.

It was a week for Jim Douglas that would end in a politically nightmarish Halloween.

( – promoted by Jack McCullough)

Hat tip to Vermont's 4th Estate on coverage of the quickly evolving issues surrounding Totten's October 15th illuminating report, “The Governor's Free Ride.”  Indeed, Halloween day proved to be busy, heated and yes, a little on the scary side of Vermont politics.

The political debate today began on October 15th with the revelation of Jim Douglas' lack of accounting, reporting and reimbursing of taxpayer resources for his re-election campaign.  Since Monday the 27th, Douglas has been trying to dodge, evade and deflect Gaye Symington as she pushed the issue forward into the press.

Douglas moved from one angle to the next, starting from a position that he didn't need to reimburse the state despite the fact that former governor Howeard Dean did so over his decade-long tenure.  Then he countered that Howard Dean only reimbursed, “a token” amount of campaign-related expenditures back to the state (about $7500).  

After Douglas' tenuous shift of blame to Dean, he and his campaign manager, Dennise Casey, attempted a side-shuffle fake-out by answering Symington charge exclusively on the cost of a required security guard.  The Douglas/Dean comparison was still ascending, however, and on Thursday the Attorney General and Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources interrupted the play with a call of  no-foul.  But by Thursday afternoon, Douglas was once again on the defense at an appearance in Bennington, where Banner reporter Neal Goswami asked the question again:

“Aside from you security detail, is your campaign reimbursing the state for all campaign-related expenses?”

Douglas fell back to his safety:  Symington's pro forma tax returns.  A savvy player, he's never had to “down” the ball on the 20 yard line on his description of Symington's pro forma as “bogus.”  In the world of politics you play the play the same way over and over again and it almost always works.  But when the sport starts to get rough it's only a matter of time before a Douglas fade back will trap him behind his own 20 yard line.  In this case, Douglas' 20 yard line is his life-long experience in government and his complete awareness that pro forma tax returns are accepted by the Vermont Tax Department on a regular, ongoing basis.  The only thing “bogus” about the tax return squabble is Douglas' utter disrespect for Symington's husband, who stated early on that he wished to protect his financial privacy.  And then there's self-described “cheerleader,” Brian Dubie, laughing and somersaulting away from Costello's 1040 Challenge.  What's really bogus is that the governor's #2 gets a free pass as he stays on the sidelines, cheerleading away.  

Meanwhile, it's Outside, a small group of protestors held cardboard signs reading, “We're not your ATM, Jim.”  By Friday, larger clusters of protests were organized and took place in every county across Vermont.  And the morning papers and mid-morning reports revealed an incumbent governor at wits end.  Throwing an over-the-barn-roof Hail Mary Pass to GOP chair Rob Roper, Team Douglas filed a counter-complaint to the Attorney General's office alleging illegal activity betwwen the Symington campaign and Democracy for America.

It was a week for Jim Douglas that would end in a politically nightmarish Halloween.

But now it's November 1st and after a hard week of political football without advancing the ball, Jim Douglas has more trouble on his hands than ever before.

Gaye Symington, Vermont's  to every Sarah Palin in the schoolyard,   

moved back to a proven hit, referencing Symington's pro forma tax returns.  (I'm not sure why no one has called Douglas out on his use of the word “bogus” in reference to pro forma documents, especially since the Vt Tax Department accepts pro forma tax returns on a regular basis.)  By Friday, Douglas brought in the big guns of the RNC.

related expenses such as meals, travel, gasoline, office supplies and services, etc.  When you consider that one round trip between Montpelier and Bennington is about 240 miles at this summer's average price of $4/gallon, it doesn't take a CPA to conclude that Jim Douglas spent a lot more than $0 on travel expenses over the last few months.

Still, it's not a ton of taxpayer money the governor is too cheap to put back into the state's coffers.  Let's just say Douglas averaged the same as Howard Dean, per Terri Hallenback's research.  That would be $2000 per election cycle — and that was in the days when gas was $`1.35/gallon.  The ballpark figure ends up somewhere in the range of $6000.

But the way Jim Douglas, Dennise Casey, and now David Herlihy are dodging all around the question, the issue about money has evolved from a petty, eve-of-the-election squabble info something much bigger than it was when Totten's report was published in Seven Days 16 days ago.  

As of November 1st the conversation turns into the uber-question of government integrity and the need for independent oversight.

If we take a break from parsing minutiae or following the quick-pointing fingers of blame, the underlying problem emerges as if a pattern in the carpet.  Vermont's system of indivually practiced self-oversight of elected and appointed officials has become a quaint notion of our innocent past.  The bloom has come off the rose in Vermont politics. 

Given the last three election cycles in which we have begun to see more negative attacks than ever before .  Jim Douglas has lead the pack, consistently eliminating his opponents with mockery and fear-mongering.  Rich Tarrant's 2006 campaign comes in a close second given the frequency of ad rotation throughout the day.  The nicey-nice days of campaigning are over.

 in light of remarks made by the governor and the less than lackluster consideration of the matter by his political appointee, Dept of Human Resources Commissioner, David Herlihy.

isn't about money, and it's not even about proving a principle. 

— which is now likely continue well past next Tuesday.  Things are getting interesting all over the place, particularly in the Banner, Free Press, TA/RH, VTBuzz, and of course, Fair Game.  

