The Scoreboard: This Week's Winners and Losers
Who won and lost the week in Vermont news and politics?
Here's the Scoreboard for the week of Friday, March 22:
Winners:
Big Wind — The Senate's decision to put off until next week a vote on whether to subject renewable energy projects to Act 250 regulation suggests that anti-wind folks don't have the votes to pass S.30.
Vermont's 2002 congressional delegation — Ten years ago this week, the U.S. invaded Iraq with the permission of 77 members of the Senate and 297 members of the House. The only congressional delegation to unanimously oppose the use of force in Iraq in October 2002? Vermont's. Ten years later, Sen. Patrick Leahy, former senator Jim Jeffords and then-congressman Bernie Sanders are looking pretty wise.
Your car — House passes transportation bill, ensuring that roads will be paved and bridges fixed. Runner-up loser: Your wallet, 'cuz guess who's paying for it at the pump!
Burlington Free Press and Gov. Peter Shumlin — The gov signed legislation Wednesday allowing judges to force public employees who steal from their employers to forfeit some or all of their pensions. The new law stems from Freeps' public-records maestro Mike Donoghue's big scoop last year uncovering ex-state trooper Jim Deeghan's rampant time-sheet-padding.
The dead — Because cadavers have rights too, obvz.
Publicity stunts — Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger's week at Burlington High School prompted important coverage of pressing educational issues. Or at least of Weinberger himself.
Rufus — The Seven Days office dog gets overdue press coverage as NECN's Jack Thurston discovers what slackers we are here at 7D HQ.
Losers after the break...
Tie Score
Burlington City Council presidency — No, literally, it's a tie score.
Jeff Wolfe — The groSolar founder became the face of anti-S.30 resistance this week after VTDigger's Andrew Stein covered his letter castigating Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell for backing the renewable-regulating bill. Principled proponent or menacing thug? Probably depends on whether you're pro- or anti-wind. Required reading: Jon Margolis' Digger column on the subject.
Losers:
Vermont Yankee — Blow-outs and write downs at the Vernon nuke plant. Another week of "Safe, Clean and Reliable."
Mount Snow — As the Brattleboro Reformer's Chris Mays first reported, the southern Vermont ski resort is prohibiting its workers from also seeking employment at competing Haystack Mountain and Hermitage Club. Nothing says "great employer" like eliminating off-season job prospects for your seasonal workers!
Vermont Republicans — The campaign ads pretty much write themselves after 22 House Republicans take an, um, principled stand against equal pay legislation.
Gov. Peter Shumlin — For killing the messenger when several House members raised concerns about the cost of the Agency of Natural Resources' move to National Life. Runner-up winner: The AP's Dave Gram for keeping his cool under fire.
WCAX — Two months ago a former Channel 3 anchor was charged with horse abuse. Last Friday the station's Plattsburgh reporter was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct and disorderly conduct after he allegedly groped a woman at a Lyndonville bar.
People with day jobs — Because we couldn't shred the gnar immediately after this week's totally dank blizzard.
