The Armchair Advocate
Make an Impact at the Statehouse Without Leaving Your Chair
How to Get Involved in Public Policy
You know you should be keeping up with what's going on at the Statehouse where lawmakers are considering laws that affect you, but you don't have time to visit the Statehouse regularly.
This guide will give you resources and tools to access information without leaving your desk.
But there is no substitute for the most valuable currency in public policy: your relationships. If you can't visit Montpelier, make a point of building relationships with your local lawmakers:
- Invite them to meet with you and share your concerns with them.
- Attend local legislative forums or host one yourself.
- Engage local board members, neighbors, friends and family in contacting their own legislators.
- Call or email: they like to hear from constituents when they're in Montpelier.
Call the Statehouse
Sergeant-at-ArmsFrancis Brooks
802-828-2228
- Get up-to-the minute information on committee schedules, floor activity, and other statehouse events.
- Book conference or meeting rooms (ask a legislator to co-sponsor for best results).
- Schedule the Card Room for display (call early January to schedule the following year).
- Leave a message for a legislator (or fax).
- Book a group tour of the Statehouse.
Bill Russell, Chief Legislative Counsel
802-828-2231
- Get copies of working drafts of specific bills.
- Provide background information when bills are being drafted.
802-228-2228
- Schedule testimony.
- Find out details of Committee schedule.
- Obtain background information provided to Committee by other witnesses.
- Get updates on Committee work or latest versions ("mark-ups") of bills in committee.
Steve Klein, Chief Legislative Fiscal Officer
802-828-2295
- Get financial analysis of tax or spending bills.
- Obtain budget documents during budget work.
- Access other research and analysis requested by legislators.
Representative Gaye Symington
802-828-2245
Senator Peter Shumlin
802-828-3806
The Honorable Brian Dubie
802-828-2226
Gerry Myers, Commissioner
802-828-3314
- Schedule/arrange use of Statehouse lawn for events/demonstrations.
Alice Merrill
802-828-2228
Surf for Legislative Information
The Vermont Legislature: www.leg.state.vt.us
- Look up all bills that have been introduced or search by keyword or sponsor.
- Find out the current status of a bill (its committee assignment and whether it has been voted on in either chamber).
- Find out when committees are considering testimony on specific bills.
- View Legislative Calendars for the bills for schedules of floor action, the texts of bills to be voted on in each chamber, and the texts of amendments offered in advance.
- View Legislative Journals to read what actions occurred each day, the text of amendments offered on the floor, the results of votes and details of roll call votes.
- View legislative history as far back as 1987.
- Look up biographical and contact information on your senators or representatives.
- Find the contact information for Legislative Council and other Statehouse Staff in the Legislative Directory.
- Find a list of House and Senate committee members.
- Download databases of members including emails or download pre-formatted mailing labels.
The Joint Fiscal Office: www.leg.state.vt.us/jfo
- Read or download Fi$cal Fact$ for background information on Vermont's fiscal and budget information, where revenues come from, and where the money is spent.
- Get up-to-date information on health care financing, the State's budget environment, revenue projections, monthly revenue projections vs. actual collections, and more.
- Link to budget documents including spreadsheets and appropriations bills dating from FY 2005 to FY 2001.
- Access a variety of special reports with money implications.
The Agency of Administration, Office of Finance & Management: www.state.vt.us/fin
- Link to key budget documents including Executive Budget Recommendations (known as the "governor's proposed"), monthly revenue projections, and a summary of how the state budget process works.
The Vermont Secretary of State: www.vermont-elections.org or www.sec.state.vt.us
- Download databases of elected officials
- View listings and biographies of elected and appointed officials in State government, up-to-date elections results, and guides to civil and municipal government.
- Find about about elections in Vermont and campaign finance rules.
- Learn about Vermont's lobbyist registration and disclosure law and look up information about registered lobbyists.
The State of Vermont: www.vermont.gov
- Vermont's comprehensive portal of government information including links to all state agencies, a searchable directory of state employees, the governor's schedule and press releases, and more.
Contact staff assigned to specific commitees, bills, or policy areas
See www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/staff.cfm for complete listing of phone numbers and email addresses.
