Lunderville named disaster recovery czar

MONTPELIER – Governor Peter Shumlin today has appointed Neale Lunderville to oversee state recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Irene.

Lunderville, who served as Secretary of Administration and Secretary of Transportation under Governor Jim Douglas, will take a leave from his current position at Green Mountain Power, according to a press release from Shumlin's office. The annoucement was made official at a press conference in the guv's office today. From the release:

“Neale has experience with every office of state government, including as Secretary of Transportation, as well as in the private sector,” said Gov. Shumlin, who made the announcement today at a news conference. Lunderville also served as Douglas’ administration secretary. “He’s a proven problem solver, and gets things done. Neale can focus those skills on getting Vermont communities back on their feet, while we also continue to ensure that  every Vermonter has affordable health care, broadband access and a quality education.”

As the Irene Recovery Officer, Lunderville will be Gov. Shumlin’s lead troubleshooter to quickly resolve recovery issues and keep efforts moving swiftly.  Working closely with Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding, he will help expedite resources and necessary permits. In addition, Lunderville will develop a framework for integration of these special efforts into the ongoing operations of state government.

The short-term goal of the position is to address needs of impacted Vermonters by restoring basic services, housing and other essential needs, as well as to rebuild vital transportation corridors. The mid-term goal is to stabilize communities and infrastructure and develop plans for the rebuilding. This work is currently underway.

 And, from Gov. Phil Scott's office:

"Neale is an incredibly capable leader, and I have no doubt he'll do a phenomenal job for the state in this difficult time," said Scott.

 

"Irene's impact stretches across all state agencies, and it will be extremely helpful to have a single point-person to coordinate all of those efforts," Scott continued. "I will add that I've been tremendously impressed by the hard work and quick progress that's been made to-date in the recovery efforts, particularly in the Agency of Transportation. As we move from short-term, emergency repairs to longer-term, more permanent solutions, it will be important to ensure that everyone is working together as efficiently as possible. I know that Neale will help us get there."

 

This is an interesting move, as Lunderville is ensconced in the Republican Party in Vermont. Here's what Tom Evslin is saying on his blog, Fractals of Change:

 

A question I’ve heard is “why do we need another bureaucrat to coordinate all the other bureaucrats?” From my stimulus experience, I know that we do. State and Federal Government both operate in silos of (un)responsibility. In a crisis those silo walls need to be broken down, rules need to be changed fast, turf-fighting eliminated, cooperation made mandatory. In the short term, according to my wife Mary who’s representing the Red Cross in the State Emergency Operations Center, needed coordination, cooperation, and imagination is happening. But, when people go back to their day jobs, the tendency will be to step back into the comfortable silos. I’m sure part of Neale’s new job will be taming both federal and state organizations to assure that we do the right thing regardless of whose toes get stepped on or the way we’ve always done things before. There will be opportunities to rebuild transportation, communication, energy, and housing infrastructure in synergistic ways so that the new whole is better than the old parts. It takes a czar with the confidence of the Governor and the Legislature and State workers to make that coordination happen.

 

And the full post here>>>

 

Entergy lawyers order "hold" on state records

In a legal maneuver that bars state officials from deleting or tampering with any documents related to Vermont Yankee, lawyers for Entergy have placed a so-called “litigation hold” on the entire Vermont Legislature and much of state government.

In a confidential letter delivered to lawmakers Friday, Assistant Attorney General Kyle Landis-Marinello warns elected officials to leave untouched any Yankee-related documents. The requirements are “serious and sobering,” according to the letter. Lawmakers could face “harsh sanctions,” he says, if the orders are flouted.

The litigation hold applies to both paper and electronic documents, including correspondence, e-mails, Word or Excel files, photographs and video and audio recordings. Documents dating as far back as 2001 are subject to the order.

“E-mails may be the most difficult category of information to preserve, so you should identify relevant e-mails and prevent them from being lost or destroyed,” the letter says.

The hold also affects “anyone who has engaged in paid or unpaid contractual work or consultation for or on behalf of your office in any matter, docket, or communication involving Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee LLC or Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc.”

Also affected by the action are the Department of Public Service, the governor’s office, the Public Service Board, Agency of Natural Resources and office of the Attorney General.

Scott not a supporter of Entergy lawsuit

Lt. Gov. Phil Scott is one of Vermont Yankee’s few allies in state government. The former Washington County senator – one of only four last year to vote in favor of allowing the nuclear power plant to seek re-licensure before the Public Service Board – doesn’t necessarily think the 650-megawatt reactor should operate past 2012. He does though believe Entergy ought to get a chance to argue its case before the PSB.

So it was somewhat surprising to hear the Republican’s response to news about Entergy’s new lawsuit against the state of Vermont. Scott said he’s disappointed by Entergy’s decision to challenge state jurisdiction over nuclear regulation. He doesn’t agree with the 2006 vote that forced Entergy to get legislative approval before it could seek re-licensure from the PSB – Scott voted against that bill.

