In January of last year, the supposedly nonpartisan Campaign for Vermont raised a stink about conflict of interest in the Vermont House. Specifically, it accused then-Rep. Mike McCarthy of same.
Then-CFV spokesflack Shawn Shouldice noted that McCarthy, an employee of SunCommon, had voted for a net-metering bill in the House… a bill that stood to benefit his employer. Shouldice accused McCarthy of breaking House rules by voting on the bill.
Fast forward to today, when the House approved a massive energy bill going under the name RESET. One provision was struck from the bill; it would have boosted funding for Efficiency Vermont. The charge to strike that provision was led by Independent Rep. Adam Greshin. All of this is chronicled very nicely by VPR’s Peter Hirschfeld. Except for one small fact:
Adam Greshin, looking suspiciously Photoshoppy.
Greshin is co-owner of the Sugarbush ski resort. Two more facts:
The ski industry is a voracious consumer of electricity.
Efficiency Vermont is funded by ratepayers, with rates approved by the Public Service Board.
Do I need to connect those dots?
The Efficiency Vermont cut would reduce utility rates; Greshin’s business would directly benefit. Not only did he vote for the measure, as in McCarthy’s case; he spearheaded it. He pushed strongly for it as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, where his arguments carried the day.
In the interest of nonpartisanship, I ask Campaign for Vermont to raise the same kind of stink about Greshin that they did about McCarthy. Also, is to too much to ask our media to report obvious connections when a lawmaker sponsors legislation that would benefit his/her own interests?
The Vermont Political Observer. 
Can’t wait to hear what Shawn has to say.
I’m sure she will protest this move by Rep. Greshin….that is, if she’s a woman of principles and high standards.
I know a number of people in Greshin’s district. I’ll raise my own little stink about this guy. I wonder how this got by VTDigger.
Well, reporting on that leetle fact would upset the comity apple cart that is Vermont public life, now, wouldn’t it? “Ethics Committee? Why, we’re all The Right Sort Of Good Vermont People –nothing to see here. Move it along.”