My previous post concerning the party reorganization process could have been written a couple weeks earlier. That’s when the information became available. I just plain didn’t get around to it immediately because (1) other stuff got in the way and (2) I was pretty confident that no other media outlet would bother with it.
And I was right. Nobody in Vermont covered it. In fact, nobody in Vermont is covering the nuts-and-bolts of politics anymore. Party reorgs, hirings, departures, leadership changes, party finances: they’re off the agenda. No one routinely (well, really, ever) attends state party committee meetings, conventions, or big fundraising events.
You also see a lot less reporting on individual politicians’ campaign finances. Filing deadlines used to be big occasions. Back when reports were filed in person, political reporters would gather at the Secretary of State’s office to grab the reports and file stories. Everything’s digital now, so all you have to do is open up the SoS campaign finance website and hit “refresh.”
It’s a lot easier. And yet, little to no attention is paid.
The primary reason for this is the steady shrinkage in the Vermont press corps. A lot fewer reporters covering a lot more turf. Within this is the disappearance of bespoke political reporters. I can’t think of a single person in Vermont whose primary beat is “politics.” Seven Days shuttered “Fair Game” a few years ago when they ran out of old white guys to recycle. (I still think they should have scoured the national scene for an energetic young columnist and given them a little time to learn the Vermont scene. But did they listen? No. Did I expect them to? Also no.)
Also contributing to the disappearance: the widely-held view that this stuff is boring. Well, it is, especially if you don’t bring a base of expertise or take the time and effort to dig in. It’s easy to write a boilerplate story about campaign finance filings: Look at the figures for fundraising, expenditures, and cash on hand, then scan the donor list for large gifts or notable names, and voilá: You’ve satisfied your editors and earned a day’s pay with a story that nobody will read.
Political coverage doesn’t have to be boring, and it can provide insight into why things happen the way they do. It helps, a lot, if you take the time to build a body of knowledge and understand the history. It also helps if you can achieve a reasonable competence around campaign finance law, which is kind of a nightmare. (Example: the Vermont Democratic and Republican parties’ finances mostly run through federal committees and are reported to the Federal Election Commission. The Progs’ finances are entirely in-state and reported to the Vermont Secretary of State.)
Tracking the finances and activities of our parties and candidates can produce valuable insights. A few examples:
- How bad are the VTGOP’s finances, and what does it mean for the party’s ability to compete?
- Where are traditional Republican donors giving their money, if not to the VTGOP?
- Are those donors keeping their wallets closed, or are they giving to the VDP and/or Democratic candidates?
- If so, what does that mean for Democratic policies?
- The VDP made an ambitious commitment to maintaining full staffing throughout the off-year. How did that go? (Spoiler: Not well.)
- Do the Progs have a pathway to serious contendership? How are they doing?
- How are candidates spending their money? Are they spending it well?
- How is U.S. Rep. Becca Balint doing financially? Is she building a serious warchest (Only in Journalism Word alert) for a potential Senate run?
- Is Bernie Sanders fundraising as if he’s running for re-election?
That’s off the top of my head. I try to tackle some of this stuff, but my time is limited and I do try to cover state government and policymaking as well.
Vermont’s news ecosystem is in serious trouble, and this is but one symptom. Not even the most important symptom. But it’s one substantial area where we have lost what we used to have. The result: Less insight into our politics and why things happen the way they do.
The Vermont Political Observer. 
“I try to tackle some of this stuff, but my time is limited and I do try to cover state government and policymaking as well.”
I wish more would follow in your footsteps on this stuff. You know, follow the money, and where the money is coming from is a huge issue. It determines so much of our politics, federal and in all fifty states, and is why voters so often end up on the losing end of the stick.
I also appreciate the fact that you try but it is a losing battle. Vermont is not a good place . Its dominated by grifting, incompetence, ineptitude, hard and soft corruption, laziness, double standards, racist/classist shit hole where there is one rule for thee and one for me……..The classical pathology of white affluence and middle class reality.
Vermont runs on ignorance, narcissism, lies, self-satisfaction and is implacably hostile to any force that would reveal its social dynamics. This is why the economy so uncompetitive, why there is no accountability and those in positions of power usually rule arbitrarily and routinely stack the deck against anyone who is not white and wealthy and doesn’t want to conform to its norms.’ Got keep them out of Vermont less they ‘contaminate the blood and soil of ‘real’ Vermont.
The state’s role is to impose the heaviest burden possible on the those who are on the other side of the divide and to extract as much wealth as possible for the benefit of the few with the intent to make the Vermont safe for rich white people. Looking at the migration demographics and stats, its clear what the state’s policy is and its ruling class scum. Just look at what they are building in burl these days….really ugly f***king stuff that would only appeal to the empty souls of white money.
Still true…..