Lake Region students hit Montpelier

by Joseph Gresser

MONTPELIER — Iso Bock, Levi Eldridge, and Mason Phillips have to wait a few years until they’re eligible to vote, but they’re already working to make sure that when they do participate in an election it’s held of a level playing field.

The three Lake Region students traveled to the State House Friday to meet with legislators as part of their efforts to promote a bill that would keep corporations from putting money into political campaigns in Vermont.

Iso, who hails from Glover, and Mason, a Barton resident, stopped by the Chronicle’s offices Saturday afternoon to explain that they hope to undo some of the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2007 decision in the case of Citizens United v. FEC.  Levi, also from Glover, was unable to make it for the interview.

In its ruling the court struck down prohibitions on corporate “independent” spending — money that doesn’t go directly to a candidate or party.  This applied to labor unions as well.  Lower courts have extended the ruling to invalidate almost all fundraising and spending restrictions on groups that claim to be separate from candidates, many of which are today known as “super PACs.”

The court based its decision on….

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