A top aide to Governor Peter Shumlin is defending the administration's handling of a contract with Massachusetts Institute of Technology health economist Jonathan Gruber, after criticisms were lodged by the state auditor.
Vermont State Auditor Hoffer says the evidence suggests that Gruber overstated the hours worked by a $100-per-hour research assistant, and that top state health care officials ignored obvious signs that something was amiss.
Administration Secretary Justin Johnson’s reply to the auditor says officials in the state office of health care reform kept a close eye on work done by Gruber.
The state rewrote its contract with Gruber after he generated national headlines when videos were released of him talking about the "stupidity of the American voter."
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