The FOBD (Friends of Brian Dubie) will just have to wait.
Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie had planned to invite his moneyed intimates to a $250-a-plate breakfast on May 26, but the event was canceled last Friday when he realized he had overstepped the campaign finance rules.
It’s all about the company you want to keep.
Dubie invited lobbyists to the $2,000-per-table event in the executive board room of the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier, according to a source. His campaign manager, Corry Bliss, realized after the letter went out that the breakfast event was a problem.
In an apologetic missive to potential donors, Bliss wrote, “We have decided that in order to uphold both the spirit and letter of the law, we will not solicit campaign contributions from lobbyist (sic) or lobbyist employer (sic) until after the legislature officially adjourns sine die.”
Under Vermont campaign finance law, an elected state official can accept donations from lobbyists or their employers, but he or she cannot solicit contributions during a legislative session. The invitation, clearly, could be seen as just such a solicitation.
State representatives and senators are prohibited from accepting or soliciting donations from lobbyists and the entities that hire them – such as hospitals, power companies, corporations, manufacturers and nonprofit organizations – until the session has formally adjourned.
Technically, the session isn’t over until June 9.
Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, who is running for lieutenant governor, believes a fundraiser being held on his behalf doesn’t run afoul of the law. One of his supporters, Wayne Lamberton, recently sent out an invitation on his company letterhead, Lamberton Electric, to potential donors for a free cocktail reception also scheduled for May 26. At least one lobbyist received the invite, which asks recipients to “make a contribution to assure that Phil has the capital necessary to make this a successful campaign.”
Scott said if the letter had come from his campaign — that would be different. “I think he can solicit on my behalf,” he said. “I think I’m OK. I’m not going to take any money, and I’m not the one soliciting.”
There are 428 lobbyists registered to influence legislators and legislation at the Statehouse, and they represent a wide range of entities, such as Entergy, the Vermont Ski Area Associations, Corrections Corporation of America, IBM, National Life Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont.
Will the governor veto, or not to veto, that is the question
Lawmakers are scheduled to come back June 9 or sooner for a special session if the governor vetoes or fails to sign any bills.
Gov. Jim Douglas has threatened (in veiled terms) to veto the health care reform bill, S.88; the current use bill, which includes new fees and penalties; and the voluntary school district merger bill.
If Douglas rejects a bill, lawmakers would have to return to Montpelier for a day, according to House Clerk Don Milne.
Until Douglas makes up his mind on whether to sign any legislation, all bets are off for full-throttled campaign fundraising.
