EAST MONTPELIER – The contest for “Stupidest Veto in the History of Phil Scott Vetoes” is a richly competitive one, with numerous contenders for the honors among the [checks notes] 52 vetoes he has unleashed upon Vermont’s normally placid and communitarian political life.* But the next one he threatens to[Read More…]
John Walters, theVPO
Dear Friends of The Gazette,
If you’re a regular reader, this message is for you. Did you turn to The Gazette for coverage of Town Meeting Day? Do you depend on The Gazette to bring you the news, school sports, arts and community events from our area? When you get our weekly email rundown, do[Read More…]
Sen. Sam Douglass, Campaign Finance Scofflaw
MONTPELIER – The folksy Son of the Soil pictured above is Sam Douglass, senator-elect from the Orleans district. Or, as I find myself thinking of him, Senator Scofflaw. Because while he claims to be a “fierce advocate,” he was shockingly blasé about his legal obligations to report campaign finances accurately[Read More…]
People, Not Props
EAST MONTPELIER – In my recent post (since amended) about the deaths of Lucas and Tammy Menard, I was guilty of the very thing I have accused state officials of doing: Treating real people as symbols or statistics or props. My post caused further distress to the people who knew[Read More…]
Phil Scott’s Shelter Policy Has Started Literally Killing People
EAST MONTPELIER – Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! The Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department found two people dead inside a tent in Wolcott on Thanksgiving Eve. They were Lucas Menard of Montpelier and Tammy Menard of Berlin. Few details are available, although police do not suspect foul play. Unless, of course, you consider[Read More…]
The Barons of Burlington Are Trying to Buy the State Senate
John Rodgers is a curious sort of politician: He presents himself as a simple farmer, a rural populist who gives voice to the voiceless, meaning people who live outside the Burlington area. But John Rodgers, former Democratic state lawmaker turned Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, has seen his campaign picked[Read More…]
Mother Nature’s Punching Bag
EAST MONTPELIER — I can remember a time, not that long ago, when we believed the worst effect of climate change on Vermont would be a potential influx of climate refugees: people from coastal areas looking for safe havens in the hills and mountains of our state. Yeah, about that.[Read More…]
When She Was Good, She Was Very, Very Good…
Amongst all the encomiums that accompanied Sen. Jane Kitchel’s retirement announcement (“most influential legislator,” “tireless work ethic,” “encyclopedic” knowledge of state government and, of course, “legendary”), this comment from Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth stuck out at me: “I have adopted a two-word mantra as President Pro Tem, and[Read More…]
Well, At Least it wasn’t the most Violent Thing to ever Happen in a Senate Chamber
EAST MONTPELIER – Wow. Not only did the state Senate reject Zoie Saunders’ nomination as education secretary, it did so on a lopsided 19-9 vote. That’s a damning indictment of how out of touch Gov. Phil Scott was in choosing her. I mean, it’s still unclear whether a Vermont Senate[Read More…]
There’s Probably a Humanitarian Disaster Happening, But the Judge Said It Was Okay
EAST MONTPELIER – Truly bizarre happenings over the last 24 hours, even by the bizarre standards of this seemingly never-ending crisis of housing and homelessness. We’ll get to the judge’s decision allowing Gov. Phil Scott’s ridiculous policy to go forward, but first a note from an official in the city[Read More…]
A Stain On the Senate
EAST MONTPELIER – The Senate Appropriations Committee is a distillation of everything I don’t like about the Senate as a whole. It’s heavily weighted toward seniority. The senior solons get near-total deference from any junior colleague who manages to wedge their way onto the committee. Those veteran members are a[Read More…]
