Vermont prides itself on being a small, accessible state—one where lawmakers are just a phone call or coffee shop away. But that image is colliding with a quieter reality: in Montpelier, the voices with the most access, the most consistency, and the most sway often aren’t the voters or taxpayers. They’re the full-time lobbyists, the union reps, and the well-connected organizations that know how to work the system.
Representation in Name Only
Vermonters elect legislators to represent them—but who do those legislators actually hear from? The average citizen may submit written testimony or take a day off to drive to Montpelier, but that’s no match for the power of those who show up week after week, backed by professional staff, data-driven messaging, and deep institutional relationships.
As of 2025, Vermont had almost 500 registered lobbyists—nearly three for every legislator. In just the first four months of that biennium, $3.9 million was spent on lobbying activity. The top spenders read like a who’s who of Vermont influence: the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), and the Vermont State Employees Association. But the number one spot? Green Mountain Power, which spent $1.13 million on lobbying between 2015 and 2024.
The Money Behind the Messaging
Not all lobbying is inherently bad. In theory, it helps lawmakers make informed decisions. But when the scale tips too far—when only the well-funded or well-organized are heard—it becomes something else: a system where influence is purchased or embedded, and where regular Vermonters are left out of the conversation.
Take Green Mountain Power. That $1.13 million didn’t come from investors—it came from ratepayers. Every electric bill paid by a household or business helped fund GMP’s effort to shape the laws and regulations that govern it. While some of that lobbying may have been aimed at renewable energy or rate stabilization, it’s still fair to ask: could that money have gone toward lowering rates or modernizing infrastructure instead?
It’s a textbook case of institutional power—a regulated monopoly using public necessity dollars to lobby the public’s elected officials.
The Influence That Doesn’t Show Up on a Balance Sheet
But dollars aren’t the only metric of power. In Vermont, one of the most consistently influential forces is the Vermont-National Education Association (Vermont-NEA). Their direct lobbying expenditures don’t top the charts—but their influence is undeniable.
Through its PAC—the Vermont-NEA Fund for Children & Public Education—the union has spent over $440,000 across five election cycles, backing candidates and causes that align with its goals. But its real power lies in its ability to mobilize members, occupy key seats in hearings, and shape education policy from the inside.
Vermont-NEA representatives are a fixture in the State House during education debates. They frequently testify before legislative committees, negotiate collective bargaining terms, and coordinate with aligned lawmakers behind closed doors. And when school budgets are up for vote, the union’s organizing capacity often outweighs broader public sentiment.
This isn’t just a labor issue—it’s a democracy issue. When the same organization represents the workforce, helps craft the laws, and influences the election of lawmakers, the average taxpayer or parent is no longer in the driver’s seat.
A Disappearing Public Voice
For most Vermonters, keeping track of what’s happening in Montpelier is impossible. Hearings are often scheduled with little notice. Bills are revised behind closed doors. Testimony is curated by committee chairs who decide whose voices are heard and when.
And when those committees are stacked with testimony from aligned organizations—often the same few again and again—it creates a closed loop. The legislation may be debated in public, but the real influence happened before the public even knew what was going on.
This dynamic plays out not just in education or energy, but across every policy area: housing, healthcare, taxation, environmental rules. In every case, the same theme emerges: the people footing the bill are not the ones shaping the policies.
A Government Funded by the People, But Shaped by the Few
That’s the unifying truth behind all of this. Whether it’s taxpayers underwriting public services or ratepayers funding utility operations, the burden is shared broadly—but the influence is concentrated narrowly.
It’s not just a matter of money or access. It’s a question of fairness and representation. Are lawmakers hearing from the full spectrum of Vermonters, or just from those who can afford to sit at the table full-time?
If Vermont is to live up to its ideal of responsive, representative government, it must find a way to rebalance that equation. Because right now, the system works best for those who already know how to work it—and worst for those just trying to live under it.
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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