“But these are the rules. This is the law that’s been passed,” Scott said Tuesday. “They are rules I don’t agree with, but we have to live with rules we don’t agree with.”

Scott said he’s concerned about the considerable legal fees Vermont will incur fighting the lawsuit. And if courts do give Entergy some latitude – in the form of an injunction that allows the plant to operate past its license expiration – Scott said Vermont “may be the only state in New England that doesn’t receive low-price power.”

 

Vermont Yankee files suit to stay open past 2012

Entergy Corporation, the parent company of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, announced in a press release a few minutes ago that two of its subsidiaries have filed a complain in US District Court for Vermont seeking a judgement to prevent the cessation of operations in March of 2012.

Under the terms of the agreement when the plant was sold to Entergy in 2002, the state has the final say in whether or not Vermont Yankee can continue to operate beyond its 40-year license.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on March 21 of this year renewed that license, but the majority of the Vermont legislature and Gov. Shumlin have been opposed to allowing operation beyond 2012.

“We have made every reasonable effort to accommodate the state of Vermont and its officials while allowing the continued operation of Vermont Yankee – an outcome that benefits all stakeholders, including Vermont consumers and the approximately 650 men and women who work at the plant,” said Richard Smith, president of Entergy Wholesale Commodities, in the press release. “Despite the fact that Vermont Yankee is important to the reliability of the New England electric transmission grid, emits virtually no greenhouse gases, and provides more than $100 million in annual economic benefits to the state of Vermont, it has been made clear that state officials are singularly focused on shutting down the plant.  That has left us with no other choice but to seek relief in the court system.”

Vermont GOP gets new Executive Director

Pat McDonald, recently elected the chair of the Vermont Republican Party, has named Tayt R. Brooks the executive director.

From the press release:

 

"I'm excited to have Tayt join our team," said McDonald.  "His experience in working with people around the state and in working with members of the General Assembly makes Tayt a good fit to advance my plan to grow our party."

 

Brooks joins the Vermont Republican Party after serving as Vermont Commissioner of Economic, Housing and Community Development in the Douglas Administration.

 

He served as Executive Director for the Vermont Republican Party during the summer and fall of 2008. Prior to that, he spent five years as the Government Affairs Director for the Home Builders' & Remodelers' Association of Northern Vermont and has over four years of experience sourcing candidates as a personnel recruiter. Brooks also served as a selectman for the Town of St. Albans.

 

Brooks, 36, was born and raised in St. Albans and after graduating from Bellows Free Academy in 1993, he enrolled at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, where he earned a B.A. in history with a Canadian studies minor.

Health care bill debate goes late; Buy local contracting rules;

The fate of H.202 in committee was fairly certain last night; the committee was set to reconvene at 10 p.m. to hash out final details before voting it through. We'll have an update on that status this morning. Details as of 9 p.m. last night are in Pete's story here.

Health care workers came to the capitol Wednesday to testify against another health-care related issue: the provider tax.

More than 250 doctors, nurses and volunteers visited Montpelier on Wednesday to tell legislators why they think a proposed tax increase on health care providers is a bad idea.
Among them was Kristin Baker, who takes pride that the emergency department at Fletcher Allen Health Care, where she is nurse manager, is the only one in the state to offer specialized emergency-room care. But she told lawmakers that some of those services would be eliminated if Gov. Peter Shumlin’s proposed tax increase on hospitals goes into effect....

And while we're on taxes:

Tax the rich, spread the pain

House lawmakers on Thursday sought to rally support around a new tax proposal that could raise as much as $50 million in revenue next year by tapping the incomes of middle- and upper-class Vermonters.  At an informal meeting shortly after noon, about two dozen legislators listened to a presentation by the main architects of the plan. Rep. Johanna Leddy Donovan, a Burlington Democrat, said the Legislature cannot abide the $44 million in human-services cuts proposed by Gov. Peter Shumlin....

And Thatcher Moats writes about a new kind of buy local:

Anthony Pollina is proposing favoritism for Vermonters where state contracts are concerned.

On the campaign trail last fall, candidates of every political stripe said creating jobs to help Vermonters rebound from the Great Recession was a top priority. Sen. Anthony Pollina, a Washington County Democrat, believes a bill he has introduced this year is an opportunity for lawmakers to follow through on those promises.  Pollina is the lead sponsor of a “hire local, buy local” bill that would require state government to hire Vermont workers and buy local food as it spends taxpayer money.

Budget cuts and revisions; Vermont revisits campaign finance

What's the VPB working on?

Budget cuts and revisions

Leaders in the Vermont House of Representatives say they plan to undo some of the cuts to human services contained in Gov. Peter Shumlin’s budget proposal.

Rep. Martha Heath, a Westford Democrat and chairwoman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said she plans to unveil a budget on Friday that restores funding to some of the programs targeted in Shumlin’s fiscal-year 2012 spending plan.

“I’m sure it won’t be as much as some members of the body would like,” Heath said Tuesday. “But I’m sure it will be better than the budget as proposed by the governor.” Read more...

