There's been a lot of digital ink devoted to Governor Scott Walker's testimony before Congress yesterday, especially given his admission that his union-busting budget provisions weren't fiscal and his lies over the hiring of his campaign donor's 27-year old son. Good thing they didn't get into the whole money-laundering, high speed rail issue in this hearing or it could have become a brawl.

Given that, I want to shine a light on the other guy in the room: Vermont Governor Shumlin, who was just rock-solid from beginning to end, regardless of whether he was sparring over pension funding with Republicans or simply offering a contrast to the arrogant and feckless Mr. Walker. Truly, it's people like Governor Shumlin who restore my faith in our system.

Long story short: He's dealing with the same kinds of issues that Scott Walker is (as are most states), and cites the costs of incarceration and health care as the two biggest challenges. But unlike Governor Walker, his solutions include single payer health care statewide, and negotiations with public employees using "maple syrup" instead of vinegar.

This is what good government looks like. More like him, please.

Transcript follows.

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