vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

7.13.2007

Ranking biz

Forbes Magazine's recent rankings of state business climates puts Vermont at 32, down from 30 a year ago. We beat out New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, among others.

They weren't so fond of the cost of doing business in our state (45th) or our regulatory environment (40th), but they liked our labor pool (12th) and our quality of life (10th).

As an aside, when such rankings have come out about Vermont's tax burden, Gov. Jim Douglas blamed the Legislature for our high ranking. Forbes chart that details the ranking lists the above categories plus a few more, including the name of the governor of each state. They do not list any details about who runs the Legislature.

You can see the Forbes chart here.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 11:08 AM |

Comments:

Governor Veto can blame whoever he wants ... but he's been leading this state for a long time now ... and he has very little to show for it.

Pointing fingers and whining isn't leadership.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:02 PM, July 13, 2007

Guess what, our high quality of life
ranking owes a lot to our regulatory
environment. It's a balance that Vermonters over and over have shown they like. If we wanted to live in New Jersey, we would. What we need is a governor who sells Vermont's outstanding qualities, not continually bashes it like Douglas does.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:01 PM, July 13, 2007

Had to laugh when I read Douglas's pathetic "big losers" comment in today's rags. He then went on to talk about a return to civility and bi-partsanship. Yeah, okay... Labeling the other party "big losers" is a sure-fire way to restore the decency Douglas's says he's looking for. He takes the moral high ground just like his buddy Bush.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:17 PM, July 13, 2007

"Governor Veto can blame whoever he wants ... but he's been leading this state for a long time now ... and he has very little to show for it."

I was gonna say that this is baloney, but I'll tone down my reaction and just say that this criticism isn't fair, because it doesn't tell the whole story. Can Douglas be accused of being a lackluster policy leader? Sure. But he can't control the fact that the two leaders of the Legislature act like business is the Bubonic Plague who clearly tell business interests that Vermont hates you and you shouldn't come here and that those who are here should leave. Oh, except the latte shoppes. They can stay, and proliferate. But manufacturing? No, you should leave.

The most the Governor can do in this hysterical anti-business atmosphere is try to put the brakes on the Legislatures excesses. The most recent example, H520, which told business we hate you and we will break deals when we want money, is a perfect example. And then he gets attacked for opposing the Legislature.

It's certainly not the Governor's fault that Symington is the Speaker and shameless Shumlin is the Pro Tem and that they both act like they DESPISE ALL FORMS OF BUSINESS.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:04 PM, July 13, 2007

I wonder if nakedness and other forms of stupidity eminating from Brattleboro counts for any points.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:42 PM, July 13, 2007

Vermonters do value quality of life
over selling everything to the highest bidder. Like a previous poster said: if you want New Jersey, live in New Jersey.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:34 PM, July 13, 2007

Um, it's not a choice between a hostile business environment and making our state look like New Jersey. Nice try with the scare tactics. That's simplistic and dumb.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:43 AM, July 14, 2007

Matt Dunne for Governor!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:11 PM, July 14, 2007

We can be a wonderful state and attract business - it doesn't have to be one or the other.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:33 AM, July 16, 2007

What surprises me is how little clout the environmental movement seems to really have in Vermont. You'd think some of the leaders (especially those who might be a little business-oriented) could lure some green manufacturing to Vermont, meaning companies that produce green products, power systems, etc. It would mean suffering through Douglas taking credit for it, but that posturing could easily be exposed.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:47 AM, July 16, 2007

My suspicion is that the enviromentalists in Vermont can't make friends with anyone who doesn't think exactly like they do. They're too militant, aggressive, and holier-than-thou.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:05 PM, July 16, 2007

Matt Dunne for Governor........

How are things Matt ?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:26 PM, July 17, 2007

And speaking of Vermont's business climate . . .

The Free Press web page is announcing the breaking news that OMYA is moving its corporate HQ out of Vermont and taking 50 jobs. Officially, this is for strategic business reasons. But don't tell me that the hostile environment that OMYA has received at the hands of Annette Smith, and the Vermont ANR, and the Vermont Legislature, doesn't have something to do with OMYA's decision.

Thanks, Gaye.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/NEWS/70717041

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:36 PM, July 17, 2007

"But manufacturing? No, you should leave."

There is no sense in trying to attract manufacturing. We are not competing with other states.

"But don't tell me that the hostile environment that OMYA has received at the hands of Annette Smith, and the Vermont ANR, and the Vermont Legislature, doesn't have something to do with OMYA's decision."

It has nothing to do with the decision. You just need to blame a democrat to make yourself feel good. Open your eyes. You have no understanding of business.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:48 AM, July 18, 2007

"The most the Governor can do in this hysterical anti-business atmosphere is try to put the brakes on the Legislatures excesses. The most recent example, H520, which told business we hate you and we will break deals when we want money, is a perfect example. And then he gets attacked for opposing the Legislature."

nah, this is baloney. You have low expectations. He could have met with legislators to find a compromise, but he political grandstanded instead. He was invited and CHOSE not to participate. H520 is a perfect example of Douglas' 11th hour participation. Same thing happened in health care, wilderness, tire burning, Bennington, etc, etc. He handles every issue the same way and all for his own political self preservation.

