Who are these guys?

Hey, about 200 hearty souls drove to the Sheraton-Burlap on Williston Road bright and early yesterday morning - before the traffic got too heavy - to hear "experts" talk about our transportation woes. A monthly legislative breakfast sponsored by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.

On the left (only in the photo) is "The Boy Wonder," a.k.a. Vermont's current Secretary of Transportation Neale Lunderville. Neale was but a twentysomething when he served as Jim Douglas' campaign manager in 2002. His prior training before assuming the transportation secretary post consisted of obtaining a driver's license.

So far, so good, eh?

To his right, Jeff Munger, a top aide to Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Previously,  Jeff served on U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords' team.

And just like I've been hearing from transportation secretaries going back a quarter-century, Sec. Lunderville responded enthusiastically when asked by the 63-year-old M.C. if the CIRC is going to be built in her lifetime?

"Yes, the CIRC is going to be built!" said The Boy Wonder.

That's the "Chittenden County Circumferential Highway."

Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Mr. Secretary. Let's pretend there are no such things as federal environmental laws.

Ol' Bernardo's aide was there because among the key committees Sanders sits on is Environment and Public Works. And Munger had a good line - a dose of reality.

"I just wanted to remind everybody, the Senator's committee is Environment and Public Works. So it's hard not to think of those two areas," he said. "You have to be conscious of global warming, you have to be conscious of our environment. That’s why it’s called the Environment and Public Works Committee."

Back in the 80s and 90s, an official  would have been booed for saying such at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast.

Times are changing...

Comments

[JPC]

""I just wanted to remind everybody, the Senator's committee is Environment and Public Works. So it's hard not to think of those two areas," he said. "You have to be conscious of global warming, you have to be conscious of our environment. That’s why it’s called the Environment and Public Works Committee."

What the hell is that supposed to mean, that Bernie is going to stop the CIRC? i don't know if it's the quote out of context, but this guy comes off as a whack job. Doesn't seem to be able to communicate that well either, no wonder he works well with Bernie. Better yet why was he even there? It has been stated repeatedly that Bernie doesn't get into State affairs. Clearly the CIRC is a state affair. I guess Bernie doesn't get into state affairs when it's convient for him.

[PB]

Lets keep dumping money into the circ black hole. By the time it is built all the surrounding bridges will have collapsed due to lack of maintenance.

[PB]

Lets keep dumping money into the circ black hole. By the time it is built all the surrounding bridges will have collapsed due to lack of maintenance.

[JPC]

Lets's sue VPRIG and CLF to recoup the money wasted on frivilous lawsuits and use that money to build the CIRC. Would be ironic if those two special interest groups actually had to pay for the CIRC wouldn't it.

[amusing]

This circ highway and other environmental issues are interesting. Take the Burlington "Intervale" situation. As one who has had to deal with Burlington's and Vermont's anti business attitudes and much of it in the good name of the "environment", it's amusing now to see the leftist themselves caught up in the red tape that they've generated.

[JPC]

Don't worry they figure a way to make it okay that they don't seem to feel the need to abide the rules. It's the do as I say not as I do attitude. Care to comment Mr. Zuckerman? Interestingly instead of getting the drop over the feds regarding hemp, a more worthwhile discussion would be the state's position the evironmental regulations regarding the Intervale. Shut It down!

[remembering]

The Burlington Free Press had an interesting article on the intervale and the structures that are being or trying to be built. There was a story with pictures about the river flooding and the lettuce being underwater as I'm sure all other crops at that time where in the intervale area.
Now how many people would rush to buy the produce from there if they knew it had been soaked in the Winooski River. Would you drink from that river? I surely wouldn't.
Call it organic or whatever you want, but I'm not convinced that the food coming out of that area is all that healthy. I think I'd first take my chances with something grown way out in the country that's grown with good old cow poop.