VPIRG's 2017-2018 Legislative Scorecard
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In May, VPIRG joined national allies from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families for a national ‘Mind the Store’ Day of VPIRG’s 2017-2018 Legislative Scorecard Action calling on Lowe’s to stop selling toxic paint strippers. VPIRG produces a scorecard of key votes at the conclusion of each legislative biennium. You To find out who represents you and can use this year’s scorecard to find out how your representatives in the Vermont House and their contact information visit Senate voted on important public interest issues including – climate solutions, energy efficien- legislature.vermont.gov/people cy, toxic chemical protections, data privacy, net neutrality and more. S.8 - Tax Transparency and Ethics Reform H.624 - Protecting Vermonters’ Voter S.289 - Net Neutrality for State Contracts This law made Vermont the first state to require Data Passed in response to the Trump tax transparency from statewide candidates. The Passed in response to inquiries from President administration’s disastrous repeal of net same legislation also created a modest state Trump’s so-called Commission on Election neutrality, this law ensures the state of Vermont ethics commission, prohibited certain “pay-to- Integrity, this law protects Vermonters sensitive only contract with net neutral internet service play” activities, and put limits on the “revolving data by preventing the state from releasing the providers. This is a win for Vermont taxpayers, door” problem where state officials turn into voter checklist to a federal agency or foreign Vermont consumers and anyone who cares lobbyists immediately after leaving office. government. about preserving a fair and open internet. The EPA estimates that nearly 60,000 VPIRG, National A victory for families, H.R.15 - Climate Commitment Resolution H.764 - Data Broker Regulations S.120 - Banning Corporate Campaign workers and over 2 million consumers are consumers and workers Introduced and voted on shortly after President This first-in-the-nation law will require data Contributions Allies Push Lowe’s exposed to methylene chloride and NMP Trump announced his intention to pull the US out brokers – third party companies that buy and For the first time ever, we succeeded in pushing from paint strippers – like those VPIRG and Amid pressure from the national “Mind the of the Paris Climate Agreement, this nonbinding sell individuals’ personal information – to register the full Senate to pass a ban on corporate to Drop Toxic Paint our national allies encouraged Lowe’s to stop Store” campaign, Lowe’s announced on May resolution condemned that action and stated the with the state and report their opt-out practices. campaign contributions. This bill stalled in the legislature’s commitment to Vermont’s stronger It also requires these companies to maintain a House this year, but we will redouble our efforts selling. 30th that it would stop selling paint removal Strippers products containing methylene chloride and climate and clean energy goals – a 50% reduction minimum data security standard and makes it next year so Vermont can join 22 other states Our press conference was part of a in carbon pollution from 1990 levels by 2028 and a crime to obtain an individual’s information for and the federal government in banning such NMP by the end of 2018. Walmart and Home 90% renewable energy (including heating and malicious purposes. Finally, this law removes the contributions. coordinated action of similar events across Last year, 31-year-old South Carolinian Drew Depot soon followed suit. transportation energy) by 2050. fees that consumers currently have to pay to put Wynne died from inhaling toxic chemicals the country aimed at delivering a clear a security freeze on their credit after a company S.285 - Amendment - Keeping our This is a measure of justice and relief for in a paint stripper he bought at Lowe’s to message: H. 196 - Paid Family & Medical Leave like Equifax experiences a breach. Unclaimed Nickels the families who have lost loved ones and a This bill would have provided up to 12 weeks of This amendment – which successfully passed the refinish his floor. Sadly, this is not an isolated Consumers in Vermont and across the U.S. major victory for the 200,000+ consumers leave time for employees needing to care for a S.197 - Medical Monitoring for Toxic Senate - changed a broader universal recycling incident. should not have to wonder if a product across the country who signed petitions new child, or 6 weeks to care for a seriously ill or Victims bill to finally end the giveaway of millions of That’s why VPIRG held a press conference available on a store shelf is going to demanding action. It speaks to the power injured loved one. Workers would contribute to This bill would have provided modest relief for dollars in unclaimed bottle deposits to the the program and receive 70% of their salary (up toxic