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


6.27.2007

 

Meeting's off

The governor has postponed the meeting he was going to have this evening with legislative leaders about the energy legislation, with his staff saying that Democratic legislators are negotiating through the media and until they stop it, he won't meet with them.

Gubernatorial spokesman Jason Gibbs charged that Democrats are urging members of the media to crash the meeting.

Being a member of the media, that puts me in sort of an odd position. I don't want to be part of the story. I just want to maintain my status as the socially challenged, poorly paid, current events junkie in the back of the room.

Here I am squarely in the middle on this one, though. I'm the one who first wrote about the meeting and I can tell you it wasn't a case of the Dems spinning me on it. It was simply a case of me looking for a new angle on a story that was growing mold. Here's how my knowledge of the meeting unfolded:

I spoke last Thursday with House Speaker Gaye Symington. Knowing that she was leaving Friday for an overseas vacation and that I was trying to put together a couple stories on the energy legislation, I wanted to catch her before she left. I asked her if she'd spoken to the administration about the governor's energy proposal and she said no, but that while she was away Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Robert Dostis would be talking to the governor. At no time did she say that meeting might involve a compromise, just that they'd be talking.

Ding, went the bell in my head. If they're going to meet with the governor, maybe that will give my story a timeliness. I called Dostis to talk generally about the issues surrounding the bill and the governor's alternative proposal, and I asked him whether they'd be meeting with the governor any time soon. He said he didn't know the specifics, that Shumlin was in charge of that, and he was Shumlin's guest, but that he expected there would be a meeting in the near future. Dostis mentioned that he didn't think the governor's plan was enough, but maybe it could enhance the legislature's.

Another bell went off in my head and I got the notion that if these guys were going to meet, maybe I'd frame my story - which was going to be a comparison of the bill and the governor's alternative - around the question of whether a compromise between these two proposals was possible before the July 11 veto session.

Friday came. I was diverted into writing a story about housing prices. The weekend arrived and I pretended to have a personal life. Monday came around and I resumed my devotion to the energy story.

I put in calls to Shumlin and to Jason Gibbs, the governor's spokesman. Gibbs got back to me first. I asked when the governor would be meeting with Shumlin and Dostis, and he told me Wednesday, late in the day, somewhere halfway between Montpelier and Putney, which is where Shumlin lives and works. I started crafting the story around the idea that a meeting meant a compromise was at least possible, all the while thinking that a compromise was a long shot.

Later in the day, Shumlin returned my call. I verified the meeting and because I didn't just want to say in my story somewhere between Montpelier and Putney, I asked him where. He said Woodstock. Because I wanted some time frame about when I might inquire how the meeting went, I asked what time. He said 5:30 p.m.

After my story about the meeting and the chances of a compromise ran in Tuesday's paper, Shumlin and Dostis came out with a press release announcing they'd be offering a compromise. It surprised me as much as anyone. Though I had explored the idea of a compromise, I had no idea that a specific offer was in the works.

Gibbs said today that he's been getting calls from other media who want to attend the meeting, and he said clearly the Democrats have put them up to it by revealing details about time and location. Combined with yesterday's press release, that's a clear sign that Democrats are negotiating this through the media, Gibbs said.

I will grant you that Tuesday's press release from Shumlin and Dostis was an oddity. Other Democrats were surprised by it and were not entirely sure it was a good move. You could argue that it's a way of negotiating through the media. I can see why it would make the governor's office leery. But the other part, about Democrats encouraging the media to crash the meeting, I can only tell you that must be other media. I was just looking for what we call a "nut graf" for my story.

That's my story. Now let me retreat to the back of the room.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
How rich--a governor who only 'governs' if media is present, using media as a pretext for another foot-stomping hissy fit. He has nothing useful to offer and no real interest in advancing a solution to energy problems he doesn't believe exist.
 
Impeach Shumlin.
 
Douglas knows he has the votes to sustain the veto in the House, so why should he help Shumlin in any way? If there's no energy bill, how can Shumlin claim he's an effective leader when he runs for governor next year?
 
Douglas and Gibbs are d#*kless wonders. Grow a set already. Who cares if the media are there? If this were October 2008, Gibbs and his flaks would be crying for the media to be present. Truth be told, Douglas has been using the media (and the op-ed pages) ad nauseum to float his so-called "compromise." Worried about media influence? Give me a f%&king break.
 
"Gibbs said today that he's been getting calls from other media who want to attend the meeting, and he said clearly the Democrats have put them up to it by revealing details about time and location. Combined with yesterday's press release, that's a clear sign that Democrats are negotiating this through the media, Gibbs said."

What?


You've got to be kidding me...


Its just a meeting, nothing more. And why wouldn't the press want to be at a potential compomise meeting over one of the most important issues facing not only Vermont, but the entire globe?

