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


9.24.2007

 

Virtual law

Oddest thing. I've had three people in the last few weeks refer to the state's new ban on the use of cell phones while driving.

The state, of course, doesn't have a ban on the use of cell phones while driving. That was a bill the House and Senate both considered, but in the end couldn't agree on in that way that the Senate and House Transportation Committees usually can't agree on anything. It's still sitting there as a possibility for next year, but no such law went into effect.

The people who brought this up to me were each quite convinced there was such a law, and that it went into effect Sept. 1. At least two of the people were in a position to know what the Legislature did and didn't do. One of them even said he thought he'd seen a sign somewhere, maybe near Rutland, that said something about hands-free as of Sept. 1. Given that we don't have billboards, I don't know where such a sign would be seen. But if anybody else has seen such a sign, please do tell.

So I've come to the conclusion that the Legislature doesn't have to pass laws, but can just talk extensively about them until people think they've passed them.

And in the meantime, if you want to go thinking that you can't drive while talking on the cell phone in Vermont, go ahead. Then maybe you'll use your turn signal.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
Is it illegal to call your legislator from a cell phone while driving and ask her/him why they didn't do anything about property taxes in the last session?
 
"So I've come to the conclusion that the Legislature doesn't have to pass laws, but can just talk extensively about them until people think they've passed them."

That's what Governor HighPants does. He talks about the leg raising taxes -- of course, they haven't.

But since he blathers on about it, people take it as fact.
 
Governor HighPants also talks about lowering taxes. He hasn't made any proposal to do so ... but he talks about it.
 
Gov. Doesless talks about job creation too, but he can't accomplish that either. What exactly does this do-nothing governor do (except hire a cadre of mouthpieces and lobbyists)?
 
Does Bill Lofy do any more for Gaye Symington and Peter Shumlin than Jason Gibbs does for Jim Douglas?

All those communicators are like scorpions and deserve to be put in a bottle and fight it out with each other.
 
e-what-state?
 
Here's the difference between Lofy and Gibbs:

Gibbs (and the other 14 mouthpieces at a cost of $800K)placed throughout state government are on taxpayer dollars!

Bill Lofy is paid for by the Speaker from specific fundraising she does - no taxpayer dollars!
 
Governor Douglas has more cronyism involved in his administration than any Governor in the last 30 years!

The way to get a good paying job, with this Governor, is to run for elected office as an R and lose!
 
Lofy does not suck off the government tit. His salary doesn't come from taxpayer dollars.

Douglas's henchmen -- er -- spokesmen -- are paid for by taxpayers. They are like a pack of well paid welfare mothers.
 
The way to get a good paying job with this governor is to resign as a journalist and get a job as a flack - Tebbetts, Zicconi, Allen, etc.
 
Allen saw through the Douglas sham machine quickly, evidenced by his hasty departure to the NEA. Of course, I can't imagine being barked at by Crombie every day is much fun either.
 
Darren Allen does not work for the NEA.
 
"That's what Governor HighPants does. He talks about the leg raising taxes -- of course, they haven't."

They sure did. He either scared them out of it by threatening a veto, or actually stopped them by a veto. They wanted to raise gas taxes. He threatened a veto and they backed down. They actually raised taxes on Vermont Yankee, but he vetoed it.

So, he's right. They did raise taxes.
 
The legislature refused to raise gas taxes.
 
Allen does indeed work for the NEA now.
 
Governor Jim Douglas is such a hypocrite.

He says he won't raise taxes - instead he wiggles his way around it by RAISING FEES.

This year Gov Douglas proposed $2.4 million in higher fees which include some new ones.

And he has done this each year he is in office.

On top of that, it was a GOP House Chair of Transportation that proposed the gas tax increase BECAUSE Rich Westman understands budgets and revenues.

The gas tax increase would have raised about $10-12 million with 40% paid by out of staters.

Instead of showing real leadership, and to avoid being held accountable for raising taxes, Gov Jim Douglas stamps his feet and says "Raise the DMV fees" so his back pocket Republican (oops I mean Dem) Sen Mazza pushes the fees increase through - guess what - almost 100% PAID BY VERMONTERS!!!
 
Go NEA - take it all down with you!
 
Schools cannot embrace change with
the union in their way!
 
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