Senate President Pro
Tempore Peter
Shumlin, D-Windham, had a bit of advice for senators Tuesday morning as the new legislative session kicked off.
After outlining some of the work that he expected senators to start soon,
Shumlin noted that many senators had spent some recent days in New Hampshire, campaigning for their favorite presidential candidates.
Shumlin said he had been there working for Barack
Obama. He said it was clear that candidates of all political persuasions seem to be talking a lot about change in response to what voters were telling them.
He suggested that voters' call for change in the presidential races is a message that shouldn't be lost on Vermont politicians.
"I don't think they will tolerate politics as usual,"
Shumlin said. "I throw that out as a cautionary note." In other words,
Shumlin was warning against bipartisan bickering, not that much can take place in the Senate where Democrats hold 23 of the 30 seats. Perhaps he was sending a message to the Republican Douglas administration -- work with us.
Republican Lt. Gov. Brian
Dubie, who presides over the Senate, said he agreed with
Shumlin's advice, but added, "In many ways, the state of
Vermont is an example of the way politics should be run."
--Nancy
Remsen