chemical victims by making it possible beverage industry, and instead put that money this May outside of the Lowe’s Home lead to cancer, nervous system damage, of both consumers and retailers in the fight developmental disabilities, or even death – to two times the livable wage) during their time for them to seek medical monitoring – paid for to work for Vermonters. S.285 became law and Improvement store in South Burlington as towards a toxic-free future. off. H.196 passed both chambers but was vetoed by the polluting entity – so they could identify in 2019 Vermont’s unclaimed nickels will be put part of a national “Mind the Store” campaign especially when safer alternatives are readily VPIRG commends Lowe’s leadership on by Gov. Phil Scott. and treat diseases as quickly as possible. toward clean water funding. urging Lowe’s to stop selling deadly paint available. S.197 passed both the House and Senate, but methylene chloride, NMP and other toxic was vetoed by Gov. Phil Scott who sided with strippers containing methylene chloride and Speaking at the press conference, VPIRG S.103 - Toxic Chemical Reform chemicals such as phthalates in vinyl This wide-ranging toxic chemical reform bill corporations over chemical victims. N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Executive Director Paul Burns highlighted flooring and neonicotinoids in pesticides. would, among other things, have given better HOW TO READ These highly toxic chemicals – commonly the failure of the Trump administration to But this is just one victory in a sea of toxic information about children’s products that contain S.260 - Clean Water Funding found in paint strippers – are responsible protect people from dangerous toxins and the chemicals. We’ll continue to go to bat for potentially harmful toxins and have made it easier This vote was in favor of Clean Water legislation. THIS SCORECARD responsibility of retailers to fill that void. for Vermont’s Health Commissioner to regulate Specifically, it was to approve key amendments for at least four deaths in the past year, and Vermont’s families, consumers and workers a children’s product if it presents a toxic threat to offered by the Ways and Means Committee – more than 50 since 1980. Methylene chloride “We clearly cannot look to the federal by advocating for strong toxic protections in kids. The bill passed both the House and Senate which included several funding mechanisms = FOR the public interest position is linked to liver and lung cancer, as well as government to protect U.S. consumers from Montpelier and by holding our elected leaders but was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Phil Scott. designed to allow the clean water protections in 8 liver, kidney and reproductive toxicity. NMP, toxins in paint strippers or any other products. accountable in standing with the public the bill to be implemented. marketed as a safer alternative to methylene interest over the chemical industry’s interests. S.103 - Toxics Chemical Reform – Veto But in the absence of federal leadership, 8 Override S.52 - Anti-Clean Energy Amendment chloride, is very concerning for pregnant retailers like Lowe’s can make a difference The legislature attempted to override Gov. If passed, this amendment would have = AGAINST the public interest women and women of child-bearing age, as it in protecting consumers just like Lowe’s did Scott’s veto of S.103, needing a 2/3 majority vote undermined Vermont’s energy siting and has been linked to miscarriage and other fetal when it banned phthalates in vinyl flooring in both chambers to do so. The veto override planning law, Act 174, and its requirement that developmental effects. and neonicotinoids in pesticides,” Burns said. succeeded in the Senate but fell four votes short towns and regions help push towards Vermont’s Legislators were scored based on whether in the House as several legislators who voted commitment to 90% renewable energy. The or not their vote was in the public interest. for the original bill decided to flip their vote, put amendment would have functionally delayed party over the public interest, and sustain the the law’s full implementation, and made it much governor’s veto. easier for towns and regions to block renewable A = the legislator was ABSENT for the vote Since the day of action, energy projects. Abstain = the legislator abstained from H.410 - Appliance Efficiency Standards the vote these retailers have This law puts in place efficiency standards for S.135 - Retirement Security all announced they’ll appliances that aren’t currently covered by Passed as part of a broader economic N/A = the legislator was not in office at the time phase out the use of federal standards (e.g. computers and computer development bill, this legislation made Vermont of the vote monitors). The 16 standards included in this the first state to move forward with a voluntary, toxic chemicals in paint legislation will cumulatively save Vermonters state-run retirement program.