Back in August, we at VPIRG began asking candidates in the upcoming elections to sign on to our No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, taking a stand against the influence of dirty money in their candidacy and our democracy. Since then, close to 80 candidates from across the state have signed on, choosing to prioritize the …
VPIRG members thank No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge signers Read More »
Voter turnout in the 2018 Vermont primary was one of the highest in Vermont’s history. Over 107,000 Vermonters voted, yielding an almost 22% voter turnout rate. Compared to a 9% voter turnout in 2014 — the last non-presidential primary year — the results of the 2018 summer election make it clear that Vermonters have never …
It’s Town Meeting Week, which means that civic energy is buzzing throughout Vermont. In communities all across the state, Vermonters are coming together to cast their votes, discuss important issues with neighbors and meet with local legislators as part of this longstanding democratic tradition. Vermont has a long history of vibrant civic culture and rigorous …
Today, Gov. Phil Scott signed into law S. 8, an ethics and government reform bill. So, what does the new law do? Addresses the revolving door by prohibiting legislators and executive officers from working as a lobbyist for one year after leaving office. Bans certain pay to play practices by prohibiting holders of large sole …
Vermont is one of only three state without an ethics commission – and that’s a problem. By and large, our elected officials serve with honor and distinction. But with many Americans losing faith in government, Vermonters deserve to know that we can trust our elected officials to serve our state honestly and without the appearance …
VPIRG is urging all candidates for public office in Vermont to support a ban on so-called pay-to-play activity related to state contracts. Recent controversies over related practices have involved members of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Lt. Gov. Phil Scott recently announced that he would sell his portion of his construction business if he is …
“Pay-to-play” corruption must be addressed in VT Read More »
It’s been a crazy few months here at VPIRG, with our advocates have been hard at work in the State House day after day and our team of field organizers doing an incredible job hitting the phones, organizing events, meeting with activists, and having the face-to-face conversations that truly drive our work. Here are just a …
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 beginning in July 2017, Vermonters …
VT becomes fourth state to enact automatic voter registration Read More »
The Vermont Senate voted 19-6 in favor of S. 220, an act related to the public financing of campaigns, and sent it to the House for consideration. The bill makes improvements in our current law by allowing publicly financed candidates to run more competitive campaigns. Public financing of campaigns is a crucial step towards countering the …
VT Senate approves changes to public financing of campaigns Read More »
Our democracy was founded on the principle of “one person, one vote”, but it’s no secret that many Americans feel their vote doesn’t count. From the overwhelming influence of big money in politics to restrictive voting laws, barriers are disempowering Americans and pushing us away from participating in the political process. The result is a …
