Vermont Limits on Political Gifts in Limbo

July 15, 2007

MONTPELIER – It seems like everything is going Rob Roper's way these days. The 38-year-old chairman of the state's Republican Party is on a roll. Last year, the Vermont GOP won a lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court, overturning the state's strictest-in-the-nation campaign finance law.

Paul Burns of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group:"The more wealthy individuals can give to candidates running for office the less the average individual's voice will be heard. Most Vermonters couldn't imagine giving even a $500 gift to someone running for office, much less thousands of dollars … we would be kidding ourselves to think that in exchange for giving large contributions like that you aren't getting something in return."

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