A story published a few days ago by VTDigger sparked my curiosity about the status of the extremely phallic Bennington Battle Monument, which I have dubbed Vermont’s “Gilded Age tribute to toxic masculinity.” When last I wrote about this “ponderous pecker,” news had come out that the thing was made of highly absorbent limestone that had, of course, become waterlogged. Repairs were estimated at about $40 million, to which I responded that we ought to just blow the damn thing up.

The latest Digger piece reported that the state is about to hold two public meetings to discuss what to do with the Monument. What it didn’t report is that the $40 million figure is nothing more than a semi-educated guess. Nobody knows how much it would really cost, or the price tag for ongoing maintenance if we do fix it up. That’s partly because the state lacks critical data, thanks to the deeply troubled VTBuys contracting and payment portal — yet another demerit in Gov. Phil Scott’s ineffectual efforts to reinvent state government.

We take you back to February 10, and a hearing of the House Corrections & Institutions Committee that went completely uncovered by the sleepy watchdogs of our news media. I came across it as I poked around for more information about Digger’s latest story. But anyone with an interest in the Monument, or in the orderly function of state government, needs to know what went on that day.