The scope of safety assessments at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant is the subject of disagreement between Governor Jim Douglas and Democratic lawmakers. Governor Douglas is Bob Kinzel's guest Friday on Vermont Edition. We discuss the future of the nuclear power plant, and the governor's capital gains tax plan. (Listen)

Also in the program, we listen back to some of the voices in the week's news. (Listen)

Listener comments on for Gov. Douglas:

Dave from Montpelier:
I saw a 2006 study from a group called PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) that listed Vermont 51 out of 51 -- including Washington D.C. -- in terms of whistleblower protections for working Vermonters. I then read in the Times-Argus today that the Douglas Administration is opposed to a whistleblower law that's being debated right now. Why does the governor oppose the bill?

Don in Guilford
I was astonished to read in this morning's Brattleboro Reformer that the governor is opposed to Instant Runoff Voting. I had assumed this was one obvious, intelligent idea that anyone, regardless of party or position in the
political spectrum, would readily support. Perhaps the problem is that it makes so much sense? I'm hoping against hope that the Reformer made a mistake.

Kate from Rutland
Why would any candidate for office "run for second place"? How could such a ridiculous strategy "manipulate" the system? The point is to win the election. Running for second defeats that purpose. Just saying you don't like IRV because it's not the way we've run elections for hundreds of years is not enough. How, specifically, does it weaken our democracy? This is a way of allowing a system where third and fourth and fifth party candidates to run for office without fear of being "spoilers." IRV will enrich debate and bring in more than two points of view. IRV will also get people who otherwise would not vote to do so, because they don't have to choose between one of two parties that water down their messages and values in order
to win elections.

Ed from Dummerston:
1. The state "Nuclear Engineer" is not a nuclear engineer.
2. The Legislature, through the work of Sen. Jeanette White and Rep. Pat O'Donnell, mandated that Vermont Emergency Management open a Brattleboro office, not Governor Douglas.
3. The Comprehensive Vertical Audit doesn't have to be done by the NRC. The NRC gets right of first refusal, but other contractors are available to perform the audit. It could be completed in 13 weeks, as long as it gets started soon. So inspections can be done during the Fall 2008 refueling shutdown.