“The state’s tax code “needs a deliberate, nonpartisan look,” he said.
To do the job right, Torti envisions five to 12 Vermonters, “folks who can rise above the partisanship,” working on a committee with leadership from an out-of-state fiscal expert.”

Non-partisanship in revamping the tax code? Riiiiiight….

On the note of reporting, the article may has well have been a full page paid advertisement. That said, the Free Press isn’t the only outlet for this particular kind of Vermont “reporting.” In my opinion, WCAX reigns in puff-piece reporting. VPR also seems to read press releases from time to time, with a couple of exceptions (Lindholm, Dillon, Sneyd).

As I’ve mentioned before, there seems to be a dearth of follow up questions and investigative reporting here in Vermont that either suggests a purposeful intent to remain inoffensive on the rationale or even fear that we’re a small state. For VPR it could be that lackluster reporting is based on the fear that they might bite off the hand that feeds them (contributing listeners). For individual reporters who fail to deliver traditional. “the press has no friends and no enemies” reporting, who knows, maybe job security is becoming a concern and they don’t want to lose a possible opportunity as a communications director somewhere else?

That said, there’s no excuse for failing Vermonters by not delivering hard-nosed reporting. The 4th estate has it’s own independent job to do, and when reporters somehow fall down on the job it’s a disservice for Vermonters.