Friends,

Much of Montpelier is still in a holding pattern waiting for the Governor’s budget address to set the tone for the rest of the legislative session. This will give legislators a starting point for their legislative priorities. If there are any issues in particular that you are interested in learning more about, let us know!

What happened this week:

• Testimony continued in the House Government Operations Committee over contested elections and how the Secretary of State should deal with recounts. There were a few very close elections this past legislative session that called into question the process for recounts and declaring election winners.
• State Treasurer Beth Pearce introduced a water-cleanup proposal that would levy a per-parcel fee. This is expected to yield $25 million per year and would cover about half the cost of water cleanup programs over the next 20 years. This proposal was considered in both the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, and Senate Committee on Natural Resources.

Senate Government Operations Testimony
Ethics Legislation Relative to S.8 - January 11, 2017 

My name is Ben Kinsley, Executive Director of Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV). For those unfamiliar with CFV we are a non-partisan research and advocacy group working to reconnect middle-class Vermonters to their government and generate prosperity for ALL Vermonters in every corner of our state. We have a network of 20,000 people across Vermont and advocate for a wide range of policy issues that focus on progress ahead of partisanship. You can learn more about our vision at CampaignForVermont.org. 

Email blast sent to supporters January 10, 2017

Friends,

Last week kicked off the 2017 legislative session with much pomp and circumstance. As new leaders in the House, Senate, and Executive Branch took up the torch. Peter Shumlin gave his farewell address and Phil Scott and David Zuckerman were sworn in as Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

The real work begins this week as legislators settle into their committee assignments and bills begin to be introduced on the floors of the House and Senate. Money committees will begin getting briefings from state agencies in preparation for the Governor’s budget address in a couple of weeks.

The opening week of the 2017 legislative session, a group of independent legislators wrote a letter to the State Board of Education (SBE) calling for an investigation into board member William Mathis who is employed by the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) and receives funding from groups like the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Because both groups have a direct interest in many issues that come before the SBE this poses a conflict of interest and a potential violation of the Executive Code of Ethics which Mathis and other board members are supposed to adhere to. We are calling for an investigation into Mathis’ conduct... 

On January 2, 2016 a group of independent legislators sent a letter to the State Board of Education Chair, Stephan Morse regarding the ethical conduct and conflict of interest of board member Dr. William Mathis. 

Email blast to supporters December 27, 2016

Dear Friends,

As 2016 winds down and we celebrate with family and friends, anticipation builds for what the new year will bring. Here at Campaign for Vermont Prosperity, we have been busy refocusing. We want our organization to be more effective at advocating for needed policy reforms like ethics legislation, government accountability, and locally-controlled education.

Emailed blast sent to supporters December 4, 2016

Friends,

This week we announced our new "Vision for Vermont," which introduces a sharper message and better defines what we are working towards. We want to see a Vermont that is fiscally, socially, and environmentally sustainable, and where everyone can succeed. We do very well as a state in areas such as environmental and social responsibility, but we have families that are struggling to make ends meet. We must be proactive and forward thinking if we are to create a place where every Vermonter can succeed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – OCTOBER 26, 2016 

Contact:
Benjamin Kinsley
(802) 448-2380
[email protected] 

Campaign for Vermont Prosperity Announces Questionnaire Results 

Burlington, VT – Today Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV) announced the results from a statewide canvassing of legislative candidates on topics that matter to Vermonters. Candidates were asked a series of seven questions related to the economy, health care, education, and government ethics. The full questionnaire can be viewed here: CampaignForVermont.org/2016Questionnaire

Email blast sent to supporters October 23, 2016

Friends, 

Something slipped by many in the Vermont media earlier this month: Kiplinger released its list of tax-friendly states to retire. Vermont Ranked #1 for least tax friendly for retirees. They looked at a number of factors including sales tax, income tax and what it applies to, social security, pensions, property taxes, and estate taxes.