For the first time in a while, Governor Shumlin’s weekly news conference was held indoors. And he allowed quite a bit of time for the assembled press corps to pepper him with questions, and receive in return the same ol’ same ol’ pat answers. It’s kinda like going to the gym; we’re the Nautilus machines, and the Governor is practicing his verbal footwork.

First, he had a nice little announcement that’ll get more TV time than word count: an expansion of the Workplace Community Supported Agriculture Program, which will allow state employees to enroll in farm CSAs and pick up their produce at a network of state offices. It’s an incremental step toward boosting the farm economy and providing greater access to local food, and Ag Secretary Chuck Ross hopes the state’s program will inspire other employers to follow suit. (Photo: Shumlin making a point about local food and growing jobs and prosperity for all Vermonters.)

But most of the time was spent in a thrust-and-parry over various legislative debates, particularly concerning Shumlin initiatives that have encountered resistance. He counseled patience with the legislative process — “The Governor proposes, the Legislature responds” — and reiterated his belief in his own budget proposal*, while acknowledging that he will have to make compromises.

*He made so many laudatory references to “our package” that, if I was as devoted to snark as some people think I am, I’d be writing this entire post as Beavis and Butthead.

“Judge us by what we sign at the end of the session. This is tough stuff. The Legislature is doing good work. They’re asking the right questions. And in the end, I would expect that, like most Governors, I will get some of what I want and they’ll get some of what they want.”

There was one notable exception to his phlegmatic attitude toward the dirty, greasy work of sausage mak, er, that is, lawmaking.  

That was the surprise “No” vote in the Senate Economic Development Committee on the child-care unionization bill. And in particular, the extremely surprising (and decisive) “No” vote by one of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Bill Doyle.

Shumlin was asked if he’d talked with Senator Doyle before Tuesday’s vote.

“No. I certainly didn’t, and obviously I was disappointed that the bill didn’t come out of committee. I’m a big believer in the passage of that bill, and I’ve never discussed it with Senator Doyle. Frankly, because he was a sponsor of the bill, I didn’t think there was any question about his support. I was caught by surprise, as I think were many people who support the bill.”

And then he made a quick return to his Buddha-like aura of tranquility by reminding us that “it’s not over for this bill.”

Other than that, an uneventful light workout with the Gov. Next time, having given us one nice indoor event, he’ll probably hold his weekly presser in a wind tunnel somewhere.