SYMINGTON DEMANDS DOUGLAS STOP CAMPAIGNING ON PUBLIC DIMEStatement by Gaye Symington:
I am here to call on Jim Douglas to stop asking Vermont taxpayers to foot the bill for his campaign expenses. His latest campaign reports show he has lots of friends willing to chip in thousands of dollars towards his negative campaign ads. He shouldn't be asking Vermont taxpayers to also contribute to his campaign. But he is.
One of the reasons I decided to run for Governor is that Jim Douglas' actions don't square with his rhetoric. Throughout this campaign Jim Douglas has professed sympathy for Vermonters who are struggling with the weak economy. He likes to position himself as on the side of working Vermonters and a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. But the facts don't square with the spin and Douglas has not squared with Vermonters.
An investigative reporter recently uncovered that Jim Douglas has failed to reimburse taxpayers for his campaign expenses this year and in previous runs for Governor going back to at least 2004. This leaves us to wonder about all of his prior campaigns stretching back more than 30 years. (see investigative story at http://www.7dvt.com/2008governors-free-ride)
This is simply wrong and breaks with the Executive Office Code of Ethics and state personnel policy. It also breaks with the practice of Governor Dean who was meticulous about reimbursing Vermonters for any state resources used for political purposes. Jim Douglas owes Vermonters a full accounting of this abuse. Most importantly, he needs to give the money back immediately.
It’s galling that at a time when an increasing number of Vermonters are losing their jobs, Jim Douglas is using Vermonters' tax dollars to campaign to keep his own. At a time when Jim Douglas has cut vital services for Vermonters he is helping himself to more of our tax dollars to campaign on the public's dime. He needs to give the money back.
Is it a lot of money? The truth is we don't know -- and the governor and his campaign have made it clear they have no intention of saying. But it's the principle that matters. When the governor uses tax dollars to campaign, he's not protecting taxpayers, he's exploiting them. He says he will protect taxpayers and yet he is willing to risk their footing a half billion dollar tab to clean up after Vermont Yankee if Entergy walks away from its original promises. He says he will protect Vermont's most vulnerable, but as the last round of budget rescissions proved, he would rather cut services to Vermonters than eliminate a single one of his public relations positions.
His willingness to misuse taxpayer dollars every day on a self-promotion machine, his unwillingness to comply with state policy and his own code of ethics, his failure to follow the example set by Howard Dean and other statewide officials, and his silence about his lack of reimbursement since the story broke - all of this calls in to question who Jim Douglas really is fighting for.
This is just one reason why Vermont needs a change in leadership. When I am Governor I will not use taxpayers' money for campaigning and I will not allow top political staff to use state resources for partisan political purposes. I will not spend a million dollars a year on a PR staff that makes campaign statements instead of providing information about public policy.
Vermonters deserve better and I am ready to provide them real leadership. Jim Douglas, give the money back.
CITATIONS:
Executive Office Code of Ethics:
http://governor.vermont.gov/tools/index.php?topic=ExecutiveOrders&id=248&v=ArticleWHEREAS, it is essential to the proper operation of government…that public office not be used for private gain other than the remuneration provided by law; and that there be public confidence in the integrity of government.
II. General Conduct
A. Thus, an Appointee shall take all reasonable steps to avoid any action or circumstances, whether or not specifically prohibited by this code, which might result in:
(5) Using public office for the advancement of personal interest;
F. An Appointee shall not use state property nor permit others to use state property unless the use is reasonably related to his or her official responsibilities or the conduct is permitted pursuant to a duly adopted state or agency personnel policy.
G. An Appointee shall not enter into any commitment to expend state funds unless the expenditure is reasonable and valuable to the state and made in accordance with all applicable statutes, rules or directives from the Secretary of the Agency of Administration.
From State Personnel Policy
http://www.vermontpersonnel.org/employee/labor_section.php?id=5“Employees shall not use, or attempt to use, State personnel, property, or equipment for their private use or for any use not required for the proper discharge of their official duties.”
PR Staff Making Campaign Statements: Rutland Herald July 1, 2008
Jason Gibbs:
"A vote for Douglas is a vote for change and economic growth," Gibbs said. "We saw in the last session what happens when an out-of-mainstream Legislature decides not to work on important issues such as property tax relief."
Sources to Contact:
Kate O’Connor, campaign manager for Governor Dean 279-0233
