There are many ways to evaluate governmental transparency, but at VPIRG we spend a great deal of time following the money. That’s money spent to elect or defeat candidates, lobby our elected leaders, or run the government. Vermont turns out to be a leader in some areas and a laggard in others, but there’s always room to improve.
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 …
RELEASE: Vermont Earns A- in Spending Transparency Read More »
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 …
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 …
RELEASE: Supreme Court rules in favor of big money…again. Read More »
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 …
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 …
This is the message that Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s, sent out to VPIRG members urging action on a bad bill to put more money in politics. Why I’m asking for a veto of S.82 We might not agree on politics or religion, heck we might not agree on Chunky Monkey or Phish …
Why Jerry Greenfield is asking for a veto of S.82 Read More »
Over the objection of VPIRG and the hundreds members who emailed and called their representatives, the Vermont House voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill that makes it legal for corporations, PACs and wealthy individuals to throw even more money into Vermont elections. You can read more about what happened here. Just look at what S.82 …
House Votes to Put More Money in Vermont Politics Read More »
Legislature Opens the Door to Big Money in Elections 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 on Jan. 23rd, despite having heard from over 1,500 VPIRG members urging him to veto …
The rise of the Super PACs, made possible by misguided U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Citizens United, are flooding our elections with special interest cash. Even in Vermont, a Super PAC funded almost entirely by a single individual spent nearly $1 million to elect or defeat state candidates in the 2012 election season. That’s why …
