CFV Fall Newsletter and Director's Note

It is not quite the legislative-kickoff season, but things are heating up nonetheless. The team at Campaign for Vermont is hard at work putting the finishing touches on our upcoming goals and strategies. We will be pushing hard for funding of a robust and effective Ethics Commission; we will be presenting proposals to boost school revenues WITHOUT raising taxes; we will be working with partners on initiatives that aim to ensure a strong and modern workforce while reducing barriers to education and training opportunities; and we will be introducing legislation which will establish a revolutionary financial accountability system. All of this in addition to our constant support of efforts to increase accountability and transparency in Vermont government.

You will be receiving more on all of that soon. In the meantime, here are some articles you may helpful and interesting.

I, and the whole CFV team, appreciate your engagement and involvement. We look forward to a busy and effective legislative session. Thank you for being a supporter of our efforts to achieve a more prosperous Vermont, for all Vermonters.

Sincerely,

Eric LaMontagne
Executive Director

Commentary: Our Unique Opportunity

When the legislative session kicks off this January, lawmakers will be asked to re-allocate funds for the newly created Ethics Committee. Doing so is a critical step towards a foundational element of a more prosperous state. It is up to us to demand action. If we cannot trust government officials to act in our best interest, then reforms in healthcare, education, and economic development will never reach their full potential. Read more..

Commentary: Fiscal Responsibility Is a Universal Concept

It’s time for a mandatory system that forces analysis of all revenue and spending measures. Here's why..

Listen Beyond The Sound Bites

Did you know that Campaign for Vermont has a TV show? Vote for Vermont hosts sit down with guests every week to take a deep dive into a broad array of topics. Recent shows covered beer brewing, the Cog Railway, freedom of speech, the opioid crisis, farming, and an interview with Lt. Governor David Zuckerman. Vote for Vermont serves as an educational platform that presents detailed information from which the viewer can draw their own opinion. Visit the channel here.

A History of Vermont Health Insurance Rates

Here is some interesting date from healthinsurance.org. Learn more..

Take Our One-Question Fiscal Responsibility Poll

Click here to answer now.

CFV Statement on Health Insurance Rate Hikes

In July, CFV Executive Director Eric LaMontagne addressed the Green Mountain Care Board on the need for transparency and accountability before asking Vermonters to shoulder any more costs. Click here to read our statement.

VT Bond Rating Downgraded...Again

The Moody’s downgrade earlier this year was projected to cost Vermonters $7 million per year in finance charges. How much will it cost us this time? Read more..

A Follow Up To Our ‘Vermont Is In Trouble’ Article

In early May our Executive Director published a commentary painting a concerning picture of Vermont’s financial future. Later in the month, we put out a follow-up article expanding on some controversial points and doubling-down on our position. Click here to read our response.

Commentary: Transparency Concerns With Corporate Incentives.

Keurig Green Mountain has received more than $10,000,000 in taxpayer money over the last 20 years, and we have no way of knowing how it was spent. By design, there is no record of who got the money, how it was spent, or if it accomplished what it was supposed to do. Read more..

Vermont: A World Player

Vermont may be small, but by no means are we in a bubble. We rely heavier on exports more than any other New England state, and volatility of world markets post a risk to state economic expansion. Click to learn more..

Here are three easy ways you can help us in our fight for a more prosperous and economically secure Vermont.

Make a financial contribution. Your support will go directly toward engaging an educated public in issues of vital importance and putting people in the statehouse to fight for you.
Contact your legislator and ask them what they are doing for you. Politicians work for us. In the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, “we the people elect leaders not to rule, but to serve.”
Follow us on social media. Keep up with the latest updates and opportunities for action.