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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


4.06.2007

 

Veto fever

The Statehouse was still abuzz today over yesterday's House vote on the governor's veto, where Democrats fell just three votes short of an override. After the weekend, this one will be far in the rear-view mirror, but for now it's a more catchy conversation than, "Hey what do you think about the 2008 budget?"

Legislators have a way of blaming the media for suggesting that a veto-proof majority exists in the House. I'd like to suggest that if we didn't point out that there was this first-time-ever-for-Democrats theoretical veto-proof majority if the Progressives and the independents cooperate, everybody'd be after us.

So this fragile, first-time-ever thing was challenged for the first time Thursday. Two Democrats and one independent didn't go along. One D was also at the dentist. One of the wayward Democrats was Ron Allard of St. Albans, who's often gone against the party and so was no surprise. Independent Darryl Pillsbury is labeled an independent for a reason, so his vote's not very predictable.

The surprise of the day was newcomer Jon Anderson, in his third day in the Legislature. He's listed as a Democrat, but he was the fifth of five choices among Montpelier Democrats making the nominations to the governor. Now people are really wondering what kind of Democrat he is.

Does a real Democrat back the governor? Does a newcomer in his third day on the job not realize how politically charged this vote is? Does a newcomer think, more than old-timers, that such a vote shouldn't be so purely political? Where do you draw the line between voting with the party and voting with your own self? Thursday's vote raises these questions and more.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
Its refreshing to see someone like him vote with his conscious and not forced into the political party game.

Sounds like we should have more people like him at the Statehouse.
 
He'll no doubt have a wonderful 14 month career.
 
Terri,
Isn't the House seat from Springfield open?

I think that the Rep. recently died and his seat has not been filled??? Is that right?

If so, that's another lost Democratic vote for this mythical monster called the 'veto proof majority'.
 
Shumlin fought the veto... and the veto won!
 
This supposedly unbeatable majority has been losing time and time again, not just the veto vote but a host of other bills. It's a new excuse every day: Gov didn't round up votes for us, the new guy voted the wrong way, there was not supposed to be a roll call on that vote, the church scared everyone, etc. Truman's motto was "the buck stops here", that is certainly not the case with these dems, they can always find some boogeyman to blame . . .
 
There are no more vacancies in the House. Gov. Douglas appointed Rep. Clint Martin's wife, Cynthia, to fill his Springfield seat early in the session.
- TH
 
I think the Springfield seat has been filled by Cynthia Martin - whom I believe is the late Rep. Clint Martin's widow.
 
Anderson is a lame duck. His fifteen minutes will expire soon enough. Maybe Jim will make him the Agriculture pr person. Heard the salary is pretty good.
 
Terri, that wasn't the only important happening today down at the statehouse.

A bunch of kids from Isle La Motte School were pleading to keep their school open.

Met with their legislators.

Rednalsi
 
The House Dems were at their high-water mark on the day they were sworn in back in January. Even if Jon Anderson loses the primary next September (and doesn't come back as an independent), Ron Allard is going to be in the House as long as he wants to be. He's a typical Franklin County Democrat, and will feel free to support Jim Douglas without any electoral worries back home. After yesterday's vote, Douglas knows his veto threats will carry weight, even if he never vetoes another bill for the rest of the session. The Governor is in a good position heading in to the last month of the session.
 
I dont know why you thought Anderson's vote was a surprise. It wasn't to people in Montpelier, and the word was out before the vote that he'd already announced he was going with the governor on it. I mean - that's why he was appointed, right?
 
"Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says he misspoke in comments he made about security in Baghdad and acknowledged that heavily armed troops and helicopter gunships accompanied him when he visited a market there."

Wonder if the Vermont wonderkid advised McPain to go that route?
 
Can you imagine that - a "dimocrat" that isn't afraid to stand up to the union thugs, academia idiots, and the rest of the slugs in Montpelier!!! Sounds like Vermont's Joe Lieberman.
 
Bubba is the perfect spokeswoman for the GOP.

Keep speaking out Bubba.
 
"Sounds like Vermont's Joe Lieberman."

And how!

Click to see for yourself!
 
Thank God for the AP's Ross Sneyd. This is one Vermont reporter who actually digs to find the real story, not just the superficial garbage. Maybe, too, it's because his editors don't demand right-wing ideology appear in every story. Yeah, I know Bubba, insert your "liberal media" mantra here, but if you truly look at who owns the media in Vermont (particularly the Free Press) you'd see this is a BS argument that only FOX news devotees cling to as a crutch. Go get 'em Ross!
 
Yeah, I just love the right wing Bennington, Brattleboro, Rutland, Montpeculier, Burlington (also that right-wing rag Seven Days), etc. papers! I guess the only leftie rag is the Caledonian Record.
 
As a "right-of-center", I appreciate the great reporting of Ross. I have found him to be a very responsible and fair reporter who always digs deeper than the boys at the Vermont Press Bureau. Louis Porter and Dan Barlow certainly put a very left-wing spin on every story. Congratulations to Ross.
 
Veto Fever.....


More like veto anxiety with a bad case of bipolar partisanship.
 
You're finally right in one of your posts Bubba, with the exception of the Caledonian. It's very right wing too. As are CAX, PTZ and, sadly, DEV.
 
Geez..too bad not more stations to spread left wing propaganda. What's wrong with two points of view?
 
"Just about everything."

John McLaughry, 2007
 
Shumlin for Governor
 
You ever wonder who the idiot is who posts things like "Shumlin for Governor?" It was cute the first 1,517 times. Now...not so cute. Do us all a favor and save it for placards.
 
Ross Sneyd is doing a good job.
 
go to www.snarkyboyinadress.com to see snarky in a dress.
 
He can wear it next time he get arrested!
 
Remember, voting against your party is only an act of courageous statesmanship if you're a Republican. It's an act of treason if you're a Democrat.
 
That's funny Barreboy because it's the opposite for Republicans.

Republicans think it's an act of courageous statesmanship for a Democrat to vote against the party (Joe Lieberman) but an act of treason for a Republican to vote against their party (Arlen Spector).
 
Democrats are not independents
and neither are progressives so
people should not expect that.
 
What is the beef with Shumlin?
 
?????????????????????
 
Shumlin or Dunne, ???
 
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