Jon Margolis is a VTDigger political columnist.
The Republican governor is miffed at the Democratic leaders of the Legislature.
In reply, one of those leaders noted (somewhat huffily) that the governor had ”shifted his focus to his campaign.”
Politics as usual has returned to Vermont. It’s personal. It’s partisan. It’s petty. It’s welcome.
After all these weeks of (mostly) high-falutin’ bipartisanship over the Covid-19 pandemic, an old-fashioned political squabble seems comforting.
It’s also refreshing to hear Gov. Phil Scott practicing politics. He’s good at it (he keeps winning elections), and last month he announced that he’s seeking a third term in November. Furthermore, he’s available. Three times a week he and officials of his administration stand before cameras, microphones, reporters, and the world to answer questions.
As long as they’re about the pandemic and how the state is dealing with it. Other subjects are not exactly banned. But they are discouraged.
But when he was asked some days ago about the progress of getting $200 million of federal money out to the businesses that need it, he did not hesitate to take a shot at the Legislature.
“We were inclusive in this work in hopes it would move through the Legislature quickly and largely intact,” the governor said. “Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that it’s going to be the case, as they’re only including about a third of the money we’ve recommended.”
That was the statement that prompted House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, to note that the governor was campaigning, a matter that she called “disappointing.”
Well, of course he’s campaigning and of course she calls it disappointing. That’s the way the world has always worked, and it hasn’t worked all that badly. There is something to be said for politics as usual.
That’s what Scott, the Democrats, and the business community are all practicing. Business lobbyists, including the very liberal Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, are urging “immediate funding” for the state’s small businesses, saying that without it many businesses “are looking at closing within 6-12 months and a considerable amount said they’ll be forced to close in as little as 1 month.”
Scott reflected that outlook when he said some employers “are on the brink. Some are weeks or even days away from bankruptcy … they need our help now.”
But the Legislature is doing its job, too. One of its jobs is appropriating money. Distributing this money is a complex process. How much should be sent out as loans and how much as grants? Who is eligible under the federal rules and who is not? Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, D-Chittenden, said under the Legislature’s system, some of the money would get “out the door” more quickly than under the governor’s plan. For now, there is no way to determine the accuracy of that claim.
The Legislature is not dragging its feet. It announced on June 4 that it would “expedite” the process, and it has voted to distribute tens of millions of dollars.
Might a few businesses – especially hard-hit restaurants – fail because the Legislature did not immediately make all the money available?
Possibly. But some restaurants all over the country are going to fail anyway. These last months have shown many employers that Zoom meetings are a lot cheaper than sending salespersons and supervisors on business trips, and often just as effective. They have also proven to both workers and bosses that some employees are just as productive working from home. There could be a lot less going to the office (and lunching out) for years to come.
Meanwhile, Scott is getting some flak for conducting what Vermont Democratic Party communications director R. Christopher Di Mezzo called a “rose garden strategy.”
That understates the case. A rose garden is a beehive of activity compared to the Scott campaign. An orchid grove would be more like it. For instance, Di Mezzo asked whether Scott would be “willing to participate in traditional campaign events” or continue “hiding out in his office” even after the Aug. 11 primaries.
A reasonable question, which should be put to Scott’s campaign.
There is no Scott campaign. He doesn’t need one. He gets to stand in front of cameras three times a week talking about how he is handling the pandemic (well, even according to Democrats) without seeming to sully himself with politics.
At his appearance on June 15, he was asked whether he would schedule “a time where the press can ask you about things that aren’t Covid-19.”
“I have to confirm with my people and we’ll get back to you,” Scott said.
He hasn’t, and why should he? Like any candidate, he is doing what is best for him politically, and so far there is scant evidence that anyone cares except the Vermont Democratic Party and reporters. Di Mezzo said Scott was neglecting “the rights of voters to confront him about issues that matter to them outside of the pandemic. He doesn’t answer questions he doesn’t want to answer. He’s denying voters the right to scrutinize their candidates.”
Last week, Scott toned down his criticisms of the Democrats. He said there was “still time for them to act,” and that he would “continue to try to work together.” He rejected the idea of trying to circumvent the Legislature by somehow distributing the money on his own.
Then he ended his press conference by reminding everyone that last Friday was “Juneteenth,” a date commemorating the end of slavery.
Juneteenth has nothing to do with Covid-19. But talking about it makes the governor look good. Candidates are supposed to make themselves look good. Reporters are supposed to point out that this is what the candidates are doing. It’s all normal.
