June Newsletter: The End of an Era

The legislative session came to a conclusion on Friday night, but that is not the only thing coming to an end. I'll be stepping down as President of Campaign for Vermont.

After a working life that began back in 1964, the time feels right, and I do so with a full heart and tremendous optimism for everything still to come. I've been part of Campaign for Vermont since the very beginning in 2011, and it has been one of the great honors of my life to watch CFV grow into a strong, trusted, and leading voice in our state's political conversation.

That growth is a testament to remarkable people. Ben Kinsley is, without a doubt, the backbone of CFV. His grasp of Vermont politics is nothing short of extraordinary, and our future is bright because of him. My deepest thanks also go to our Board of Directors and Advisory Council, an extraordinary group of dedicated Vermonters who want nothing but the best for our state and everyone who calls it home. And to our donors: we simply could not do this work without you. Thank you.

The mission ahead has never mattered more. Together, we will keep building an economy where every Vermonter can be secure and prosper, keep protecting the clean, safe environment we cherish, and keep championing the kind of transparent, data-driven, nonpartisan leadership our state deserves. The best chapters of this story are still unwritten, and I can't wait to see what you accomplish next.

On that note, I'm thrilled to share that we'll be making an announcement soon about the future leadership of CFV. Stay tuned, the next chapter is an exciting one, and I know it will carry our mission forward in inspiring ways.

I'll remain part of the journey as a member of our Advisory Council, and I'll also keep cheering CFV on through my public access TV shows—Vote for Vermont and a refreshed Banter & Beans show with Pelin Kohn and Ben Kinsley as co-hosts. I'd love for you to check them both out on Orca Media, YouTube, and Vote802.com.

To this entire community: thank you. The future of Vermont is in good hands, and that future is full of promise.

With gratitude and great hope,

Pat McDonald
Campaign for Vermont

		The Final Legislative Update After months of competing visions and the ever-present shadow of a gubernatorial veto, the final days produced a set of interlocking conference reports that together represent a consequential education policy, a modestly disciplined budget, targeted property tax relief, and a new chapter for transportation finance. Read
Act 250, The First 50 Years, and Beyond Act 250 is inherently flawed from the perspective of an applicant, landowner, and developer; the process is un-predicable and cannot assure a permit will be issued; cannot assure what conditions may be attached to that permit; cannot assure on what timeline a permit may be issued; and is devastatingly risky to the applicant. Read Blog Post
		LETTER: Restoring the Off-Site Construction Accelerator Pilot Program Vermont's housing crisis will not be solved by inaction or repeating the same things we have done for the last 40 years. The Off-Site Construction Accelerator represents exactly the kind of innovative, data-driven, and practical policy that this moment requires. Read Letter
Featured Article: Vermont Legislature adjourns 2026 session that centered, again, on education reform “I didn’t get everything I wanted, and neither did you,” Gov. Phil Scott told lawmakers in remarks before they adjourned. “But that’s the way compromise works.” Read

News Worth Reading:

Our top picks of local must-read news this month.

1. Senate and House Approve Key Education Bills, Paving Way for Governor’s Signature - Seven Days
2. Behind closed doors, lawmakers and Gov. Scott near education deal without forced district mergers - VT Digger
3. Vermont's Act 181 Rollback Removed the Senate's Own Housing Expansions - Compass Vermont
4. From the 1970s to today, mapping Vermont for land use sets off fierce opposition - VT Digger
5. Lawmakers Pass Bill Targeting Health Care Costs - Seven Days
6. Dan Smith: A thriving Vermont demands a vision beyond resilience - VermontBiz
7. Krowinski and McCoy: On the need for civility in Vermont politics - VermontBiz
8. Vermont landlord-tenant bill falls apart in surprise Senate tiebreaker - Vermont Public
9. Vermont's Data Center Bill Is Dead. Developers Weren't Lining Up to Build One Here Anyway - Compass Vermont
10. Vermont Is Designing Simple Homes to Help Speed Construction - Seven Days
11. Lawmakers attempt to reorganize supports for unhoused Vermonters while limiting motel use - Vermont Public
12. Vermont Lawmakers Advance Limits on AI in Mental Health Care - Seven Days
13. Vermonters will vote on equal protection amendment to state constitution this fall - VT Digger
14. University of Vermont seeks taxpayer money to build 5,000-seat athletic venue - Vermont Public
15. Governor Scott establishes Vermont AI Economic Taskforce - VermontBiz

Campaign for Vermont's mission is to advocate for public policy changes by reconnecting middle-class Vermonters to their government.