Transparency - S16 & H22

While many of Vermont's journalists were in Grafton for a conference on government transparency last Friday, Gov. Shumlin held a press conference on a new effort to increase transparency in Vermont's government. There were very promising signs in what the governor said, but in general we have a 'wait-and-see' attitude.

The issues with transparency seem to boil down to a few things: the state employee time it takes to process public records requests; what is or isn't exempted from Vermont's public records law; and who pays the legal bills when a dispute over what is public and what is not goes to court.

Meanwhile, S.16, introduced by Sens. Dick Sears (D-Bennington) and Joe Benning (R-Caledonia), proposes to add another exception to the public record law, by making any adult case accepted by a diversion program confidential.The way this bill is written, it looks as if the arrest would still be public information, but anything related to how the police came to arrest a given person would be private.

And H.22, introduced by 22 House members, would, upon petition, expunge all records related to misdemeanor crimes after five years, upon petition. This might apply for people who are caught with a joint in their pocket, or other minor crimes, but anyone convicted of a serious felony would not be able to petition for expungement.

Obie's Lessons

In his letter of resignation, submitted to Speaker Shap Smith, Rep. Michael Obuchowski added his "Lessons Learned", which became part of the record in the House Journal on Friday. He is stepping down to take a post in the Shumlin administration:

Nearly two generations of service in the House have taught me many
lessons, some of which are worth sharing with those now serving and
those to follow:
Obie's Lessons Learned
Do what you think is right despite the consequences.
Treat each other with dignity and respect.
Be honest.
Never give up. Anything is possible.
Don't engage in battle over little things. Save it for situations that matter.
Work hard.
Worry the Governor, like the wolf worries sheep.
Keep a line of communication open. Listen.
Treat the taxpayers' money as if it were your own.
The House Clerk is always correct.
Work together for the public good.
Be judicious with the power to tax.
And remember your constituents are in charge. Protect their rights.

Press Bureau roundup

It's busy time in Montpelier; here's what the Press Bureau has been working on the last few days:

Stimulus won't alter project prioritization - Louis Porter, VPB
VPIRG wants to ban fire-retardant chemical - Louis Porter, VPB
Just let us farm - Peter Hirschfeld, VPB
Lawmakers weigh in on federal truck policy - Peter Hirschfeld, VPB
Energy bill from Berkeley to Vermont - Daniel Barlow, VPB
Bennett Case sparks push for easier supoenas - Daniel Barlow, VPB
For 80 state workers, pay tops $100,000 - Daniel Barlow, VPB

The view of US from the House floor

 

When the Legislature is in session, Vermont's media can usually be found in the balcony of the House chambers. Thanks to Sen. Vincent Illuzzi for the photo.

A team of rivals?

Wednesday Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin pointed out that his side of the Legisalture re-elected him a few minutes before the House choose new Speaker Shap Smith.

Thursday Smith returned the favor as members waited for the Senate in preparation for Gov. James Douglas’ inaugural address.

“We have to wait for the other body,” Smith said as his colleagues laughed. “Get used to it.”

-Louis Porter

Why I love being at the Statehouse

Because I can walk into the House chambers on a Tuesday morning to find Majority Leader Carolyn Partridge leading lawmakers in a reading of Sojourner Truth's famous 1851 speech, "Ain't I A Woman?"

-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

One vote short

Leaders in the Vermont House were a single vote short today to overturn the governor's veto of the campaign finance reform bill.

One Democrat, Rep. George Allard of St. Albans, broke ranks and voted for sustaining the veto, but he's been against the bill for quite some time, according to House members. No surprise there. Privately, Democrats did note that several key members were absent for the veto session, which could have made the difference here.

Depending on the outcome of the new energy bill that is being debated in the Vermont Senate right now, Gov. James Douglas could walk away from this post-veto legislative session looking like a winner. But the afternoon is early.

-Dan Barlow

Symington thanks Pelosi

The impeachment vote may be over and done with in the Vermont House, but that doesn't mean that lawmakers aren't still thinking about the Bush administration.

House Speaker Gaye Symington, D-Jericho, released a letter Friday she wrote to her counterpart in the U.S. House - Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The two-page letter notes that the Vermont Senate approved an impeachment resolution and the House did not. Symington noted that she disagreed with the more than 300 people who gathered at the Statehouse Wednesday, but that she was "moved by their passion for holding the [Bush] administration accountable."

She adds in the letter that President Bush and Vice President Cheney's actions have been "deceitful, immoral, and potentially criminal."

"I would also like to convey my appreciation to you for the dozens of investigations into the conduct of this administration that are currently underway in the U.S. House," Symington wrote.

During the weekly lunch date with Statehouse reporters Friday, Symington pinpointed the moment she changed her mind and allowed the debate and vote on impeachment to go forward.

During a speech on global warming Sunday in Burlington, Symington suddenly realized that she hadn't thought much about the issue recently. That feeling was cemented that night when she spoke in Bennington and impeachment was one of the major issues that residents raised with her.

She said she decided that night to allow the issue to go forward.

"We were dealing with it," Symington said. "And we weren't going to get back to the priorities without allowing the debate and having the vote."

-Dan Barlow