A little bit of Vermont in Iran

The Tehran Times, Iran's leading newspaper, has reprinted Rutland Herald reporter Susan Smallheer's entire news article on Brattleboro's quest to have President Bush arrested for war crimes.

-Dan Barlow

Pollina drops out of radio show

Progressive candidate for governor Anthony Pollina announced Sunday that he will stop hosting his Equal Time radio show to focus on challenging incumbent Gov. James Douglas.

Many people expressed strong concerns with having a political candidate hosting a local radio show. Next in his campaign for governor, I would suggest, should include putting some content on his Web site.

-Dan Barlow

Douglas unveils his budget

"Tough choices" were the buzz words around the Statehouse Tuesday as Gov. James Douglas unveiled his fiscal year 2009 budget.

Bureau Chief Louis Porter will have the details in his story in tomorrow's Times Argus and Rutland Herald. But, all in all, Douglas proposed a $4.3 billion budget, which includes federal dollars and education spending. That's an increase of about 3.4 percent over the current budget.

"As we begin to shape a budget for the next fiscal ear, the economic uncertainty facing our nation gives us little margin for error," Douglas said at the close of his address. "There are no easy answers."

Ninety minutes before Douglas took to the podium, Administration Secretary Mike Smith sat down with the Statehouse reporters to hit the broad beats of the budget plan. One of the biggest holes in the budget the administration had to fill was a project deficit in Medicaid and to cover the shortfall in Catamount Health after the Bush administration didn't approve a poverty level waiver.

The state essentially needed to find $35 million for those two health programs - which they did, by pulling some funds from the general fund, tobacco payback money and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board's cash-on-hand.

Smith said this new proposed budget is based on the economic reality that the United States is in right now. When wind of the economic downturn blew through the governor's administration in October, Smith said he sent all the department budgets back with orders to cut further.

Still, he said, Vermont will be OK and back on the economic upswing in a year.

"We are in much better shape than many other states," he said. "Many of them already have deficits."

-Dan Barlow

Hudson tributes continue

Tuesday was the first full day this week that the Legislature has been back in session - and its first without Rep. Cola Hudson, who died Sunday.

Presiding over the combined Vermont House and Senate shortly before the governor's budget address, Senate President Peter Shumlin remembered his first day as a state representative. Behind him sat Hudson, who requested to the freshman rep that he "vote right with us," Shumlin said.

When Gov. James Douglas took the podium, he also shared some memories of Hudson. And then, during his 30-minute budget address, announced that $1 million in scholarship money for the state colleges will now be known as the Cola H. Hudson Memorial Scholarship.

"We know you will always watch over Vermont and those who serve it," Douglas said.

-Dan Barlow

One step closer

Peter Galbraith is now raising money for the Vermont Democratic Party.

Here's what Galbraith says at the Dems' Web site:

I am excited about the possibilities for Vermont — especially if we are working with a Democratic President and Congress — and for that reason I am now giving serious consideration to being a candidate for Governor.

-Dan Barlow

Douglas' budget address this afternoon

Gov. James Douglas will return to the Vermont House chambers this afternoon to lay out his budget plans for the coming year. Early indication is that the budget will reflect the tight fiscal reality in Montpelier, meaning minor expansions of programs without new taxes will be highlighted.

The fun starts at 2 p.m. at the Statehouse. For those at home or work, looks like Vermont Public Radio will be streaming the address live. Meanwhile, possible Democratic candidate for governor, Peter Galbraith, will be speaking to the Democratic Party caucus shortly after the address.

-Dan Barlow

Hudson calling hours

Dave Janawicz, the chief of the Statehouse police, has just released information on the funeral arrangements for Rep. Cola Hudson, who died Sunday.

Calling hours will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Guilbord Funeral Home in Lyndonville. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday a the Lyndon Institute, with a reception following in the nearby cafeteria.

An obituary for the longtime member of the Vermont House is expected later tonight or early tomorrow. As I write this, my boss, Bureau Chief Louis Porter, is chatting with Gov. James Douglas on the phone about Hudson, for a story in Tuesday's Times Argus and Rutland Herald.

-Dan Barlow

Rep. Hudson passes away

This week starts with some sad news. Rep. Cola Hudson, a longtime Republican state representative from Lyndon, died Sunday of heart failure. Gov. James Douglas, who entered the Vermont Legislature in the same year as Hudson, has ordered the state's flags to be flown at half-mast.

Tributes to Hudson have been streaming in today.

Rob Roper, Vermont Republican Party chairman:

Cola’s passing was a surprise to us all. We will miss his humor, his insights, and his good, old-fashioned horse sense. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hudson family.

Republican House Leader Steve Adams and Assistant Leader Patti Komline:

Cola Hudson was a giant among great Vermonters.  He epitomized the Yankee values that bind all Vermonters together – hard work, dedication, and a commitment to serving one’s community.  His passing is a great loss to the State of Vermont.

Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington:

The member from Lyndonville was rarely missing from his seat when the House was in session.  He was known for using few words to convey his perspectives on the debates at hand.  At times he would use his wit to remind others of the value of brevity.  When the Member from Lyndonville spoke, the Vermont House listened carefully.

In happier news, Adams has reported that his Jan. 7 heart surgery was a success. Adams is the Republican Party's leader in the Vermont House and this medical emergency has kept him away during this part of the session in 2008. He is now at home recuperating and working part-time on legislative issues. He hopes to return to the Statehouse in about four weeks.

Here's what he had to say, via a press release from Komline:

My family and I are truly grateful for all the support we have received from so many Vermonters during this challenging time. I was particularly encouraged by the kind words of support from my colleagues in the Legislature.

-Dan Barlow

White House "mystery" solved

Looks like the White House did have a real reason to fax me last week.

(H/T to D.M. for first suggesting this was the reason for the mysterious fax from the Office of the First Lady last week)

Looks like the Vermont Historical Society was honored at the White House at an event this morning celebrating museum and library services (Mrs. Bush is, of course, a former librarian and this issue is clearly close to her heart).

Here's what the First Lady had to say this morning:

Vermonters may live in a small state, but thanks to the Vermont Historical Society, they're proud of their history. The society has partnered with 192 public libraries - as well as 200 local museums and heritage organizations - to educate citizens about their state's rich past. At the society's annual History Expo, more than 6,000 people enjoy presentations, reenactments, plays, readings by Vermont authors, and traditional craft demonstrations. The Expo is one of the many Historical Society programs that provide a crucial boost to Vermont's economy.

Big congratulations to the Historical Society for this. Unfortunately, it ruined a perfectly good moment of political snark. Still, they totally deserve the recognition.

-Dan Barlow

First Lady Bush says hello to VT

Sort of.

We got a lot of strange faxes here at the Vermont Press Bureau newsroom. But I was startled to see one come in from the White House today.

For some odd reason - this has never happened in the past 10 months that I have been working out of this office - the White House's Office of the First Lady decided to inform us that Mrs. Bush would be having a press conference at the National Medals for Museum and Library Services Ceremony at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14.

Not in Vermont, but in the East Room of the White House.

So, if any members of the Vermont media want to go, please fax your name, social security number and date of birth on company letterhead to the White House no later than 6 p.m. tonight.

Thanks, White House! I'm looking forward to hearing about future opportunities to hear the First Lady speak that I also cannot take advantage of.

-Dan Barlow