If you think Gov. Jim Douglas hasn't kicked off his re-election campaign, consider his schedule for today, some of which is included on his official schedule and some of which came as an extra media advisory. It's a long day:
9 a.m.: Gilman Housing, 316 Main Street, Newport
9:30 Newport City Motel, 444 East Main Street, Newport
10:00 Chamber of Commerce Construction Project, 246 The Causeway, Newport
10:30 Press Conference on Housing, Vermont's North Country Chamber of Commerce, 246 The Causeway, Newport
11:00 Press Conference on Sales Tax Holiday, Pick n' Shovel, 54 Coventry Street, Newport
1 p.m.: Signing of Bill H.863 – An Act Relating to Municipal Planning, Creating Vermont Neighborhoods, Encouraging Smart Growth Development, Purchasing of Mobile Homes, Closure of Mobile Home Parks, and Landlord-Tenant Relations and State Residential Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention, Cameron’s Run, Hillary Street, Milton
3:00 p.m. Signing of Bill H.748 – An Act Relating to Permitting Students to Possess and Self-Administer Emergency Medication, Allergy and Asthma Associates, Timber Lane, South Burlington
4:30 p.m. Signing of Bill S.284 – An Act Relating to the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration, Dwight Asset Management Company, Bank Street, Suite 800, Burlington
5:15 p.m. Turning Point Center Open House, South Champlain Street, Burlington
6:45 p.m. Vermont Fuel Dealers Association Annual Conference, Basin Harbor Club, Ferrisburgh
Within the media advisory, Douglas refers to his economic stimulus package as a $200 million package, a figure some have disputed and that because the proposal changed in the Legislature is no longer in play, except on the campaign trail.
He also refers to the housing bill as establishing "New Neighborhoods," as his proposal called them, disregarding the fact that the Legislature renamed them "Vermont Neighborhoods."
- Terri Hallenbeck
