Sign the petition to send ‘em packing!

It costs $56,000 taxpayer dollars a day to keep the Vermont legislature in session. Yesterday, for one example, the Senate and House spent that $56,000 on decriminalizing pot and ramming through an incumbent protection measure masquerading as campaign finance “reform.” Clearly, these people have too much time on their hands!

 

Please sign this petition in support H.R.28 & H.811, establishing a shorter, fixed, 90 day session for the Vermont legislature. This would save $1,000,000 in 2008 alone, and the money used to help low income Vermonters with their home heating bills.

A shorter legislative session will:

Save taxpayers money in tough budget times. It costs $56,000 a day to keep the Vermont legislature in session.

Keep our legislators focused on priority issues. No time for counterproductive partisan political theater.

Allow a more diverse cross section of Vermonters to participate. Right now, too many working people – folks who can’t afford to take 4 ½ to 6 months off of work each year -- are unfairly excluded from running for office.

Vermont Compared to Other States:

Vermont is one of only 4 of 43 states with part time legislatures that does NOT have a firm adjournment date. (Seven states have full time legislatures)

Of the 43 states that meet part-time only 6 will meet for longer than Vermont this session (assuming against the odds that Vermont does not extend its session).

Of the 5 smallest states in terms of population (similar in size to VT) the Vermont legislature meets significantly longer than the rest.

Alaska – 3 months

North Dakota – meets every other – 0 this year

South Dakota – 2 months

Wyoming – 1 month

Vermont – 4+ months

Of the past 39 years Vermont has adjourned in April in 18 of those years and has adjourned in less calendar days than this amendment called for in 5 of those years.

Click here to download a copy of the petition and flyer.  
 

Questions or comments, please contact call 802-223-3411, or email vtgop@vtgop.org.