Shumlin no longer a stranger in Dominica?
Gov. Peter Shumlin might have to pick a new vacation spot if he wants to travel incognito.
The publicity surrounding Shumlin’s recent hush-hush vacation to Dominica has trickled back to the tropical Caribbean island, courtesy of the Internet. News articles, or links to Vermont publications, complete with photos of Shumlin, have cropped up on at least half a dozen blogs and Dominica news websites.
Before his early March vacation, Shumlin told only two people on his staff where he was going. When a blizzard slammed the state and Lt. Gov. Phil Scott was left in charge, reporters started asking about Shumlin’s whereabouts.
On his return, Shumlin defended the secrecy, saying he didn’t want to draw attention to himself in Dominica. He said the anonymity also justified his decision not to bring along his security detail.
But the press coverage has made him a recognizable face in Dominica.
Dan Tanner, a retiree and former Massachusetts resident who now lives on the island, said he recognized Shumlin as he read an article on The Dominican.net, a news site.
“I said, ‘Son of a gun. That’s the guy,’” said Tanner, who now lives in the small Dominican village of Calibishie. “I’ve seen him here before. So apparently it’s a get-away.”
Tanner said he chatted with Shumlin while they both dined at a beach-side restaurant in Calibishie. At the time, Shumlin introduced himself as Pete, and said he was from Vermont, but didn’t say he was the governor, Tanner recalled.
Shumlin spokeswoman Susan Allen said they weren’t aware that news of the governor’s travels had reached back to the island.
Allen said she couldn’t say if the publicity might affect whether he vacations with security in the future.
“We’re actually not allowed to comment on the security issue, and certainly not in advance,” she said.
Editor’s note: This “tidbit” was reported and written by Warren Cornwall, a former reporter for the Seattle Times.
LGBT group in RI raises cash for governor’s 2012 race
Shumlin visited a stateside island more recently – Rhode Island that is – as part of a swing through the state to help Gov. Lincoln Chafee, an independent, and lawmakers in the House of Representatives there make a push for passage of a gay marriage bill. The legislation is likely to face stiff opposition in the (Rhode Island) Senate.
Shumlin gave a press conference with Chafee and then went to a fundraiser at Siena Restaurant where he regaled 40 to 50 progressive Democrats and members of the gay community with a speech about the Vermont legislature’s landmark push for marriage equality in 2009. Shumlin told lawmakers they would be on the right side of history if they voted for gay marriage. Vermont was the first state to adopt civil unions in 2000. Rhode Island and Maine are the only two New England states that have not yet recognized gay marriage as a legal right.
Paul Tencher, who organized the fundraising event, said he expects Shumlin will come away with $3,500 to $5,000 from his fans in Rhode Island.
Anti-single payer group launches radio ad
Funding is evidently pouring into the Vermonters for Health Care Freedom group that Darcie Johnston, a GOP operative formed several weeks ago. VHCF, which espouses a free market approach to health care, initially began as a large group of Facebook friends. Last week it became a 501(c)(4), and can accept donations that aren’t tax deductible. The contributions, however, can remain anonymous, according to Johnston.
How much money has the group raised? Johnston won’t say, but enough to launch a website and radio spots across the state disparaging the universal health care bill that passed the House and now awaits scrutiny (and likely passage) in the Senate. Johnston is still volunteering to organize the effort.
Here’s the radio advertisement that will hit the airwaves at a station near you starting today.
Senate moves toward the end game
Three major bills now moving through the Senate will take up most of the oxygen in the first floor committee rooms this week. Senate Approps has posted a grueling weeklong mega mark up session on the budget bill. Senate Finance will analyze the miscellaneous tax bill for the first few days of this week. The committee is taking testimony from Win Smith, CEO of Sugarbush, Paul Bruhn, executive director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont; Fred Kenney, the head of Vermont Economic Progress Council and hospitals and health care providers.
And finally, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hear from insurers, including the CEO of BlueCrossBlueShield, the Vermont Medical Society and hospitals this week as it winds down testimony on H.202, the universal health care bill. It will hold the last of its public hearings (this one features health care providers) Thursday from 6-8 p.m. The bill is expected to be voted out of committee by Friday.
Meanwhile, the House takes up the omnibus energy legislation today, which would remove the cap on net metering, encourage small-scale solar and place a 55-cent a month fee on Vermonters’ electricity bills to support renewable energy projects.
An amendment that would “improve the transparency” of the distribution of tax credits from the Clean Energy Development Fund to renewable energy developers was proposed on Tuesday. There was nothing in the original legislation to preclude renewable manufacturers, power executives and developers from sitting on the board. Robert Dostis, an executive with Green Mountain Power was a member of the CEDF board until last summer, as was David Blittersdorf, founder of AllEarth Renewables, who received $3.6 million in CEDF tax credits for his company last year.