A Vermont advocacy group is calling for the state to reform the reporting requirements for SuperPac spending in the state.
The Vermont Public Interest Research Group is asking legislators and the Secretary of State to make key changes in Vermont’s campaign finance law pertaining to the super-spending political action committees. Executive Director Paul Burns wants to tighten the current reporting requirements.
VPIRG is also proposing that anyone funding more than 50-percent of a SuperPac must claim responsibility and appear in all advertisements.
Vermont Republican Party Chair Jack Lindley says while some campaign finance reforms are justified, VPIRG’s proposed changes would actually restrict free speech in the state.
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos says VPIRG’s proposals should be considered seriously by the Legislature, and he is working on his own outline on what should be changed regarding disclosure.
VPIRG targeted Vermonters First in their proposal. That PAC is largely funded by Lenore Broughton of Burlington. VPIRG claims her donations equal to 60.7 percent of all of the individual contributions made to all of the Democratic and Republican statewide candidates in Vermont. Calls to the Director of Vermonters First were not returned in time for this broadcast.
