Putative Republican Gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock is hoping to make a little hay over the GMD/CVPS merger deal. Specifically, over the $21 million that would go toward energy efficiency under a deal endorsed by the Shumlin Administration. As reported by Terri Hallenbeck of the Burlington Free Press, Brock today called for the money to be rebated to ratepayers instead.
Joining him on the podium were fellow Republicans Kevin Mullin, Joe Benning, and Oliver Olsen.
And Democratic/Progressive Senators Tim Ashe and Tony Pollina.
Whaaaaa?
(I’d include the photo in this diary, but I don’t want to run afoul of the Freeps’ copyright enforcement squad.)
Now, there’s a legitimate case to be made for a rebate, and the deal has sparked questions from all sides. But questioning the deal, even opposing it, is one thing; making a public appearance with Randy Brock during an election year is quite another. It’s bad taste at the very least, and dubious politics at worst.
And this isn’t the only recent instance of Tim Ashe playing footsie with the Republicans. Does he harbor some resentment for losing the Democratic nomination for Burlington Mayor? Is this some statewide extension of the Burlington Progs’ sometime tactical alliances with Republicans? Or just a big f*ck-you to Shumlin?
The most charitable explanation I can think of is that Ashe and Pollina want to send a message that Shumlin can’t take the left for granted. That’s a message worth sending, but this wasn’t the best medium.
If anyone from the Prog camp would like to chime in, please do so in the Comments. I’d honestly like to know what’s up with this.
What’s “creepy” about Ashe and Pollina speaking out along with Republicans about an issue in a public venue?
I would say there is a more charitable explanation that anyone can think of: They believe the $21 million should be paid back directly to CVPS ratepayers as was promised and are willing to use any mechanism to make that point, even to the point of letting themselves be used by Brock.
Some may find that in “bad taste.” But creepy it ain’t.
It is simply good practice from anyone who wants to be effective for their constituents, to visibly demonstrate bipartisanship on the rare occasions when it actually gels.
Brock does not represent much of a threat to Shumlin in any case; and there’s something to be said for shaming him when he once again succumbs to his instinct for suckling big business on the public teat. It’s a teachable moment.
I haven’t given up on Shumlin’s teachability, but I’ve heard a lot from him lately that sounds like he isn’t listening to the folks what brung him to the dance.
I think that cross-party photo op is an effective way of reminding him that, even though the oddsmaker has been retired on GMD, he’s not out of the woods and would do well to look to the needs of his natural constituents rather than adopting positions that sound more like Jim Douglas.
If the photo-op serves to highlight the fact that this is a bipartisan issue & Shumlin has dropped the ball in his duty to serve Vermonters rather than his corporate cronies, wonderful. I do not despise Brock I simply cannot agree to the party platform & what his election would do to help usher in a rightwing comeback. I’m really tired of our state leaders including DPS sworn to uphold VT constitution, laws etc., as well as purporting to serve the public-Vermont residents, partying with & selling out to their corporate golfing buddies & acting as enablers to their reckless behavior as they enrich themselves at the expense of the taxpayer.