Elections and Government Reform

Director’s Note on the 2014 Session

VICTORIES on GMOs, Toxics, Solar, and more! If you support VPIRG because we’re the kind of organization that takes on the tough fights on important issues and gets results, then I have good news for you. Our advocates, organizers, interns and member volunteers just completed one of the most successful legislative sessions in VPIRG’s 42 …

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2014 VPIRG Legislative Accomplishments

VPIRG took on some of the nation’s most powerful corporate interests in the 2014 legislative session, and we won! From landmark legislation requiring GMO foods to be labeled to expanding opportunities for Vermont families to go solar, this was an incredible year. We also helped to pass a new law that will help protect kids …

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RELEASE: Vermont Earns A- in Spending Transparency

New Report: Vermont Receives an “A-” in Transparency of Government Spending Montpelier – Vermont received a grade of A- today on government spending transparency, according to “Following the Money 2014: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the fifth annual report of its kind by the Vermont Public Interest …

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McCutcheon Money

If you liked Citizens United, you’re going to love McCutcheon The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in McCutcheon v. FEC to strike down overall, or aggregate, contribution limits to candidates and political committees. U.S. PIRG research found that this ruling could bring $1 billion in additional campaign contributions from fewer than 2,800 elite donors through the 2020 election cycle. As this report …

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RELEASE: Supreme Court rules in favor of big money…again.

  Decision in McCutcheon v FEC could add $1 billion from big donors through 2020 Montpelier – Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in McCutcheon v. FEC to strike down overall, or aggregate, contribution limits to candidates and political committees. U.S. PIRG research found that this ruling could bring $1 billion in additional campaign contributions …

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Legislature opens door to big money

In a remarkable reversal of past priorities, Vermont legislators opened the 2014 session by voting to allow even more money in state elections. Gov. Shumlin signed the bill (S.82) into law, despite having heard from over 1,500 VPIRG members urging him to veto it. Over opposition from Democrats, Republicans, Progressives and Independents, majorities in both …

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Step 1: Veto. Step 2: Real reform.

As Jerry Greenfield pointed out, the first step for real campaign finance reform is persuading Gov. Shumlin to veto S.82. It’s a bill that would give corporations, PACs and very wealthy folks more influence over how we elect our leaders in Montpelier—and that’s not only unnecessary, it’s just wrong. If Gov. Shumlin vetoes S.82, then …

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