Tag Archives: David Weeks

“Every Alarm Bell in My Body Is Ringing Right Now”

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Something happened last Wednesday that should have been a big news story, but it wasn’t. I was out of town so it took me some time to catch up, but you know, I felt pretty secure in thinking that I wouldn’t be scooped by anyone in our sadly depleted media ecosystem. Good for me, bad for the public interest, but here we are.

What I’m talking about is a costly, potentially catastrophic situation involving one of the Scott administration’s information technology initiatives.In brief, this project is badly over budget and way behind schedule. There are huge potential risks, known and unknown. Nobody knows how much the thing will cost, how long it would take to complete the work — or if that is even possible. This includes the boffins at Gov. Phil Scott’s much-touted innovation, the Agency of Digital Services.

Have I got your attention?

Here’s something else. The quote in the title came from Republican Sen. David Weeks of Rutland, a political ally of the governor. He knows whereof he speaks; according to his official bio, his career involved “high-level program management positions in the defense and security sectors” involving “high technology operations and project management in the $3 billion range.”

In other words, Weeks may have more experience in IT-related management than anyone at ADS. And he was appalled at what he heard in a July 29 legislative hearing.

Have I got your attention now?

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Russ Ingalls and Terry Williams: Remember Their Names

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Last week, the state Senate overwhelmingly passed a pair of bills aimed at putting very modest limits on the excessive tactics of Trump’s immigration goons. S.208 would require all officers to identify themselves with name or badge number and restrict their ability to wear masks or face coverings while carrying out their duties. S.209 would bar civil immigration arrests in “sensitive locations” including schools, child care centers, places of worship, and hospitals.

Both bills passed on identical 27-2 votes, including unanimous Democratic/Progressive support plus a lopsided majority of the Republican caucus. (The newly appointed John Morley, who succeeded Sam Douglass, was absent for both tallies.)

Which means the two dissidents need to be identified in the hope that their votes are a lasting stain on their records. It probably won’t keep them from being re-elected since they hail from very safe Republican districts, but given the rising tide of anti-Trump feeling I suppose all things are possible.

The two senators who are okay with masked, anonymous federal enforcers invading schools, day care centers and hospitals are… Russ Ingalls of Essex County (pictured above) and Terry Williams of Rutland County (pictured below in an apparent attack of constipation).

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