Standing Committees of the House and Senate.
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2007 Legislative Council (LC) and Joint Fiscal Offices (JFO)
Staff Assignments by Major Subject |
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Major Subjects
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Committees of Jurisdiction
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Staff Assigned
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| Agriculture Dairy price policy Farm labor Agriculture policy Current use tax |
House Agriculture Senate Agriculture |
Sam Burr (LC) |
| Appropriations | House Appropriations Senate Appropriations Joint Fiscal Committee |
Maria Belliveau (JFO) Stephanie Barrett (JFO) Bill Russell (LC) |
| Commerce Business Organizations Banking Insurance Securities regulation Corporations Utilities regulation |
House Commerce Senate Finance |
Sam Burr (LC) Cassandra Edson (LC) |
| Capital construction School construction Corrections construction State buildings |
House Institutions Senate Institutions |
Anne Winchester (LC) Catherine Benham (JFO) Donna Russo-Savage (LC) |
| Corrections policy | House Judiciary Senate Judiciary House Institutions Senate Institutions Joint Committee on Corrections Oversight |
Michele Childs (LC) Erik Fitzpatrick (LC) |
| Economic development Community development Housing Tourism and marketing Tax credits and incentives |
House General, Housing and Military Affairs Senate Economic Debelopment, Housing and General Affairs |
Meredith Sumner (LC) Sam Burr (LC) Emily Bergquist (LC) |
| Education School districts School governance Education policy |
House Education Senate Education |
Donna Russo-Savage (LC) Anne Winchester (LC) Catherine Benham (JFO) Mark Perrault (JFO) |
| Education finance | House Ways and Means Senate Finance |
Emily Bergquist(LC) Mark Perrault (JFO) |
| Energy Energy policy Energy conservation |
House Natural Resources and Energy Senate Natural Resources and Energy Joint Enerrgy Committee |
Al Boright (LC) Sam Burr (LC) |
| Fish and Wildlife Hunting Fishing |
House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources| Michael O'Grady (LC) |
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| Government operations Elections Local government Campaign finance Administrative rules Government organization Public records access |
House Government Operations Senate Government Operations Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules |
Brian Leven (LC) Michael O'Grady (LC) |
| Health Health care reform Health policy Mental health Medicaid |
House Health Care Senate Health and Welfare Health Access Oversight Mental Health Oversight Commission on Health Care Reform |
Maria Royle (LC) Nolan Langweil (JFO) Don Dickey (JFO) Stephanie Barrett (JFO) |
| Human services Economic assistance programs Welfare TANF |
House Human Services Senate Health and Welfare |
Maria Royle (LC) Cassandra Edson (LC) |
| Judiciary Courts Crimes Criminal and civil procedure Family Law Estates Property Torts Juvenile proceedings Corrections policy Judicial rules review Judges appointment and retention |
House Judiciary Senate Judiciary Joint Committee on Judicial Retention Joint Committee on Judicial Rules |
Erik Fitzpatrick (LC) Michele Childs (LC) |
| Labor Fair labor laws Workers' compensation Unemployment compensation Employment training |
House General, Housing and Military Affairs Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs |
Meredith Sumner (LC) Sam Burr (LC) |
| Natural resources Air quality Land use Water quality |
House natural Resources and Energy Senate Natural Resources and Energy |
Al Boright (LC) Michael O'Grady (LC) |
| Rules and process House and Senate rules Joint rules Parliamentary procedures |
House Rules Senate Rules Joint Rules |
Don Milne (House Clerk) David Gibson (Senate Secretary) Bill Russell (LC) |
| Sins (but not crimes Gambling Alcohol Tobacco Lottery |
House General, Housing and Military Affairs Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs |
Meredith Sumner (LC) |
| Taxation Property Tax Education property tax Income tax; personal, corporate Sales tax Meals and Rooms tax Misc. other taxes Fees |
House Ways and Means Senate Finance |
Emily Bergquist (LC) Mark Perrault (JFO) Sara Teachout (JFO) |
| Transportation Highways and Bridges Transportation budget Motor vehicles Rail Airports |
House Transportaion Senate Transportation Joint Transportation |
Michael Slater (LC) Neil Schickner (JFO) |
Contact Representatives About the Budget
In each appropriation committee, members are assigned areas of the budget for which they are reponsible. If you have an interest in a particular area, these are the people to contact.
