Wake-Up Call: Monday, September 1, 2008

With the PolitickerVT.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Vermont's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

This week, Politicker.com will be at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stay tuned to Politicker.com over the course of the week for live updates from the convention.

With the PolitickerVT.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Vermont's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Douglas likes Palin, thinks Vermonters will too

Republican Gov. Jim Douglas applauded the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) as the Republican vice-presidential nominee Friday. (PolitickerVT.com, Jennifer DePaul)

Link: http://www.politickervt.com/jenniferdepaul/1561/douglas-likes-palin-thin...

Vt. politicians earn below peers' average

In the debate about what is rich -- at least compared with their peers -- it's not the Vermont Congressional delegation. According to the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C., all three members of the Vermont delegation fall below the income average of their respective houses. (Burlington Free Press, Lauren Ober)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/N...

Montpelier, other cities await decision on federal flood aid

MONTPELIER — Damages from record rainfall this summer could top a half-million dollars in the capital city and officials are crossing their fingers for federal aid.

If Gov. James Douglas' latest request for a federal disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is approved, up to 75 percent of Montpelier's costs could be covered. Seven counties are listed in the request, including Addison, Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Washington and Windsor. (Rutland Herald, Sarah Hinckley)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/NEWS03/...

Five in district office chase

Three Democrats and two Republicans are vying for the right to represent Rutland District 3 in one of the most hotly contested races in the state.

Democrats Chris Dinnan of Wallingford, Eldred French and Jonathan Gibson of Shrewsbury, and Republicans Stanley Wilbur and Robert Emerick of Tinmouth are seeking the lone seat in the three-town district. (Rutland Herald, Sandi Switzer)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/NEWS01/...

New town manager focuses on saving by greening up

CASTLETON — With less than five months at the helm, the Castleton town manager is settling into his new position nicely while saving the town money — penny by penny.

Charles Jacien, who took the position in early April, has been concentrating his time on saving the taxpayers money and getting as many funds through state and federal grants as he can. (Rutland Herald, Dawn Raspuzzi)

Link: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/NEWS01/...

Vt. cuts in-home services for seniors

MONTPELIER—Vermont is cutting back on services in provides to frail, low-income elderly residents living at home three years after it launched a new program to provide them in hopes of keeping more seniors at home and out of nursing homes. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link:  http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/08/31/vt_cuts_in_...

Vt. delegates to show off party spirit

WASHINGTON — When it comes to presidential politics, Vermont is one of the least Republican states in the nation, just behind neighboring states Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

But for the 29 Republican delegates from Vermont who are heading to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., to choose Sen. John McCain as their party’s presidential nominee, that doesn’t matter. (Burlington Free Press, Malia Rulon)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/N...

Cuts hurt, but don't yet reverse policies

In 2005, Vermont began offering frail, low-income elderly residents the option of staying at home rather than moving to nursing homes -- fulfilling many seniors' wishes about where they wanted to live out their final days while simultaneously saving the state money. (Burlington Free Press, Nancy Remsen)

Link: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080831/N...

Vermont Reacts to McCain-Palin

John McCain surprised the country by choosing a relative unknown as his running mate.

Sarah Palin is known as somewhat of a maverick in her own right, and McCain was quick to call her someone who puts the interest of the people before the interest of the party. (WCAX)

Link: http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8924575

With the PolitickerVT.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Vermont's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.