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I congratulate Governor Jim Douglas on his re-election and applaud Gaye Symington on a hard fought race. Gaye has been a tireless advocate for Vermont, and her campaign has highlighted her commitment to improving the lives of all Vermonters.

Monday, January 14 Two recent and quite divergent rankings of Vermont's economic prospects have perplexed many Vermonters. First, the free-market Beacon Hill Institute of Boston released its State Competitiveness Report. It showed Vermont at a very commendable 12th position. The contrasting view came in the newspaper headline: \"Vermont's economic index ranks last.\" This unenviable finding came from a study by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council. The ALEC study ignored the \"quality of life\" components of the Beacon Hill study. Instead, it focused heavily on taxes, spending and government regulations. House Speaker Gaye Symington put her spin on the findings. She lamented that Vermonters are \"arguing over whether economic growth is desirable at all.\" She wants growth, of course, but not unless it produces high job quality and reduced income disparity. That is reminiscent of the comment made by a liberal senator a decade ago, that if businesses are going to complain about Act 60, we don't want them here. Take a hike!

It was about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Teachers were still in their classrooms, cleaning up, re-organizing, or preparing for the following day. As we walked down the hall the principal checked in with a young woman who was leaving the building. Mrs. [Nancy Mark] told us the woman she had spoken with is in her first year as the school's guidance counselor, and was heading to find a kindergartener who, they had just learned, had experienced a terrible tragedy earlier that day. The school had been trying to reach the child's mother to ask why she hadn't come to school that morning.

\"People work hard in the Statehouse and this is simply a chance to check in,\" [Gaye Symington] said Wednesday. \"It's a chance for me to hear what people are hearing and fill in the gaps that need attention and talk about what we might do next year. This is an important step in that process.\" \"The governor is pretty quick to criticize the Legislature and people have questions when they hear some of the things he says,\" said Symington. \"This is an opportunity to ask questions and get more of the story than what you hear.\" \"There was a lot of good work done that hardly anyone talks about,\" she said. \"This is an effort to get around the state and hear what is on people's minds.\"

So Vermont lawmakers are considering a bailout like the one offered to dairy farmers last summer. \"We think the need is every bit as great as it was last July when the Emergency Board acted. In fact, it may be more critical now,\" said Agriculture Committee Vice Chairman Al Perry, D-Richford. She and others concur with Gov. Jim Douglas' concern that Vermont cannot continue propping up the federal milk marketing system. But one more boost may stabilize the industry until new federal policies -- due this year -- are enacted. said [Gaye Symington], D-Jericho. Vermont's dairy industry reaches beyond the farms, affecting feed and seed suppliers, tractor dealers and a host of other industries also are relied on by other businesses in the farming sector.

So Vermont lawmakers are considering a bailout like the one offered to dairy farmers last summer. \"We think the need is every bit as great as it was last July when the Emergency Board acted. In fact, it may be more critical now,\" said Agriculture Committee Vice Chairman Al Perry, D-Richford. She and others concur with Gov. Jim Douglas' concern that Vermont cannot continue propping up the federal milk marketing system. But one more boost may stabilize the industry until new federal policies -- due this year -- are enacted. said [Gaye Symington], D-Jericho. Vermont's dairy industry reaches beyond the farms, affecting feed and seed suppliers, tractor dealers and a host of other industries also are relied on by other businesses in the farming sector.

Wednesday, January 3 MONTPELIER (AP) -- The smell of paint filled a third-floor corridor. The Statehouse staff scurried to get the place in shape for the pomp and circumstance that attends the annual convening of the Vermont Legislature. It will be some time before that's put to the test because the opening week of the Legislature is largely ceremonial. After all of the lawmakers take their oaths of office Wednesday, they'll formally elect [Gaye Symington] and [Peter Shumlin] to their leadership posts. They'll reconvene Thursday and then the House and Senate will meet in joint session in the afternoon for the inaugural ceremonies for Douglas and the other statewide officers. Symington will not be on hand for the inauguration. She'll be in Washington for the historic inauguration of Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the first woman to be speaker of the U.S. House.

Friday, October 31MONTPELIER - The Vermont GOP is accusing the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington of improperly collaborating with Democracy for America.

Gaye Symington has what Vermont needs most -- a long range plan that addresses the lowest unemployment rate in 14 years. She advocates creating jobs in the software and green energy sectors. She has a specific renewable energy plan that includes incentives for middle-class Vermonters to make investments in their homes and small businesses that they could pay for over time -- making energy efficiency affordable. Symington's vision includes wind power providing 20 percent of our energy within 10 years in a way that will benefit the local communities that install it. This would also create better paying jobs for Vermonters and make us less dependent on oil.

On Saturday, the Annual Cross Country Invitational for women will begin at 10:30 a.m. and for men at 11:15 a.m. Women's rugby vs. St. Anselm's College will begin at 11 a.m. and men's rugby vs. Colby-Sawyer College will begin 1 p.m., both at the Beech Street Field. At 12:45 p.m., the dedication of the new Everett Soccer Field will take place, followed by the women's game vs. Mitchell College at 1 p.m. and the men's soccer game vs. Elms College at 3 p.m. Are you wondering how you can save dollars on your heating bills this winter? Whether you own a home or rent an apartment, there are measures you can take to keep the heat inside and the cold air outside. Come to \"Button Up, Vermont: Stay warm, save money this winter.\" This free workshop for area residents is being held from 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 200 Pleasant St. Coordinated by the Bennington Energy Committee, this free workshop is sponsored by the state of Vermont, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Bennington Rotary Club, The Bank of Bennington, Hemmings Motor News, Vermont Composites, Abacus Automation and the Town of Bennington.