une 25, 2008 Press Statement:

Our current governor is taking credit for work done by citizens and others and staking out positions that serve short-term political goals but are not in keeping with his record. A lifelong politician, our Governor recently portrayed himself as the voice of change. As if that was not enough of an image make over, he now wants VT to see him as the initiator of a grassroots movement.

The most recent example is found in “Vermont Harvest” a publication of the Vermont Department of Agriculture, produced and distributed at taxpayer expense we presume, where the Secretary of Agriculture states that the “Buy Local movement” was “initiated” by Governor Douglas in 2003.

This is ridiculous. The idea that Jim Douglas started the buy local movement ranks right up there with the idea that Al Gore invented the Internet.

It is simply not true. For many years I served on the board of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA) helping to organize committees, conferences, workshops, farmers markets and other activities that helped build the Buy Local movement. This was 20 and 30 years ago, and believe me Jim Douglas was not there. This was the work of farmers and citizens, not politicians.

In fact, in 2003 (as he supposedly started the Buy Local “movement,”) Douglas signed onto a Bush administration free trade policy agreeing not to give preference to local businesses when making state buying decisions. His administration opposes legislation that would require state institutions to buy local and when it comes to state buying he defines buying local as buying from local distributors who may or my not be delivering local products. And while he runs radio ads telling Vermonters “buy local its just that simple,” a visit to state institutions will find hamburgers from the Midwest and milk from Massachusetts.

Recently, the Governor also claimed credit for expanding the use of debit and food stamp cards at farmers markets. He said “at my direction” the state would be expanding the program from 3 to 15 markets. The reality is this effort has been organized for years by Vermont NOFA and largely funded with federal money.

He also has been taken to task for claiming credit for increased weatherization funding when his budget had no increase in funding for the program at all. It was funded through efforts of advocates and legislators.

We want citizens to be active and have a “can do” attitude. A leader should work with and empower citizens so they take action and make change happen. Our current Governor does the opposite. Taking credit for the hard work of citizens undermines citizen action, energy and achievement.

After 6 years in office the Governor should stick to talking about his own accomplishments - broken bridges, lost jobs, rising health care costs and more. He should not be using taxpayer dollars to claim credit for the hard work of average citizens.

We deserve better.

# # #