Is it okay for the majority leader of the Vermont House of Representatives to take a “community relations” job with the state’s dominant power company? A company that just two months ago fought tooth-and-nail to kill a House bill that would have forced it to return $21 million to ratepayers?
That’s the question after Rep. Lucy Leriche (D-Hardwick) confirmed to the Vermont Press Bureau this week that she’s accepted a temporary gig with Green Mountain Power, the state’s largest electric utility. Leriche announced weeks earlier that she won’t seek reelection this fall, but she remains House majority leader until January. In her new role at GMP, Leriche will work with local and state officials to coordinate the company’s construction of the controversial Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell.
“Welcome to Vermont,” says Secretary of State Jim Condos. “A person has a right to work for a living — as long as they’re well aware of any lines that might occur, as far as conflicts of interest. Vermont’s a small place.”
Condos would know. For years, while serving as state senator, Condos held down a job at Vermont Gas Systems,* which, like Green Mountain Power, is owned by Montreal-based Gaz Metro. These days, Vermont Gas’ spokesman is a guy by the name of Stephen Wark, a former deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Service, which regulates utilities, and a one-time flack for former Gov. Jim Douglas.
Other former top officials in the Gaz Metro empire? How about Robert Dostis, GMP’s top lobbyist and former chairman of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee? Or Neale Lunderville, GMP’s recently-departed director of enterprise innovation, who was Douglas’ secretary of administration? Or David Coriell, the guy Leriche is replacing at GMP, who also served as a Douglas flack?
To Wally Roberts, executive director of the good government group Common Cause, the ever-revolving door between industry and government in Vermont is problematic. He says the state “falls back on its tradition of small town acquaintanceships and the feeling that everybody in state government should be trusted.”
“That was true in the past, but that kind of attitude is not appropriate anymore,” he continues. “It’s a faith that was maybe appropriate in some bygone era, but I think big money has started to come into Vermont elections.”
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2012.
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I for one welcome our new corporate overlords, All hail GMP!
Couple points/ questions: Will Roberts’ bill also cover people working at not-for-profit orgs? What if they are self-employed as a lawyer or doctor, do they also need a cooling-off period?
And I would like to remind folks that the $21 million is going back to ratepayers, just in the form of much-needed efficiency investments and not one-time cash payments.
Except that $21 million will be taken back in the form of higher rates — the PSB will allow Green Mountain Power Montreal to recoup that “investment” in its rates. So, in essence, those who bailed out CVPS will not only not get their promised money back, they will have to pay it again for the privilege. Nice arrangement if you can get it.
When I first heard this news it didn’t occur to me that Rep. Leriche is still a legislator and had not stepped down to take this job. In this instance, GMP may find she is exactly the wrong person if the goal is to use connections in the area. Many of those connections are possibly strongly against the project, and she may get a lot of cold shoulders rather than cooperation. GMP shows once again it just doesn’t get it.
Fortunately solar technology is coming down in price and more people can get off-grid. Works for me. Disconnect if you don’t want to have GMP as your power company. It’s becoming increasingly affordable and eliminates the need to interact with GMP, except if they’re destroying the mountain next to your home.
Gee, that’s funny… I guess if she and Robert Dostis of all people discussed whether or not there might be a conflict of interest and they couldn’t think of one — well, I guess there must not be one! Maybe she should have asked around a little more. Maybe she should have asked someone outside of GMP. Maybe she should have checked with some of her constituents that she is still serving. Everyone uses their connections to get jobs, she says. Some people make those considerations with integrity as well.
Is there anyone left doubting the too-cozy situation between the Statehouse and GMP?
After her comments in the Democratic caucus, calling Rep. Turner a terrorist, it looked very likely Leriche wouldn’t have the support of the caucus to remain majority leader. Seems she likes the wheeler dealer stuff but doesn’t have much interest in the mundane work of a legislator and probably decided it was time to move on.
I don’t really see the problem here to be honest. I hate GMP and all, but the session is over, she won’t be back in the next session. She went out and secured a job in the meantime… good for her. I understand she is in name a legislator for a short period of time while employed for GMP it’s not as if she will be voting on issues.