See the State Legislative Directory for a complete listing of phone numbers and email addresses for House and Senate members.
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House Appropriations Committee - Reporting Assignments
FY 2008 Appropriations Bill |
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Appropriation section
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Committee Reporter
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INTRODUCTION | Martha Heath |
GENERAL GOVERNMENT |
Jim Hutchinson |
GIS |
John Morley |
Lottery Commission |
Donald Bostic |
PROTECTION TO PERSONS |
Jim Hutchinson |
Criminal Justice Training Council |
Joe Acinapura |
Secretary of State |
Kathleen Keenan |
Agriculture, Food & Markets |
Mitzi Johnson |
Public Service Dept. |
Kathleen Keenan |
HUMAN SERVICES |
Peter Hunt |
Health |
Mitzi Johnson |
Children & Families |
Alice Miller |
Aid to aged, blind, and disabled |
Mark Larson |
Aging & Independent Living |
Peter Hunt |
Corrections |
Joe Acinapura |
LABOR DEPARTMENT |
Kathleen Keenan |
EDUCATION |
Alice Miller |
NATURAL RESOURCES |
John Morley |
Agency: |
Robert Helm |
COMMERCE & COMMUNITY |
Donald Bostic |
TRANSPORTATION |
Robert Helm |
DEBT SERVICE |
Martha Heath |
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Senate Appropriations Committee - Reporting Assignments
FY 2008 Appropriations Bill |
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Appropriation section
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Committee Reporter
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INTRODUCTION PROTECTION (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice) DEBT SERVICE BACK OF BILL SECTIONS PROTECTION REGULATIONS COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT |
Susan Bartlett Chair |
Office of Vermont Health Access (OVHA) |
Jane Kitchell Vice Chair |
AHS SECRETARY'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CHILDREN & FAMILIES |
Diane Snelling |
Office of Vermont Health Access (OVHA) AGING & INDEPENDENT LIVING CORRECTIONS PROTECTION LE/CJ OTHER |
Richard Sears |
EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT |
Hinda Miller |
GENERAL GOVERNMENT LABOR & INDUSTRY - DET PROTECTION REGULATIONS |
Vincent Illuzzi |
NATURAL RESOURCES TRANSPORTATION |
Peter Shumlin |
Surf for Nonprofit Advocacy Information
The bottom line is that nonprofits can and should lobby for their causes. Learn more about what you can and cannot do at these sites.
NP Action: www.npaction.org
Comprehensive information on rules and regulations governing nonprofit lobbying, advocacy techniques, electoral advocacy, and more.
Snelling Center for Government www.snellingcenter.org
The Snelling Center for Government is a non-partisan, non-profit corporation. Established in 1992 in memory of Governor Richard A. Snelling, the Snelling Center is committed to his vision of government that works for the people of Vermont. In keeping with this vision, the mission of the Snelling Center is to foster responsible and ethical leadership, encourage public service by private citizens, and promote informed citizen participation in shaping public policy in Vermont.
Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest: www.clpi.org
Comprehensive information about charitable nonprofits and lobbying.
Alliance for Justice: www.afj.org
Information about the laws of nonprofit lobbying, with special attention to the relationships between 501(c)(3)nonprofits and 501(c)(4) and PAC structures, as well as nonprofit electoral advocacy.
Woodbury College offers degree and certificate programs in advocacy. This program combines topics in law, community studies, communication, and conflict resolution. Students in this major learn how to protect and advance legal and human rights through persuasion, legal and administrative process and argument, networking, and consensus building.
Sources of information for this guide include the websites noted above. Current information on staff assignments was obtained from the New Legislator Orientation sponsored by the Vermont Legislative Council, Joint Fiscal Office, and The Snelling Center for Government. Staffing information is subject to change.
The Armchair Advocate was adapted from materials originally developed by Katherine Long for the Vermont Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (VANPO), and adapted by Public Assets Institute in 2007.