Vermont wasn’t on the RSLC’s early spring “18 in 18” hit list of Democratic state legislators. But now — as they did in the 2016 elections — the Republican State Leadership Committee is shoveling money into advertising against a group of Vermont Democratic and Progressive legislators: the big national conservative PAC money is Ba-ack in Vermont 
Apparently still oblivious to irony, the RSLC — a national conservative political action committee (founded by Karl Rove and funded with donations from Koch Industries ) — is again attempting to rally Vermont GOPers around a banner of “local control.”
John Walters reports in Seven Days: The Republican State Leadership Committee Vermont PAC is spending $186,000 for advertising against left-leaning Vermont politicians: House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero), Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) and Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive and Democrat. It’s the single largest expenditure by an outside group in this year’s general election campaign.
The $186,000 reported Tuesday was spent through Junction Consulting, an Essex-based marketing firm owned by Jay Shepard, one of the Vermont Republican Party’s two members of the Republican National Committee. When asked about the windfall, Shepard referred all questions to the RSLC.
Some Vermonters may (should) recall that VTGOPer Jay Shepard was one of a only handful of GOP state and national party leaders speaking to The Atlantic Magazine to publicly back up President Trump’s contention that there were “some very fine people” who marched alongside the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis at the fatal Charlottesville Virginia riots in August 2017. Apparently satisfied with Trump’s “very fine people ” remark, Shepard offered the following about the white nationalist marchers wearing white hoods and flying swastika flags: “In all mob scenes there are people who just happen to be there, who aren’t leaders of organizations and are just confused as to what the march is all about.”
Seven Days’ Walters also reports that another Washington GOP super-PAC called A Stronger Vermont and funded by the Republican Governor’s Association is placing their big money into ads supporting Phil Scott. So far this year, the super PAC has spent $473,225 on TV and online advertising, postcards and opinion polling, all in support of Scott.
The RGA seems to be taking out a little extra insurance on their dollar investment in Scott. They’re taking no chances even though his re-election is supposed to be a safe bet.
What could go wrong? Phil Scott may have no governing vision and no leadership qualities, he may be in the thrall of hyper-partisan political operative and Chief of Staff Jason Gibbs. He may have issued high-handed and untimely budget proposals accompanied by ultimatums and vetoed more bills in his first two years than any previous Vermont governor.
But really. He’s such a nice guy.