I think that Douglas just doesn't want any legislation to pass and he doesn't want to be caught on the camera looking like a buffoon trying to backpedal and come up with other reasons to oppose when he's presented with a compromise that actually meets his current requirements.

He doesn't want to look like the infamous Clavelle ad..or the Parker commercial..

unless its scripted, he won't be there.

How pathetic.
 
Stop the insanity. Impeach Shumlin now!
 
Well, true to form, Gov Jim Douglas really does not believe in Energy Efficiency or the world renowned Vt Efficiency Utility.

Oh yeah, he absolutely knows how to speak out of both sides of his mouth...
1) When EEU won national recognition, Jim Douglas was right there to claim credit

2) On his recent trip to China with the Vt Chamber, he proclaimed VT a world leader (under his leadership, of course) on energy efficiency

3) With the New England Governors and Canadian Maritime Primiers, he again proclaims Vt's leadership (i.e. HIS leadership) on fighting global warming.

BUT, when it comes down to actually signing a bill that takes Vt to the next level on its leadership of fighting global warming, he falls flat on his face.

He says he is vetoing the bill because of a tax on Entergy - and when the House and Senate leadership agree to remove the funding for now (the bill actually does not need the funding until FY09) - Jim Douglas conveniently finds a new reason to object.

So typical of Jim Douglas - and the media never engages him in depth.

They let him answer their questions with info that has little to do with the question - but they hardly ever followup with the hard question - Douglas controls the media because they are afraid of Mike Smith and Jason Gibbs.
 
to the last 'anonymous' (4:53pm)
You Rock! Could you please help out the Vermont Dems with some media strategy?
 
Slight problem with your argument 'anonymous' - H520 will do very little combat climate change. Its long on Shumlin spin, but short on substance.

Until you can quantify the benefits of H520, you're just a pawn in Shumlin's sick game of politics.
 
Jim Douglas is not the most serious obstacle to meaningful action on climate change in Vermont.

Two Democratic U.S. House members - John Dingell of Michigan and Rick Boucher of Virginia - should take those honors.

Dingell (the member for the Big 3 auto manufacturers) and Boucher (the member for the coal industry) want to prevent California, Vermont, and other states from enacting legislation on auto emissions that is stricter than federal requirements.

Peter Welch has been speaking up against Dingell and Boucher, but those two members have a lot of power in the House, and lots of PAC money behind them -- and the recent Supreme Court decision on "issue ads" will allow the auto industry, the coal companies, the UAW, etc. to run lots of misleading ads on this issue just before the November 2008 elections.

All those Democrats who are jumping all over Jim Douglas about global warming should instead be working with Welch, Leahy, and Sanders to make sure that Big Auto and Big Coal don't prevent meaningful action on motor vehicle emissions, the biggest source of greenhouse gases in Vermont.
 
BRAVO!!!

Let's get something straight. Shumlin caved. This is a man that talks about "political courage" - but he's all about politics, and what's good for Shumlin.

Speaking of nut grafs Terri, I think Shumlin needs a nut graft!
 
Can we simply abolish the Vermont Legislature? It's a complete waste of time and money and only serves as a holding pen for imcompetents and a breeding ground for corrupt, ambitious individuals who want to run for statewide office. Liz Ready? Pete Shumlin? Recent models of honesty and integrity!
 
No, we just need to abolish Peter Shumlin.
 
"Douglas controls the media because they are afraid of Mike Smith and Jason Gibbs"

Terri, Remson and Louis Porter, when his head's not clear (which is often, judging by his lengthy pub stays) might be intimidated by Mike "keg w/ legs" Smith, but the notion that Gibbs intimidates ANYONE is laughable. He's the kid who wore black knee-high dress socks to gym class. He's probably never even tested his true metal outside the safe confines of Vermont. The reason for the press's "kiss the ring" mentality arond Douglas and his cronies is because they've been in office sooo long.
 
Chittenden Bank sold to a CT company. D&T Spinning is closing. Jim = Jobs?????
 
The Chittenden sale is more than just a business story. Within just a few years, Vermont National, The Howard Bank, and Chittenden will have been bought by out-of-state or out-of-country buyers. This is great for stockholders of those banks, but is it going to hurt individuals and small businesses in Vermont? The CEO of Chittenden says it will still be a "community" bank, but if loan decisions are being made in CT rather than VT, will some loans that would have been made by Chittenden not be made by the new owners? This could be problematic for small businesses and job creation. Some Chittenden employees might also lose their jobs if back-office functions are consolidated in CT. The decline of community banks and consolidation in the financial industry is a perfect issue for Bernie Sanders, but Jim Douglas should be out front on this issue too. As the previous poster said, Jim = Jobs.
 
Actually, I never wore black knee-high dress socks in gym class--they were usually navy blue.

