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Paul Heintz

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Breaking with the Democrats with whom he caucuses, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Thursday he would oppose President Obama's nominee for treasury secretary.

In a sharply-worded statement, Sanders criticized Obama's pick — Jack Lew, who currently serves as White House chief of staff — for his ties to Wall Street and corporate America.

"As a supporter of the president, I remain extremely concerned that virtually all of his key economic advisers have come from Wall Street," Sanders said in a written statement. "In my view, we need a treasury secretary who is prepared to stand up to corporate America and their powerful lobbyists and fight for policies that protect the working families in our country. I do not believe Mr. Lew is that person."

If confirmed by the Senate, Lew would replace outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Lew's long resume includes stints as budget director in both the Clinton and Obama administrations, as well as nearly two years as deputy secretary of state. But it's the two years Lew spent at Citigroup in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis that appear to have drawn Sanders' ire.

As the Washington Post noted Thursday, Lew headed up a unit at Citigroup in charge of "the bank's riskiest operations, including its hedge funds and private equity investments." Losses in that unit were largely responsible for Citigroup's embrace of a $45 billion federal bailout.

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But on Thursday, as Peter Shumlin took his second oath of office as Vermont's 81st governor, the Putney native adopted a new objective for his sophomore term: "to take a good education system and make it the best."

On the most traditional of days in Vermont civic life, Shumlin broke the mold of inaugural addresses — typically a potpourri of policy proposals — preferring instead to focus entirely on education. In a 38-minute speech — punctuated by plenty of applause but few standing ovations — he told assembled dignitaries that improvements in teaching and learning are essential to the state's future.

Shumlin's argument was not so much that education is vital for intellectual fulfillment or even personal advancement. Instead, his was a collectivist vision emphasizing the economic necessity of a skilled and highly trained workforce.

Businesses throughout Vermont, he said, are demanding one.

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Just minutes after Gov. Peter Shumlin delivered his second inaugural address Thursday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott briefly convened the Senate to name the new leaders, putting an end to weeks of speculation among political insiders.

"The appointments are some of the most creative we've seen in years in the Senate," said Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell (D-Windsor) in a press briefing shortly after the announcements were made. He was joined by Scott and Sen. Dick Mazza (D-Grand Isle), who collectively made up the "Committee on Committees," charged with assigning colleagues to the 11 panels.

(Mazza, Scott and Campbell are pictured above, l to r.)

Among the biggest changes?

UPDATED BELOW with comments from Burlington City Attorney Eileen Blackwood.

The Vermont National Guard announced last night that the Air Force will delay for several months its decision on basing F-35 fighter planes at Burlington International Airport so it can consider newer census data on the number of people that would be impacted by jet noise.

In a press release issued Wednesday evening, the Guard said the final decision on basing F-35s would be delayed until "spring 2013" so the Air Force can update the environmental impact statements (EIS) to include 2010 census data for all six locations under consideration to host the world's most expensive weapons system.

"At the time the Air Force began the EIS process, 2010 census data were not available for all six locations," read the Guard statement. "The Air Force is committed to producing the most accurate EIS possible, so decision makers have the best information available to make an informed decision."

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing F-35 opponents said he's preparing a petition to block the potential basing by forcing a voter referendum in Burlington that would effectively starve the airport of needed funding. Bristol attorney James DuMont said a rarely invoked section of the Burlington city charter requires voter approval for the airport's construction and maintenance budget. He wants to put a ballot question to voters some time this spring that says, "so long as F-35 jets are regularly based" at BTV, money for construction, equipment and improvement shall not exceed $1 — effectively depriving the airport, and the Guard, of the funds they need to operate.

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"This may seem surprising to some. However, I have been promised nothing more and nothing less than a fair and normal process, and a focused and productive Senate," Snelling (pictured at right) said from the Senate floor. "Many positive changes are in place to create the predictability that will ensure that. And I'm grateful that we can begin our work today with a clear understanding of our responsibilities."

Snelling's move cleared the way for Campbell, who was first elected president pro tem two years ago, to unanimously win reelection.

In brief remarks to the chamber, he compared Vermont's collegial legislature favorably to the U.S. Congress, arguing that in Montpelier — unlike Washington — elected representatives refuse to let partisanship get in the way.

