Vermonters are rightly proud of their state’s tradition of local, direct democracy and respect for constitutional principles. But when it comes to government accountability, Vermont still has a long, long way to go on a number of key indicators: improved open meetings laws, expanded access to public records, meaningful conflict of interest rules, candidate financial disclosures, and a state ethics commission, among others.
Because the ACLU recognizes that a truly participatory democracy requires real transparency, we are fighting to ensure that state and local officials who represent the people of Vermont are held to the highest standards.
