Legislative Updates: In Brief
The end of the legislative session is always lively. While things are changing by the minute, here’s a snapshot of where things stand with the public interest bills on the eve of the session’s close.
Elections and Government Reform
Campaign Finance Bill Buried
The Senate voted 19-9 to delay consideration of the campaign finance reform bill (S.20) for another year. The bill would have reestablished common sense limits on campaign contributions and required more disclosure from candidates (including the occupation and employer of their larger donors).
Vermont Says Corps Are Not People!
The Vermont House of Representatives voted 92-40 in favor of a joint resolution (JRS 11) urging the US Congress to begin the process of amending the Constitution to make clear that corporations are not people and money is not speech. VPIRG applauds the grassroots activists who laid the foundation for this movement by getting over …
More Time for State Decision on Citizens United Resolution
In response to the overwhelming support for a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court’s disappointing Citizen’s United decision as displayed by Vermonter’s across the state on town meeting day, the VPIRG supported resolution at the state level (JRS 11) was given an extension from the crossover deadline.
60 Vermont cities and towns pass Citizens United resolutions
Town Meeting Day in Vermont marked a milestone for the movement to take back our democracy. Sixty Vermont cities or towns passed resolutions calling upon Congress to amend the US Constitution to state that “corporations are not people” and “money is not speech.”
Town Meeting Day Resources
Democracy is alive and well in Vermont, demonstrated by the gamut of activity on municipal election ballots in cities and towns across the state. Read up on exciting issues and measures on the ballot.
Voter Registration Deadline Wednesday, February 29th!
Thanks to the statewide constitutional amendment passed last year, 17-year olds due to turn 18 on or before the general election on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 may now register and vote in Tuesday’s presidential primary election (though you are not eligible to cast your vote on municipal measures that may be listed on the same ballot).
Citizens United Resolutions on Local Ballots
Cities and towns across Vermont have taken up the call to ask Congress to begin the process of amending the Constitution – stating that corporations are not people and money is not speech.
Report: Representation Without Taxation
Released on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission case—which opened the floodgates to corporate spending on elections—this report takes a hard look at the lobbying activities of profitable Fortune 500 companies that exploit loopholes and distort the tax code to avoid billions of dollars in taxes.
On Anniversary of Citizens United, We’re Pushing to Overturn It
Today, the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Vermont lawmakers and activists are holding a press conference in support of a state resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the ruling and challenge the notion of corporate personhood.