On occassion I would wear my knee-high boy scout sox. Sexy, I know.

I'm off to polish and color code my pocket protectors...

Jason
 
I don't know a balance sheet from a balance beam, but I'll be get right on this banking thing. Big bad, evil banks.

I have the solution - Peter Diamondstone will turn Chittenden into a coop and manage it himself. We'll loan anyone money and won't ask them to pay it back. Its all groovy.
 
My nerd admission explains why I choose to work for Vermont's biggest nerd, my boss Jimbo. You know what they say: "Birds of a feather..."

Flashback: When I saw Scoutmaster Jim in those dreamy brown socks, topped with that lucious red band, skyrockets went off in my head. I knew I had to serve him (wink, wink, know what I mean...)
 
So let's see if I have this right:

Gov Jim Douglas likes much of H520 because it does good things BUT he vetoed it because it had the Yankee tax in it.

However, Gov Jim Douglas is upset AND now does not like the bill because the legislative leaders did not talk to him first before releasing it to the media -

HEY JIM, DID YOU FORGET YOU DIDN'T TALK TO THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS UNTIL A WEEK TO 10 DAYS AFTER YOU RELEASED YOUR PROPOSAL TO THE MEDIA.

AND when Legislative leaders recognized they had a majority of legislators but not the 2/3 necessary to override, they offered to amend the bill by dropping the funding source. They further stated that since the funding is not needed until 2009, they would come back in jan 2008 to determine where the money would come from.

So Jim Douglas decides he STILL doesn't like the bill because it doesn't have a funding source -

HEY JIM, DID YOU FORGET YOUR PROPOSAL DID NOT HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE EITHER!

AND NOW, he says he also does not like the structure -

HEY JIM, YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES IN WASH DC (Bush, Cheney, and ROVE)NEVER BELIEVED IN GLOBAL WARMING ANYWAY SO WHY DON'T YOU STOP THE WHINING AND JUST SAY SO!

Be honest with Vermonters and say you were never going to sign a global warming bill.

Please media - don't let him off the hook so easily!
 
Gov Jim Douglas is clearly the most political "animal" in Montpelier!
 
Anonymous, the expression is "testing one's mettle." Not "metal." Mettle means temperament, spirit, or stamina.

And to the more recent anonymous with his long-winded, sloganeering attacks on Gov. Douglas: turn off the caps and stop shouting, please. Putting your words in caps does not make your rant any better. It just makes you more annoying. And constantly referring to Bush, Cheney, and Rove is the Governor's "buddies in Washington" is really, really old and tired already. Calvelle and Parker both used it in their gubernatorial campaigns against Douglas and Vermonters didn't buy it.
 
Maybe Chittenden's officers and directors decided to sell out to the Connecticut bank because they think the business climate in Vermont is bad now and will be even worse if a Democrat like Peter Shumlin becomes governor - take the money and move out of state now, before the state's economy goes south under the Dems.
The debate over H 520 is a perfect example of why business will think long and hard before investing in Vermont as opposed to other states.
 
Right, the business climate is so bad here that the People's United Financial group couldn't wait to get their hands on the Chittenden Bank ...
 
Who would want to run a business in a state where its Jr. Senator is going to micro-manage you and call in the heat when he doesn't like your business decisions:

http://www.vermonttiger.com/content/2007/06/save-that-job.html

Yeah - really show 'em how to encourage businesses to move to Vermont.

Time to sick Bernie on Ben & Jerry's: http://www.vermonttiger.com/content/2007/06/if-ben-and-jerr.html
 
It's Clavelle, not Calvelle. Two can play this game.
 
Oh, and it should read "as the Governor's buddies," not "is the Governor's buddies."
 
Apparently not many know their political/economic history. Reagan's deregulation made these purchases of smaller banks by out-of-state larger ones possible, along with the frenzy of corporate buyouts seen in the 80s.
 
Wow - It appears that Jim Douglas and his supporters like to dish it out - but can't stand to have anyone criticize Gentleman Jim.

So it becomes attack the attacker!

People forget so quickly that Jim Douglas starts most of the attacking.
 
I'd say that is absolutely false. True, Douglas has shown something less than love for the Legislature, but I haven't seen that he's personally attacked Shumlin the way that Shumlin has ruthlessly attacked him. Shumlin runs to the media on a virtually daily basis to attack the Governor when he doesn't get his way.
 
Wow,you think that Jim Douglas doesn't run to the media every day?

Hell some days he churning out press releases every 2 hrs.

And every week during the legislative session, he continually rants and raves about the legislature - and he has been doing that since he took office in 2003.

Hell - Jim Douglas is the most political in the statehouse - even more than Shumlin. It's just that the media is afraid to write anything bad him because they might make Jason Gibbs mad.
 
Bernie, Shumlin and Symington deserve each other!
 
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