News and Updates

Veto Override Falls Short in Senate

Popular legislation to modernize the Bottle Bill will have to wait another year. The Vermont state Senate fell short today in its attempt to override the governor’s veto of popular legislation that would have modernized the state’s 52-year-old Bottle Bill program. Seventeen senators voted to override and twenty were required in order to achieve the …

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Vermont House Easily Overrides Veto of Bottle Bill Legislation 

The Vermont House of Representatives made quick work today of overriding Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of legislation designed to modernize the state’s popular Bottle Bill program. Even with five members who had supported the bill absent today, the vote was 112-32, an extraordinary margin for an override. Supporters included Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, and independents. Every …

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2024 Legislative Priorities

VPIRG is pursuing action on multiple fronts in the 2024 legislative session. From climate to consumer protection and toxics to democracy, we’re seeking progress that will improve the lives of Vermonters and demonstrate leadership at a time when that is sorely needed.    CLIMATE & CLEAN ENERGY  Make Big Oil Pay – Climate Change Superfund  Climate …

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VPIRG Announces Results of Mock Ranked Choice Voting Republican Presidential Primary Election 

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) today announced the results of the organization’s “Mock Ranked Choice Voting Republican Presidential Primary Election” for the Republican Presidential Primary.   VPIRG held the mock primary over a two-week period coinciding with much attention around the first official debate of the presidential primary season. The organization is one of …

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Protecting our Pollinators: A Lakeside Chat with Charlie Nardozzi and Samantha Alger

If you’re anything like me, you probably enjoy spending time in or around the garden in summertime. I love to watch the bees, butterflies, and other pollinators at work. But it turns out bees and nearly all pollinators are dying off at an alarming rate. Without bees, much of our food supply is in jeopardy. So VPIRG is …

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Statement of VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns on the indictment of Donald Trump in the January 6 case

Today, in what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most important criminal cases in the history of our nation, former President Donald Trump was indicted on four counts related to his efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election: Even if this news was not surprising, it is and should be …

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The Climate Crisis is Here – And Big Oil Must Pay for it.

As flood waters recede and Vermonters begin to rebuild, two things are becoming clear.   Disasters like these are extraordinarily expensive. The costs to repair damage to homes and infrastructure will be astronomical, not to mention the destruction of priceless memories, heirlooms, and lives.  And second, this was not a fluke. Not too long ago, storms …

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Polling Shows Vermonters Overwhelmingly Support Affordable Heat

At the close of the 2023 legislative session, the Vermont Legislature overrode Governor Scott’s veto of the Affordable Heat Act (S.5), capping a 2 year effort with a victory for Vermonters and the climate. S.5 requires the Public Utility Commission to design a program to require fossil fuel importers to offer Vermonters incentives and up-front …

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A logo with a blue fist holding a plastic water bottle, with the text "Modernize the Bottle Bill"

Gov. Scott Vetoes Vermont’s Popular Bottle Bill Update 

Governor Phil Scott has vetoed legislation designed to update and substantially expand the scope of the state’s popular beverage redemption program, commonly known as the Bottle Bill.   The proposed legislation passed last Tuesday when the House of Representatives concurred with a version of the bill approved by the Senate last month. The House action came …

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Modernizing Vermont’s Popular Bottle Bill Is Now Up To Gov. Scott

The Vermont Legislature gave final approval to legislation that would update and substantially expand the scope of the state’s popular beverage redemption program, commonly known as the Bottle Bill. The House of Representatives concurred on Tuesday with a version of the bill passed by the Senate last month. The House action came during a special …

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