Vermont Democrats Call For Governor To End No-Bid Lobbying Contract

Democrats in Vermont are asking Republican Gov. Jim Douglas to clean up his act:

Earlier this month, Jim Douglas quietly decided to use taxpayer dollars to enlist long time Republican [Craig] Pattee’s services to represent Vermont’s interests in D.C. The move came after several well-publicized Bush Administration policy decisions that cost Vermont millions in lost federal funds for critical programs such as health care and special education.

Patte is a major Republican fundraiser, and Douglas’s other lobbyist, Joe Jaso, has ties to Tom Delay and the Enron scandal. Vermont Democratic Party Chairman Ian Carleton explains why Vermonters deserve better:

"The problem is not that Jim Douglas wants to hire a D.C. lobbyist. Clearly we need one since Governor Douglas has utterly failed to leverage his close ties to the Bush Administration to support Vermont’s critical programs and initiatives...Jim Douglas talks a lot about being moderate and fair. This no-bid contract, however, is anything but moderate and fair. In fact, it is the opposite."

Carleton is calling on Douglas to open the $70,000 lobbying contract to all Vermont companies. "That is what Jim Douglas should do before signing this rich contract and sending our tax dollars to D.C," Carleton said.

(Chris Kellerman is an intern in the DNC Internet Department)