As a result of a petition presented to them, the Woodstock Selectboard Tuesday night agreed to include a new election year related measure for consideration at the Woodstock Annual Town Meeting in March.
A group of Woodstock citizens has been gathering signatures via petition in recent weeks so that Woodstock voters may express their personal point of view concerning the question of “Are corporations people?” This relates to the current widespread use of “big money” to influence or direct outcomes of elections.
There was some doubt by organizers as to whether the signatures could be gathered in time – January 26th -the date the petition would have had to be complete with 140 signatures, in time for the Town Meeting Warning. But, that is now a lesser point even though Woodstock resident Chris Lloyd says the petitioners had gathered close to 70 signatures by Tuesday.
Despite not yet having the full number of signatures, Woodstock resident William Boardman presented the petition — as is — to the Selectboard, asking them to agree to place the item on the Town Meeting Ballot even without the requisite number due by January 26th. This is because the Selectboard can legally vote to simply place any particular item on the Ballot with or without a petition, although clearly there was an indication of enough interest to do so.
Boardman said the battle of the so-called “Super PACs” (Political Action Commitees) in the 2012 Republican Primary race shows corporate money has far too much influence on the electoral process. Also, says Boardman, there are currently no disclosure requirements for these large corporate donations.
The Woodstock grassroots effort is a local response to the” Citizens United” decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010, which essentially ruled that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individual people. It also means the federal government cannot put limits on corporate political campaign contributions. Critics of the Supreme Court decision say the ruling erroneously equates money with free speech, thereby allowing “big business” to have an unfair impact on elections.
Boardman commented on the 2010 ruling, ” (The) Citizens United (decision) has unleashed an amazing amount of money into the electoral process and further diminished voters’ rights and impact,” He added, “It cuts to the heart of a Democratic Republic, and if it’s not set right, it’s over.”
Selectboard member Preston Bristow said the Selectboard usually doesn’t get involved in politically divisive issues. However, he noted his personal disgust with the Super PAC process. Selectboard member Bruce Gould added that he, too, is “disgusted with how the system is being run, those who run it, and those running for office.” He said that maybe this is a chance for the town to make a statement on the matter.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing it on the Ballot,” Gould said.
The final vote was 3-1 in favor, with John Doten voting against and Bob Holt abstaining.
According to Boardman, about 45 other Vermont towns will be considering similar ballot items at their own Town Meetings. The wording on the petition is as follows. ( The language, as it will appear on the ballot, may be different but the intent is the same(:
“Whereas corporations are NOT people, and whereas money is NOT human speech, SHALL the Town of WOODSTOCK urge that all out elected representatives, take all possible actions to restore elections to the people, including an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that affirms that under our Constitution, money is not speech and corporations are not persons; and further, that upon approval of this resolution at the annual Town Meeting SHALL the town send its resolution to Vermont State and Federal representatives within thirty days of passage of this measure?”
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 