Pollina: Douglas taking credit for others’ work
Burlington Free Press, June 26, 2008, by Terri Hallenbeck (link to article).
MONTPELIER — A state Agriculture Agency publication proclaims that the “buy local movement” that Gov. Jim Douglas initiated in 2003 is stronger than ever.
Progressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina objects. The buy local movement was started in the 1970s by farmers and activists working with the Northeast Organic Farming Association, Pollina said.
Douglas’ claim is one of several examples of the three-term incumbent’s trying to take credit for the work of others, his opponent charged at a news conference outside the Agency of Agriculture’s Montpelier offices Wednesday.
“Frankly, this is a ridiculous statement,” Pollina said of the notion that Douglas initiated the buy-local movement. “It ranks right up there with Al Gore inventing the Internet.”
Jason Gibbs, spokesman for Douglas, said the word “movement” in the summer edition of the agency’s “Vermont Harvest” publication was perhaps a mistake, but Douglas deserves credit for initiating a state buy-local program in 2003.
“It’s the most coordinated, comprehensive buy-local program the state has seen,” Gibbs said. “Political opponents can argue semantics.”
Pollina contended the state should be buying more local products, including food for prisons. That would boost the state’s economy, he said.
“It may cost a little more in the short term, but the money would stay in Vermont,” he said. “Not only is that worthwhile but I guarantee you the majority of Vermonters think that’s worth the long-term investment.”
Gibbs said it’s not that simple. “They do understand the value of buying local. They also understand the value of buying bulk,” he said.
If state government were required to buy only local food, Gibbs said, it would drive up the price from producers who know the state has to buy from them.
The state awards half of its commodity contracts, which include food for state institutions, to Vermont companies, according to the Agency of Administration. Another 35 percent are contracts that received no Vermont bids, are multi-state agreements or are contracts with an out-of-state firm that involve a Vermont intermediary, Gibbs said.
Pollina pointed to other instances in which he said Douglas was trying to take credit for the work. The governor announced that at his direction, the use of food stamps at farmers markets would be expanded. The program, also generated by NOFA, was already in the works, Pollina said.
Gibbs said Douglas shifted money in the Agency of Human Services to pay for implementation of equipment that will allow more farmers markets to take the food stamp debit cards.
Douglas also included an increase in weatherization money in a recent announcement of plans to combat high fuel costs. The money had already been approved by the Legislature, Pollina noted.
Gibbs said Douglas acknowledges that. “What he’s doing is pointing out the many good things going on,” he said.
Contact Terri Hallenbeck at 229-1297 or thallenb@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com