Monthly Archives: January 2012

The Vermont campaign for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling is making a big splash

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Thanks to the great work of many activists and lawmakers, the Vermont campaign for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling is making a big splash.

Events were held last week in Burlington, Montpelier, Norwich, Rutland and South Royalton to mark the second anniversary of the disastrous ruling. Numerous lawmakers, including state Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell, joined in a press conference about the state resolution calling for an amendment, while others joined in a rally. It looks as though there is momentum for a state resolution in the Senate as well.

These events were covered by the Associated Press and The American Prospect nationally, by VTDigger.org, the Times Argus, NCPR, The Burlington Free-Press, WAMC, Ch. 17 and other media outlets. Check out the one-minute video featuring many of the different anniversary actions.

Congratulations to the 26 towns that have hit their signature goals to get the resolution on the ballot!

The following towns are still working, so if you are nearby or have friends who want to help restore democracy to the people, this is the last chance to help them meet their goals!

Barre: Heather Pipino, bettypageturner@gmail.com, 595-1671

Bennington: Claude DeLucia
Braintree & Brookfield 1: Jeff Tolbert, prahna@gmail.com, 234-1117
Bristol: Carol Clauss, 802-453-5655
Colchester: Betty Molnar, molnarbetty3@gmail.com

Dover : Edie Mas
East Montpelier: Paul Erlbaum, garlicmountain@gmail.com
East Montpelier: Dave Grundy, ddgrundy@comcast.net, 476-4300
Essex/Essex Junction: Seamus Walsh, seamus.walsh@me.com, 802-922-6943

Fairfield: Michael Dodge, michaeldodge@surfglobal.net
Fletcher: Todd Pritsky, ntoddp@gmail.com, 802-238-3436
Hartford: Chris Hoffman, chris.c.hoffman@gmail.com
Hartland: Gail Holmes gailholmes@vermontel.net, 802-436-1246

Jericho: Bill Butler, naturemyth@aol.com, 899-2088
Middletown Springs: David Wright
Middletown Springs: Maureen McCormack, moe@vermontel.net
Pittsfield: George Simpson, geonorth2@myfairpoint.net
Plainfield: Amy Lester, lester1142@gmail.com, 802-272-3602

Putney: Jacquie & Steve Walker
Randolph: Jeff Tolbert, prahna@gmail.com,234-1117
Rochester: Jeff Gephart, jmgephart@gmail.com
Sharon: Ulrike von Moltke, uvmoltke@gmail.com

Springfield: Chuck Gregory, charlesgregory@me.com
Stamford: Joseph Tracy, brook7@sover.net
Walden & Woodbury: Anne Hanson, peacekingdom@vtlink.net, 586-8065
Waltham: Don Ross, dross@uvm.edu

Westford: Tina Scanlon, tinabscanlon@yahoo.com
Westminister West: Jacquie & Steve Walker
Willmington: Edie Mas
Windham : Malcolm Hood, mhood@gmail.com, 802-874-8120

Windsor: Bess KlassenLandis
Winooski: Robert Millar, robertbmillar@gmail.com
Woodstock: Bill Boardman, panthers007@comcast.net, 802-457-1782
Worcester: Dell Waterhouse, delle@sover.net, 229-4886

These towns have a resolution on the ballot/warning or have exceeded the 5% signature-collection goal: Bolton, Brattleboro, Burlington, Calais, Charlotte, Craftsbury, Fayston, Gainsville, Greensboro, Hinesburg, Marlboro, Marshfield, Monkton, Montgomery, Montpelier, Moretown, Norwich, Richmond, Ripton, Rutland city and town, Shrewsbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Williamstown and Williston.

Best,

Aquene Freechild,
Democracy Is For People campaign team, Public Citizen

In partnership with Vermonters Say Corporations Are Not People
202-588-7752 (office)
617-378-2579 (mobile)
DemocracyIsForPeople.org

CORPORATE PERSONHOOD, ELECTORAL TRANSPARENCY, and A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

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Let’s talk about it.
    Legislative Evening at The Library 
w/ representatives Bill Frank & George Till
 Tues. Jan. 10, 6:30 @ Rawson Memorial Library, Jericho, VT
Corporate personhood is the shorthand reference to the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs Federal Electoral Commission.
This decision, issued two years ago, has opened the floodgates to a tidal wave of undisclosed campaign contributions by large donors and special interest groups.
Bill Butler, of Jericho, will introduce the subject and describe how Vermonters can play a leading role in the creation of a Constitutional Amendment that rescinds the Citizens United decision and affirms the right of individual citizens to an election and law making process that is free from the corrupting influence of special interest money.
Across Vermont, petitions are being circulated to bring this issue to a vote on Town Meeting Day. Voters will be asked if they want a Constitutional Amendment . Petitions for the individual towns of Bolton, Jericho, and Underhill will be available for signing and distribution. Other nearby towns will also have petitions available at the meeting.
Bill has requested that people interested in this topic should educate themselves as fully as possible about the subject. A suggested reading & listening list follows:
1. Begin by reading evaluations of the CU decision by people whose opinions you trust. The opinion itself is very long & convoluted, but definitely worth reading,
    particularly the dissent by Justice Stevens.
2. Read the Constitution.
3. Listen to Vermont Edition (VPR, 11/28/2011).
On that program, MoveToAmend founder David Cobb, and Ben & Jerry discuss the need for an amendment and how to get it started.
4. Listen to On Point (NPR, 1,2,2012).
Tom Ashbrook interviews Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig,  author of “Republic Lost, How Money Corrupts Congress.”
5. Check out the Vermont website about this effort- vermonterssaycorporationsarenotpeople.org
6. Read Sen. Sanders’ proposed Constitutional Amendment by going to his website.