Campaign for Vermont is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group. We advocate for common sense policies that will help middle class Vermonters. We strictly maintain our nonpartisan role and therefore do not endorse candidates or parties. We are an issue-based organization. However, we maintain positions on multiple issues that affect Vermonters. Our principle positions can be found here:
Economic Prosperity
Vermont needs a vibrant economy where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. This is the underpinning of most of our policy positions. We have proposed policies that will generate more and better paying jobs while lessening the financial burden on Vermont's middle class through tax reforms and administrative efficiencies.
Financial Sustainability
The fiscal ship of state has been mismanaged. State liabilities related to pensions and water quality continue to grow an alarming rates. We have made policy recommendations to better manage these liabilities while continuing to deliver on our promise of taking care of our people and environment. We are also strong advocates of matching state spending growth with available resources. Organic economic growth should drive state spending and any new revenue source should be carefully analyzed for their impacts on Vermont's middle class and it's accessibility.
World Class Education
A vibrant economy requires a well-educated population. However, we spend the second most per student out of any state in the country, yet our results are below average. We should demand outstanding results for the amount of resources we dedicate to public education in our state. Today, sadly, we are not seeing that return on our investment.
We advocate for policies that strengthen the public education system. This includes focusing our investments in the classroom and spending less on administration. Our position also includes strengthening local control of school administration and spending decisions to create thriving local schools that create shared benefits for both the students and the community.
A Robust Social Safety Net
More Vermonters depend on the Agency of Human Services for direct support than any other state Agency. And it comprised 43% of the state workforce and 45% of general fund spending. We can't afford anything less than excellence. Our position calls upon the Agency of Human Services to implement reforms that have been talked about for years but have met with resistance. We can and must do better.
Government Accountability
A transparent government is a good government. Rather, you can't have good governance without open government. We have proposed policies that require the disclosure of how our government is spending our tax dollars and which expenditures are generating the intended outcome. We have also pushed for the requiring of open meetings when decisions are made by our government that affect us.
CFV was instrumental in the passage of ethics reforms here in Vermont. This ethics law required the disclosure of financial interest by our legislators and public officials and created the Vermont Ethics Commission. However, progress on creating a robust set of universal standards for public officials and giving the Commission the tools to enforce them is under attack. Last year, the legislature delayed implementing these critical reforms.