Supporters
of a campaign finance reform bill are pushing to have their plan go into effect
for the 2010 election. But Governor Jim Douglas argues the bill shouldn’t apply to this year’s campaign.
Senator
Patrick Leahy says there should be restrictions on corporations that want to
spend money influencing a political campaign. Leahy says the U.S. Supreme Court decision that
allows unlimited corporate spending on elections is a bad idea.
Three donors to independent gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina have filed suit in federal court over an interpretation of Vermont’s campaign finance law issued by the office of Attorney General William Sorrell.
Anthony Pollina is striking a conciliatory tone over demands from two top state officials that he return some of the money he’s raised to his campaign donors. But some of his supporters are threatening to sue.
The Legislature is eager to pass new campaign finance rules in time for
the 2008 elections. Bob Kinzel’s guests look at the bill’s prospects. Also in the program, news analysis from VPR’s John Dillon, and we hear
from NPR’s Juan Williams. Williams was in Vermont this week to speak
to teachers for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Last month, the United States Supreme Court struck down Vermont’s Campaign Finance Law. Commentator Cheryl Hanna shares her thoughts on what’s next for Vermont’s political landscape.
Tomorrow the United States will hear arguments in Randall v. Sorrell, a case testing the constitutionality of Vermont’s campaign finance law. Commentator Cheryl Hanna shares her thoughts on what this case means for Vermont and for the nation.