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…
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