Vermont
Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.
The aldermen have agreed to put a $4.75 million bond question for the Community Center @ Giorgetti Park on the Town Meeting Day ballot, but also have told members of the recreation staff other capital improvements included in their regular budget will have to wait for better economic times. The Recreation Committee shaved about $32,500 off the city’s $1.9 million Recreation and Parks Department proposal last week, as nightly City Hall budget meetings continued this week. The aldermen are charged with finalizing a budget for the voters, to be warned on the March ballot, by Dec. 31.
Voters in South Burlington will cast their ballots today to decide whether to tap federal funding to help clean up streams damaged by polluted storm water. f the measure passes, $700,000 in bonds would help five housing developments in town pay for measures to reduce erosion caused by runoff from roads and driveways. Residents can cast their ballot at tonight’s City Council meeting, which starts at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
A handful of residents for Ira and surrounding towns met to discuss their concerns about Vermont Community Wind Farm’s efforts to put as many as 60 wind turbines in and around the town of 460.
You have no statewide Initiative & Referendum rights.
Poll:
See the results of a poll on support for statewide initiative & referendum here.
Grade: D
Click here to view Vermont’s individual report in Of the People, By the People, For the People: A 2010 Report Card on Statewide Voter Initiative Rights.
Winston Allen Flint, writing in The Progressive Movement in Vermont,
noted that “no serious attempt was ever made in Vermont” to get a
statewide initiative process: “There is little evidence to show that it was
given any important recognition in Vermont by party platforms, legislators,
press, or public opinion. “
Amendment of the Constitution
Section 72. Amending constitution
At the biennial session of the General Assembly of this State which
convenes in A.D. 1975, and at the biennial session convening every fourth
year thereafter, the Senate by a vote of two-thirds of its members, may
propose amendments to this Constitution, with the concurrence of a
majority of the members of the House of Representatives with the
amendment as proposed by the Senate. A proposed amendment so
adopted by the Senate and concurred in by the House of
BY WINNING a clear victory in a referendum on Sunday February 15th the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, has succeeded in removing constitutional limits to his indefinite re-election. The president, who has governed the country since 1999, immediately declared, to a crowd of cheering supporters at the presidential palace, that “this soldier is a pre-candidate for the presidency, for the period 2013-19”.