While Jim Douglas is spinning this as last minute campaign tactics, there's quite a bit more to the story than first meets the eye.But here's the thing:  Ultimately, the questions be raisedwhat's at stake is the integrity of government, lacking independent oversight laws, policies and procedures.

Ironically, only 18 months ago, Jim Douglas rebuked Gaye Symington's proposal to establish a Code of Ethics into law with an independent council providing oversight of both the executive and legislative branches of goverment.  Symington advocated for a legal framework that held herself to the same standard as everyone else.  Jim Douglas, on the other hand, claimed himself and his political appointees to be “beyond reproach,” and suggested it would cost to much to set up a method to prevent corruption in government. 

The question of government oversight remained mired in the details of heated exchanges.  But as the saying goes, the devil is in the details. My report for GreenMountainDaily.com is below the fold.

*********************** 

It's been a busy day.  After reading the Bennington Banner this morning, it was clear that Shay Totten's story, “The Governor's Free Ride,” keeps unfolding with unexpected twists.  

Above the fold I'll provide chronology, context and conclusion.  Below the fold, look for a new complaint to the Dept of Human Resources in regard to Employee Policies & Procedures as well as my renewed complaint to the AG based on Jim Douglas' has admision of bypassing finance reporting procedures by paying these transactions “out of his own pocket.”

Nate Freeman reporting for GreenMountainDaily.com.  Hat tip once again to Vermont's news journalists with particular gratitude to Shay Totten, Dan Barlow and Neal Goswami.

Chronology:  Friday, October 31st

1.  Douglas admits non-reporting of campaign finance related activity as reported in this morning's Bennington Banner.  The most suspect procedures and policies violations regard campaign manager Dennise Casey, as reported by Totten just two weeks ago. 

2.  I submit my renewed complaint to the AG.

3.  In the same Bennington Banner article, David Herlihy, Commissioner of Dept Human Resources said he “does not believe Douglas violated any ethics or state personnel policies,” and apparently conducted no review. 

4.  I submit a formal complaint to Herlihy at DHR, referencing Totten's article and Section 5.6 of the Vermont Personnel Policies and Procedures manual.\

5. DHR Commissioner David Herlihy responds to Symington's complaint in regard to the use of state resources for the private benefit of the Douglas campaign by saying, “It's really out of the governor's hands,” in reference to the cost of the governor's required security detail.

6.  The Symington campaign reiterates its focus is on non-transparent, non-accounted and non-reimbursed expenses assocaited with meals, fuel, office supplies and other campaign-related expenses.

7.  Commissioner Herlihy at DHR responds to my formal complaint via email one minute before end of workday saying he was unaware of Totten's article and is currently out on military service, unavailable until next week. 

8.  Assistant Attorney General, Michael McShane did not return phone calls nor respond to eamail regarding the intial complaint on October 30th.  Dan Barlow reports the AG's position this morning's Times Argus/Rutland Herald.  

Analysis & Context

1. Commissioner Herlihy is a Douglas political appoiontee and as such, cannot exercise adequate oversight of his superior.  There is a significant lack of closed-loop oversight in the highest level of Vermont government.  Political appointee and DHR Commissioner, David Herlihy, defends Governor Douglas on the question of Personnel Policies and Procedures without review.  Political appointees are subject to the Executive Code of Ethics; however, only the Governor or his designated agent can enforce ethical violations.  Instead of a closed-loop oversight model, Governor Douglas and his political appointees are practicing a “rinse, spin and put out to dry” approach to policy enforcement.

2.  Dennise Casey delays the campaign finance story from going public by stonewalling journalist Shay Totten as well as members from the Vermont Press Bureau.  Totten says,

After a week of dodging repeated questions about whether the Douglas campaign follows Dean’s lead, the governor’s campaign manager Dennise Caseytold “Fair Game” on Monday: “No, we don’t.”

This week, Douglas and Casey claimed the Symington campaign was forcing the issue at the last minute.  Dennise could have and should have come clean to reporters long ago.

2.  The Attorney General's office appears to have been remiss in it's conclusion that Douglas has not violated campaign finance law.  In my complaint, I stated that Douglas “has not offered general accounting practices in delineating public expenditures such as the use of security details in his campaign finance reports.”  This complaint should have led the AG to consider a possible violation of reporting requirements as implied by Sec of State Deb Markowitz as quoted in the Banner Friday morning.   

3.  Commissioner Herlihy has spoken out against accountability measures as recently as mid-March on the whistle-blower protection bill, as reported by Dan Barlow on 3/13/08 in the Rutland Herald. 

Conclusion: 

1.  Jim Douglas has violated campaign finance law.

2.  There is zero accountability in the highest tier of Vermont's executive branch.

3.  Vermont needs a standard Code of Conduct established in law as is the case in most states as well as the  Federal Government. 

4.  Legislators need to review Symington's 2007 call for independent oversight of both the Executive and legislative branches via this Code of Conduct law. 

Mr. Freeman-

I was unaware of that story until you brought it to my attention.  I am out today on military duty and will not be able to look into this until next week.

For those who are not too familiar with David Herlihy's positions on disclosure and accountability, here's the intro to Dan Barlow's report in the Rutland Herals back in March: