Dean rallies Vt. Dems at fundraiser
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Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, left, chats Monday with state Rep. Warren Kitzmiller and his wife, Jeanne Cariati, at a Montpelier fundraiser for Vermont's House Democrats. STEFAN HARD/TIMES ARGUS |
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By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau - Published: January 12, 2010
MONTPELIER – At a fundraiser Monday evening former Gov. Howard Dean singled out one state program, urging Democratic lawmakers for whom he was collecting campaign cash not to cut funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
For a national political figure to pick out such a local issue to spotlight is unusual, but Dean's attention to the program dates back to a time before his name was a household word in the country.
"We need that program," Dean said. "It is the perfect public private partnership."
Dean, a medical doctor and the governor of Vermont for a dozen years, talked at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Montpelier, a stone's throw from the Pavilion Office Building now occupied by his successor, Republican James Douglas.
Dean, who now works as a strategic advisor and consultant at a firm in Washington, D.C., and as a television commentator, said little Monday about national health care reform efforts, the subject he has been involved in most publicly recently, although he said if Vermont had more say the measure would have been better.
Dean also praised Democratic lawmakers for overriding two vetoes by Douglas last year.
"That is incredibly hard to do," he said. "I am incredibly thankful it never happened to me."
Dean also did not forget the main reason he was in Montpelier on Monday.
"Since the legislators are not allowed to ask during the session, at least they didn't used to be able to, let me ask for them," he told campaign contributors, mostly lobbyists, in the audience. "Think about adding another zero. These people are worth it."
Under Vermont law during the Legislative session lawmakers and state officials cannot ask for campaign donations from lobbyists or those who employ lobbyists. The rules governing campaign cash for legislators are even stricter. During the lawmaking session they cannot even accept such donations if they are offered.
But the political action committees for the political parties certainly can, and do, gather that money and spend it to help their members. Monday evening's event was one such chance, designed to raise money to help Democratic legislators keep their seats and to help Democratic candidates unseat those House members of other parties.
Republicans do the same thing. Last Thursday Republicans were at another Montpelier spot, McGuillicuddy's Irish Pub, for their own meeting. That one served two purposes – to thank longtime Rep. Rich Westman who is now tax commissioner and to raise money for Republican candidates for the House.
That fundraiser cost $25 for lawmakers and $100 for others, and about 100 attended, organizer Suzanne Butterfield said. She is not sure yet how much will be brought in when the proceeds are counted up, she added.
The organizers of Monday's fund-raiser for Democrats said they expected to raise about $15,000 from the 150 or so attendees and other donors. They are beginning their fund-raising efforts early in part because with five Democrats running for governor and other statewide races this year it may be difficult to gather campaign financing, organizers said.
Crea and Phil Lintilhac, long active fundraisers in liberal politics in Vermont, were sponsors of the fundraiser, as were lobbying firms and three of the Democratic candidates running for governor, Matt Dunne, Peter Shumlin and Susan Bartlett.
Dean said he hopes and expects the next governor will be a Democrat, but he won't say which one is his preference.
The question, as always at such gatherings, is what do donors receive for their money. Some lobbyists and lawmakers at the gathering said donors get a chance to talk with legislators more informally than they do in the Statehouse, building relationships that are useful later. Others said they are expected to donate to campaigns and cannot afford not to.
"They support what we do and they know campaigns cost money and they are here to help us get re-elected," said Rep. Floyd Nease, D-Johnson, the House majority leader. "If I had my druthers we would have public financing for campaigns. We don't, which means there are rules you have to play by and we play by those rules."
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