Sorry for the lack of posting Wednesday, but the Statehouse wireless system was done - putting a cramp in my blogging style.
It's a big day at the Statehouse today - Gov. James Douglas will give his fiscal year 2010 budget address in less than an hour. Reporters got a glimpse of the budget during a sit-down with administration officials, but sorry, that information is embargoed until after his speech this afternoon.
Let me just say this: There will be a lot to talk about in his budget. But I bet everyone already knew that.
The other big news items that caught my eye this afternoon is President Barack Obama (still getting used to writing that) signing an order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison within a year. There were resolutions circulating in the Vermont House and Senate earlier this month calling on Obama to close the facility on day one of his administration - but that point may be moot now.
Here's what Sen. Patrick Leahy had to say about the move:
"President Obama's new executive orders are important steps toward bringing to an end some of the Bush administration's most damaging national security policies. These orders are first steps. Congress must work in a bipartisan way with President Obama to implement them. Our new President is sending a clear signal that we are moving forward and demonstrating to the world that we can both protect our national security and remain a nation of laws that respects human dignity."
Meanwhile, a Vermont lawyer representing a client at Gitmo wonders what this means for his case.
-Dan Barlow
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