Campaign Finance:

Efforts to overhaul Vermont’s campaign finance laws have been thwarted in the past five years by a U.S. Supreme Court decision, two gubernatorial vetoes, veto override attempts that failed by one vote, and inaction by the House of Representatives.

But a Senate committee is trying again this year to change the way campaigns are funded in the state, with the hope that a new Democratic governor will mean a new result.  Read more...(paywall)

GOP's guest raises union hackles

Two the state’s biggest unions have called on the Vermont Republican Party to cancel a speaking engagement by the chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Reince Priebus, current chairman of the RNC and former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, is scheduled to keynote the Vermont GOP’s “Spring Dinner” at the Burlington Hilton next month.

Officials from the Vermont State Employees Association and Vermont AFL-CIO say Priebus helped engineer the election campaign of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, “laying the groundwork for the current war being waged on workers’ collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin.”

“As Vermonters rally behind the Wisconsin public employees’ fight to retain their collective bargaining rights, the Vermont Republican Party is inviting the architect of much of what is playing out right now in Wisconsin to come to Vermont and spread his anti-worker, anti-middle-class message here,” VSEA President Bob Hooper said in a press release. “VSEA thinks this sends the wrong message right now to working Vermonters and we are asking the Vermont Republican Party to rescind its invitation to Mr. Priebus and instead educate him about why a large majority of Vermonters—and Americans—support collective bargaining rights for public employees.”

Vermont GOP chairwoman Pat McDonald said in a release that, as head of the Wisconsin Republicans, Priebus oversaw one of the biggest Republican shifts in the country. His mission as head of the RNC – “to bring all of us together for a common purpose – to unite our party and to secure Republican victories from the White House to state houses all across America” – is consistent, McDonald said in a release, with Republicans’ hopes for Vermont in 2012.

“It’s about working together, returning to fundamentals, managing and staying ahead of the issues and delivering our message in a way that resonates with individual Vermonters,” McDonald said.

Shumlin for Shumlin, in 2012

Gov. Peter Shumlin might not be thinking much about a 2012 reelection campaign (or so he said at a press conference two weeks ago). But his daughter sure is.

In an e-mail to Shumlin supporters, Becca Shumlin talk about how great it’s been to be a first daughter, and how much progress her father has made on issues like health care and balancing the budget.

The mass e-mail arrived in inboxes on electronic “Shumlin for Governor” letterhead. It includes a handy “Donate” icon for anyone looking to get an early start on their 2012 giving.

Here’s the letter:

There we were, as my dad would say, "Two kids from Putney" at the White House with President Obama and Michelle Obama. We had to pinch ourselves. When you helped elect my dad last November we knew things would change, but I didn't believe change would come so quickly and I am not just talking about trips to the White House!

In his first 60 days in office, he has been focused tirelessly on the economic security of all Vermonters. Governor Shumlin sent the legislature a bill to stimulate manufacturing jobs, provide extensive job training and internships for young Vermonters, support efforts to strengthen healthy downtowns and create and protect good jobs for Vermont’s veterans and the long-term unemployed. This important action also combines efforts in the Agencies of Agriculture and Commerce for the first time so our important agricultural industry is finally part of our economic vision.

In addition to the jobs initiative, Governor Shumlin proposed a balanced budget that sets Vermont on a prudent fiscal path, and laid out a plan to provide broadband and cell phone service to all Vermonters by 2013.

And not least, he started tackling the biggest impediment to economic security and job growth facing our state: out of control health care costs. Shortly after taking office, my dad introduced a single-payer health care bill that lays the groundwork for controlling the skyrocketing costs by making our health care system simpler, fairer and more affordable. I can't tell you how many times we have heard: "You can't do single payer. You'll never get the waivers from Washington." Well recently, President Obama made his commitment clear when he announced his support for giving states the flexibility Vermont needs to implement our health care reforms by 2014. We're making great progress!

Olivia and I think Dad is doing a great job; what do you think? Please reply to this email to thank Dad or tell him what you think about his first 60 days in office. His favorite part of being governor is meeting with Vermonters that have great ideas and stories to tell. If you are frustrated, let him know. If you have an idea, express it. Dad knows Vermonters involved in our political process make this state even stronger and all of us successful!


Thank you,

Becca Shumlin

P.S. I am also proud that Dad got McDonald's to start using real Vermont maple syrup in their stores. Sometimes it is the little things that make a big impact. Just ask our sugarers!

Sen. Sanders transcribes his filibuster into book form

You may remember the eight and a half hour speech on the Senate floor in December by Sen. Bernie Sanders - or maybe you didn't take the time to watch. You might have seen an excerpt of what people called the "Berniebuster" on TV or on YouTube (the opening 12 minutes of the speech has around 66,000 views as of today), but if you want more, now you've got your chance: Berniebuster, the Book has hit the shelves in paperback form.

The Speech: A historic filibuster on corporate greed and the decline of our middle class was released March 1, and contains the text of his entire speech spread over 255 pages, with some edits and an introduction.