Who won and lost the week in Vermont news and politics?
Reporters, nukers, lobbyists, spies, Boston cream thighs, Dean, Daysies and douchebags!
Here's the Scoreboard for the week of Friday, Aug. 2:
Winners:
Cutting your losses — SEIU Vermont director Matt McDonald admits his union was cruising for a bruising in the race to represent 7000 home-care workers. Rather than invest in a "million dollar" GOTV operation — perhaps twice, if there was a runoff — SEIU on Thursday ceded the bargaining unit to AFSCME. Runner-up losers: SEIU gravy train passengers, like Vermont Leads and its lefty allies, who won't be seeing any more cash from Local 1199.
Vermont lobbyists — They took in plenty of cash during the past three months, according to VTDigger's Alicia Freese. How much? During the first half of the year, KSE Partners reported $923,000 in lobbying compensation; Sirotkin & Necrason reported $814,000; McLean, Meehan and Rice $664,000; and Downs, Rachlin Martin $630,000.
Surveillance push-back — Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) gave the nation's spy chiefs a piece of his mind Wednesday at a hearing of his Senate Judiciary Committee. The Vermont senator was particularly skeptical of the National Security Agency's accounting of just how many acts or terrorism were prevented solely by the NSA's phone data collection programs.
These guys — Duh. If you won a 2013 Daysie, you're a big-time winner. Especially those who won this year's bonus categories, like Daysies Man doppelganger (and cover model) Anna Liccione.
Losers and a tie score after the jump...
Tie Score:
Bill Sorrell — Vermont's attorney general got a nice shout-out in the Washington Post this week for his work combatting patent trolls (as did Vermont attorney Peter Kunin, who inspired the AG). But comments he made to a certain Vermont weekly don't inspire confidence in his ability to brush back another challenge from Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan.
Losers:
The Vermont press corps — Among the victims of Gannett's nationwide layoffs Thursday were 13 employees of the Burlington Free Press — including 21-year veteran Matt Sutkoski and two newsroom staffers hired just last month. We're sorry to see them go. The last thing Vermont needs is fewer reporters.
Nuclear safety — Yes, I know. Vermont Yankee is "safe, clean and reliable." But it's hard not to be concerned when the Vernon nuker cuts 30 of its 650 employees. Add that to the trouble VY's been having monitoring, um, radiation levels at the plant and, well...
Howard Dean — No matter what motivated the former gov to speak out against death panels, it's hard to see what he gains politically by dissing Vermont's health care reform efforts, pissing off his lefty followers and appearing to shill for his lobby shop clients.
iPad-stealing douchebags — Dude, if you're gonna steal candy — or iPads — from children, at least invest in a face mask.
Boston Cream Thigh — And all the other Ben & Jerry's-inspired flicks that will no longer see the light of day now that the Vermont ice cream maker has prevailed over a North Hollywood porn studio in a trademark dispute.