Douglas is not getting attacked for opposing the legislature. He's getting attacked for being a do nothing and not working with the legislature.

Veto-ing is easy, but being a real leader means getting things done. Sometimes that means working with legislators on bills from when they are first created and making compromises.

If Douglas was really concerned about property tax and affordability, he would be working with legislators, but he chooses to opt out of the process.

The only big losers here are us Vermonters.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:02 AM, July 18, 2007

You have a point. Douglas has not been a leader. That's not an excuse for the Legislature to pass an in-your-face law that they absolutely, positively know that the Governor will veto. On H520, they knew this would happen. The Governor TOLD them it would happen. They did it because Shumlin absolutely, positively WANTED confrontation with the Governor.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:18 PM, July 18, 2007

"It has nothing to do with the decision. You just need to blame a democrat to make yourself feel good. Open your eyes. You have no understanding of business."

Put simply, shut up. How the f*** do you know that the hostile attitude that Vermont has had over the last 10+ years toward OMYA had absolutely nothing to do with this decision? Are you in OMYA management? And how the f*** do you know that I have "no understanding of business." I've worked in the private sector for almost 17 years and have been part owner of a business for the last 8-9 years. You probably work in government or "social services."

Oh, and guess what, jerk, I AM a Democrat.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:24 PM, July 18, 2007

"hostile attitude that Vermont has had over the last 10+ years toward OMYA had absolutely nothing to do with this decision?"

And how do you know that it does? You are just looking for somebody to blame.

Who did you blame when Haliburton relocated HQ over to the middle east?

Owner of a business? What a hot dog stand on the corner?

Really, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

Do you know that the greatest density of corporate HQ's in the US is in Stamford, CT?

Now, why is that?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:14 AM, July 19, 2007

I won't cut Shumlin any slack. He thought they could overturn the veto. They would have success if they worked with the Douglas, but then again where is Douglas working with them to form something that will pass?

Why is it that Douglas refused to meet with them after the veto?

Why is it that Douglas refused to let them into the room on a post-veto session news release?

The fact is that Douglas won't even work with the republicans.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:25 AM, July 19, 2007

"Do you know that the greatest density of corporate HQ's in the US is in Stamford, CT?"

Whatever vague point you thought you were making with this statement, has nothing to do with the relentless hostility that has been levied against OMYA and other employers in Vermont. Montpelier "loves" employers, but it "hates" business. The crew currently running the Vermont House and Senate are particularly anti-business. Capital City Press? Gone. OMYA? Leaving. VY (which employs 500 people) -- well, we can't make you leave, but we can tell you how much we hate you and make your life hell.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:07 PM, July 19, 2007

OMYA is not leaving. They are relocating their HQ.

You obviously do not understand much about business, probably because your idea of business is selling dogs on the corner.

And, you didn't answer my question:

Who did you blame when Haliburton relocated HQ over to the middle east?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:59 PM, July 19, 2007

"The crew currently running the Vermont House and Senate.."

Don't forget the Captain of the ship!

Vermont's stance on all topics reflects upon them all.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:13 PM, July 19, 2007

Anonymous 3:13: I agree, Douglas, Symington, and Shumlin are all responsible for the business climate of the state. But to be somewhat fair, Douglas cannot stop Symington and Shumlin from passing anti-business laws. He can only veto them.

Anonymous 2:59: you say: "OMYA is not leaving. They are relocating their HQ." They are pulling their HQ out of Vermont and taking 50 high paying Vermont jobs with them. Hey, Mr. Trump, you can repeat as many times as you want that I don't understand business, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, there may be internal reasons why they might do this, but it's also possible they wouldn't have done it if Vermont didn't make life so miserable for them, ok? And I must have missed the part about how Gaye Symington personally made a trip to Pittsford and asked them what she could do to persuade them to keep their HQ here.

And what does Halliburton have to do with OMYA's decision to pull its HQ out of Vermont?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:47 PM, July 19, 2007

Gaye Symington interacting with busines in a productive way - you must be delusional!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:47 PM, July 20, 2007

Anybody thinking that would have to have lost their mind.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:34 PM, July 22, 2007

"but it's also possible they wouldn't have done it if Vermont didn't make life so miserable for them, ok? "

No, that's your political spin and its pure speculation.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:47 AM, July 23, 2007

Whatever you say, Gaye.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:28 AM, July 24, 2007

"there may be internal reasons why they might do this"

no, There ARE internal reasons why they ARE doing this.

see : http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070717/NEWS/70717041

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:08 AM, July 24, 2007

Whatever you say, Gaye.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:14 PM, July 24, 2007

Shumlin for president!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:37 AM, July 25, 2007