An advocacy group wants to bring Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “political revolution” to Vermont.
Vermont Acts hopes to get communities across the state to take up resolutions demanding that the state Legislature adopt comprehensive anti-corruption legislation this year.
Vermont is one of three states that doesn’t have a revolving door policy or an ethics commission, nor does the state require financial disclosure from public officials. Lawmakers can keep emails secret. There is also no provision in place to prevent officials from awarding contracts to campaign contributors.
Scott Garren, the founder of Vermont Acts, says town meeting gives Vermonters an opportunity “to make our state a leader in moving the U.S. to address and limit the impact of money on our politics and take back our government.”
Vermont Acts has set up groups in Shrewsbury, Jericho, Marlboro, Barre and Williston.
Volunteers are now collecting signatures to get the anti-corruption question on the ballot in these towns.
Garren said he doesn’t think it will be difficult to get the required 5 percent of registered voters to get the measure on the ballot.
The group has also drafted an anti-corruption bill that would establish an ethics commission, prohibit legislators from receiving donations from the industries they oversee and rein in the power of super PACs.
The group points to the state’s weak transparency laws, which don’t require certain financial disclosures from public officials or restrict movement from politics to the world of lobbying. Vermont Acts is also advocating for public financing of candidates, according to a press release.
“What we are hoping to do is encourage the Legislature, through their normal process of drafting legislation, to hold hearings and come up with legislation that makes sense for Vermont,” Garren said.
The group has teamed up with the Vermont ACLU, the Secretary of State’s office and the Campaign for Vermont to address corruption issues at a state level, Garren said.
“It’s really such a popular issue across the political spectrum,” Garren said. “There’s agreement that money is corrupting politics.”
Jim Condos, Secretary of State, says he has not been contacted by Vermont Acts.
Vermont Acts must turn in petitions to town clerks by Jan. 15 in order for the topic to be considered on Town Meeting Day on March 1.
