Vermont has come a long way, baby.

What divided the state into bitter camps and led to the Democratic Party’s legislative implosion in 2000? Civil unions.

What is now unifying Democrats and has yet to cause a knee-jerk moral reaction within the GOP? Same-sex marriage.... Read more

Ever wonder what it’s like to be Gov. Jim Douglas, a conservative Republican in one of the most liberal states in America?

He ended his week with Democratic legislators ignoring most, if not all, of his money-saving proposals — laying off workers, cutting prescription drug programs, freezing school spending, etc. Why? The federal stimulus package is like pennies from heaven, and it makes tough choices a little less tough, if not avoidable. More on this later.... Read more

Nothing warms the cockles of a conservative’s heart like the anguished wail of a union employee.

There was plenty of joy in conservative circles last week when Gov. Jim Douglas announced that we needed to cut 600 jobs from the state workforce. It would save $17 million, and help to right-size a bloated government that has grown too big for its britches. And our wallets.... Read more

Change is in the air, but one thing remains the same: After-hours mixers are de rigueur in Montpelier — they give lobbyists, state officials and lawmakers a chance to rub elbows.

Powerhouse lobbying firm Kimbell, Sherman and Ellis held one such shindig last week, and more will be sprinkled throughout the session; state employees, trade associations and other interest groups take turns playing host.... Read more

Riddle me this: What do Gov. Jim Douglas, former Gov. Howard Dean and Vermont Yankee have in common?

Answer: All three are coming up radioactive on the political Geiger counter.... Read more

They’re baaaack . . . and on Thursday, Gov. Jim Douglas will deliver his fourth inaugural address.

What can we expect to hear? The gov’s team has always been good at alliterative slogans — “Agenda of Affordability” and “Jim = Jobs.” Maybe “Road to Recovery” or “Path to Prosperity” will fit the bill.

Still, people are looking for some substance, some direction — in a word, “leadership.”... Read more

This year’s legislative session will not be for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

Within a week of landing in Montpelier, top economists will hand legislators more gloomy news: the likely need to cut an additional $35 to $50 million from this year’s budget. The FY 2010 budget may require surgery to the tune of $150 million.... Read more

Lost in the current talks about our imploding state budget is how Vermonters have responded to previous recessions.

As Gov. Jim Douglas and lawmakers on the 10-member Joint Fiscal Committee put their Scrooge-ish twist on the Secret Santa ritual by proposing state budget cuts totaling $19.7 million, few, if any, of our top elected officials are offering any alternatives.... Read more

*****UPDATED 12/17/08*****
Cate Correction — I owe an apology to Burlington Parks & Rec Waterfront Manager Adam Cate. I erroneously reported that Cate used city money for personal use. In fact, Cate authorized a loan using cash on hand to a new city employee who had worked for five weeks without being paid, according to Cate’s attorney Sheldon Katz.... Read more

It’s hardly news that the newspaper industry isn’t faring well these days. The bottom is falling out of the real estate, auto and job markets, all of which are key sources of ad revenue.

According to a recent report from the Newspaper Association of America, newspapers eked out $8.9 billion in print sales in the three months ending September 30 — almost $2 billion less than during the same period in 2007.... Read more