vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

6.26.2007

Not so fast

The volley has been returned. The governor has indicated that just removing the Vermont Yankee tax won't be enough to buy his love on the energy bill. He still considers the energy-efficiency utility a new, unnecessary bureaucracy.

He also still wants the Legislature to adopt his simpler version that would have banks offering no- and low-interest loans to homeowners for efficiency work. That's not happening in a one-day veto session, says Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin.

So when Gov. Douglas gets together tomorrow with Shumlin and Rep. Robert Dostis, they'll already be pretty well aware of where each other stand. Does that allow them to motor ahead to new territory or is that all the territory left to cover?

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 6:23 PM |

Comments:

Jim Douglas' base are the middle-class native Vermonters. They will probably qualify for the low-interest loans so would do OK under the governor's plan.

Peter Shumlin's base are the trust fund Democrats in Windham County and elsewhere in the state. Their income is too high to qualify for the low-interest loans. Shumlin talks a good game about looking out for the middle class, but his core supporters are upper-income Dems - the ones who want the Legislature to "raise taxes on the rich" like themselves.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:57 PM, June 26, 2007

The problem with Jim Douglas's plan is that it doesn't give money away to everyone like the Shumlin plan.

Shumlin knows a sustainable public policy when he sees one - give everyone what they want and find some other sucker to pay for it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:39 PM, June 26, 2007

And provide jobs for loyal washed up Dems like Scudder Parker who took a dive against Douglas for the party last time.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:15 PM, June 26, 2007

Is Gaye Symington stepping down as Speaker?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:36 PM, June 26, 2007

Would someone in the press please take a hard look at who, historically, has financed Douglas's campaigns? Is there any correlation between his stonewalling of 520 and those who would benefit by his stonewalling and/or his additonal bill requirements? How long do we have to sit back and watch this putz resist the will of the majority in Vermont? Talk about Bush Jr..

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:11 AM, June 27, 2007

"middle-class native Vermonters. They will probably qualify for the low-interest loans so would do OK under the governor's plan."

But would this group even seek a loan for this expense? Would they even pay to have efficiency gains? ..versus a new car, atv, or whatever?

(As a side note, I bet this group does not consider themselves middleclass)

The loans are all lip service as nobody is going to use them. Ask a farmer what they think about cheap loans.

Seems like a tax credit similar to the federal tax credit might work better.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:01 AM, June 27, 2007

If Douglas has his way this will be watered down so much as to be completely ineffective and will resemble the convoluted legislation of act 60/68.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:03 AM, June 27, 2007

First, how do you know that the content of H520 represents "the will of the majority in Vermont?" You got a poll? No, I didn't think so. I hate it when people claim that whatever policy they happen to be in favor of is what "all" or a "majority" of Vermonters want.

Second, this guy you call a "putz" gets elected by a majority of Vermonters who vote every two years since 2002.

The only facts available suggests that he, not H520, actually represents "the will of the majority in Vermont."

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:28 PM, June 28, 2007

You get what you vote for!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:23 PM, July 01, 2007