Updated (5/24/2018): Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed H.196, the paid family and medical leave bill. Although the governor has been a vocal opponent to a paid family and medical leave program, VPIRG and allies had hoped he would heed the message of Vermont’s working families, small businesses, and public interest…
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VPIRG was proud to join with a diverse group of advocates and organizations to call on Governor Phil Scott to stand with Vermonters over corporate interests at a press conference Thursday. The groups that gathered outside the State House represent a wide array of backgrounds — from small business owners…
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When it comes to serious legislative action to protect our people and environment and move our state forward in a positive fashion, we cannot afford to “wait and see” any longer. We need bold action now. The attacks from D.C. on everything from climate to toxic chemical protections to digital…
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The Vermont Senate advanced an important measure Friday to promote a fair and open Internet in Vermont. On a 23 to 5 vote, the Senate gave final approval to S.289 – a bill that would ensure the state only contracts with Internet Service Providers that adhere to Net Neutrality principles.…
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The following are comments submitted by VPIRG at the public hearing of the Vermont House Commerce and Economic Development Committee responding to the Equifax Data Breach and other data privacy related concerns: Good evening. I’m Zachary Tomanelli – the Communications and Technology Director for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group,…
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The Vermont Public Interest Research Group announced today that it is going to federal court to urge review of two rules recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the 2016 Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act. The petitions challenge final rules issued by the EPA concerning how the agency…
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VPIRG joined our allies Wednesday at a news conference outside to show legislators that Vermonters want them to pass toxic chemical reform legislation before they go home for the year. All session long we’ve been tracking S.103 – a toxic chemical reform bill that makes important strides to protect kids from harmful…
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Governor Peter Shumlin signed H.458 into law Thursday, making Vermont the fourth state in the country to enact automatic voter registration. The new law will essentially flip voter registration procedures at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Under current law, the DMV requires Vermonters to “opt in” to voter registration. But…
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VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns and UVM professor and Gund Institute economist Jon Erickson made the case for pricing carbon pollution in a debate against opponents from the climate-change-denying Ethan Allen Institute Thursday night in Montpelier. Burns and Erickson went back and forth with the Ethan Allen Institute’s Rob Roper…
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Al Gore delivered his Climate Reality presentation to a capacity crowd at Ira Allen Chapel on the University of Vermont campus Tuesday. The former vice president delivered the most up-to-date version of his renowned slideshow detailing the science behind man-made global warming, the climate crisis we are now facing and…
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