Email Blast Sent to Supporters on January 12, 2018. Subscribe!

“It’s a first step. Vermont was one of the last states to enact a state ethics commission, so it’s an important first step to establish it and give it some essential functions.”

-Brian Leven, Executive Director, VT State Ethics Commission

Watch the interview with VT State Ethics Commission Executive Director Brian Leven on WCAX by clicking here.

Vermont’s first Ethics Commission got to work on January 1^st. Campaign for Vermont is proud to have led the legislative initiative to make Vermont the 48^th state to adopt oversight of our elected officials. That said, while it’s a good first step, there is still much work to do to ensure politicians are held accountable to those who elect them. 

CFV will be watching closely as the Ethics Commission rolls out their list of “essential functions” and will be monitoring the 2018 legislative session for policies that seek to undermine the establishment of ethics standards in Vermont. 

Specifically, there has been some recent conversations about repealing the spousal financial disclosure provision. Proponents for repeal of this provision have shown a lack of understanding about what this requirement intends to accomplish and how it works. Under the financial disclosure provision, specific income amounts are not disclosed; rather, the sources of income must be declared.

CFV strongly advocated for the inclusion of financial disclosure requirements to ensure Vermonters would be aware of potential conflicts of interest. The public needs to know from where their elected officials derive their income in order to hold them accountable for potential conflicts of interest. 

Vermont’s elected officials must be held accountable under a strict code of transparency and ethical standards. If you agree with CFV, please consider getting involved in one of these simple ways:

1. Make a financial contribution. Your support will go directly toward engaging an educated public on issues of vital importance and putting people in the statehouse to fight for you.
2. 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.”
3. Follow us on social media. Keep up with the latest updates and opportunities for action.
4. Look through our website. Take some time to read our position statements, learn about our past efforts, and connect with the team that is working for you.

Thank you for being part of an engaged electorate.

Sincerely,

Ben Kinsley, Executive Director

Subscribe to get regular updates