"What matters is that we do the job — do something that's right for Vermonters," Campbell said. "More importantly, that we keep in mind that we have to look out for our most vulnerable of our population: the elderly, the disabled, the children. And I can say that in my 12 years here we have done that."

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By a vote of 10 to three, the council instructed the city's charter change committee to draft language barring the possession of such guns and ammunition in Burlington and calling for their "immediate seizure by the police."

The vote was merely a first step in a long process that would require yet another vote by the council, public hearings, a referendum and, ultimately, a vote in the legislature to change the city's charter. Nevertheless, to the nearly 100 Vermonters who showed up to the meeting — nearly all men and many wearing camouflage or blaze orange — the proposal was clearly received as an affront to their right to bear arms.

"There's no excuse why we have this ordinance here other than to politicize something that's a knee-jerk reaction," said Burlington resident Michael McGarghan, one of 25 members of the public who spoke out against the proposal during the meeting. "I'm really disgusted that I had to come here tonight and take time out to talk about this."

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Alex MacLean (pictured at right), a veteran staffer and two-time campaign manager for Gov. Peter Shumlin, was hired Monday by Jay Peak owners Bill Stenger and Ariel Quiros to serve as a project manager for their proposed $600 million Northeast Kingdom Development Initiative.

The Peacham native says she'll be charged with directing community relations and recruiting foreign investors for the ambitious project, which includes expansions at Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Resort; the development of a convention center, window factory and biotechnology campus in Newport; and an expansion of the Newport State Airport in Coventry.

President Obama didn't formally announce his controversial pick for defense secretary until 1:20 p.m. Monday, but Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had long since weighed in. He offered his support for former senator Chuck Hagel (pictured) in a press release issued at 11:07 a.m.

Calling Hagel "a person of great ability and integrity," Leahy said the Nebraska Republican was the right person to lead the Pentagon as Congress pares back its funding.

"He is a combat veteran who still carries shrapnel in his body from his wounds — he will not need on-the-job training," Leahy added in the written statement. "I will support his nomination with enthusiasm, and I have passed that on to the president."

While perhaps unsurprising, Leahy's comments come as several top Senate Republicans — and, privately, even some Democrats — have panned the pick. They take issue with comments Hagel made in the past about Israel, Iran and gays.

Vermont's junior senator, Bernie Sanders — who, like Leahy, will vote on Hagel's nomination if it reaches the Senate floor — did not immediately offer his support.

Here's what's happening in Vermont news and politics this week — the first of the 2013-14 legislative session. Got something newsworthy for next week's calendar? Email by Friday to submit.

Monday, January 7

• At 7:30 a.m., the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation hold a joint 2013 legislative breakfast at the Sheraton in South Burlington. Gov. Peter Shumlin and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger will address the biz crowd.
• Gov. Shumlin holds a rare Monday morning press conference, 11 a.m. on the 5th floor of the Pavilion Building in Montpelier.
• At 1 p.m., Burlington Mayor Weinberger holds a press conference on an unannounced topic.
• The Burlington City Council meets at 7 p.m. On the agenda: a proposed city charter change banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines like the ones used in the Newtown school massacre. Also, Mayor Weinberger will ask the council to approve extending Paul Sisson's appointment as interim chief administrative officer while hizzoner takes more time to search for a permanent CAO. 

Rest of the week after the break...

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Huddled around a conference table at Montpelier's Capitol Plaza, the 23-member caucus selected Sen. Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) as majority leader and Sen. Claire Ayer (D-Addison) as assistant majority leader. Both were elected by voice vote — without opposition.

Baruth's selection as the party's consensus-seeker and enforcer signaled a remarkable turnaround for a relatively junior and liberal member who distinguished himself last session — his first — as a voice of opposition and, at times, obstruction. But Baruth's fellow senators appeared to accept the Burlington Democrat's pledge to put the priorities of the caucus before his own.

Oh, and nobody else wanted the job.

After nominating Baruth for the post, Sen. Bobby Starr (D-Essex/Orleans) — a longtime conservative Democrat from the Northeast Kingdom — said that despite their philosophical differences, he believed Baruth to be "a great guy" and "a great communicator."