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TIP PAC Reflects On Election Results
TIP PAC Reflects On Election Results
On November 8th, 2000 -- After election returns came in, the "Take It to the People Political Action Committee" (TIP - PAC) in Burlington, Vermont was quick to look at some of the positive results from the election. Craig Bensen sent out a newsletter pointing out some of his findings. Their rejoicing came from the results in the
Vermont General Assembly, as no state-wide incumbents lost their seats in this election.
The majority of the Vermont State Representatives in the house are now against expanding homosexual rights,
Civil Unions
, and want to improve and fix the problems that exist in
Act 60 (school fund sharing), and
ACT 250 (environmental and neighbor review process). Not one anti-civil-union incumbent lost a contest Tuesday in the Senate, while 16 pro-civil-union incumbents in the house lost their seats and one senator lost his seat in the senate.
This past year, the make-up of the Vermont General Assembly was 17 democrats and 13 republicans in the senate. In the house there were 77 democrats, 67 republicans, 4 independents, and 2 progressives. Approximately 12 of the 77 democrats in the house were considered "blue dog democrats," because they frequently would vote with the republicans during the session.
According to WCAX-TV, "The makeup of the Vermont legislature has changed. Republicans were unable to capture any of the statewide offices up for grabs, but they did gain control of the Vermont House for the first time in 14 years. " The representatives in Montpelier said they knew they might be committing political suicide by voting in a bill specifically for expanding homosexual rights, and then did it anyway -- in hopes Vermonters would forget and look the other way come election time. Wrong! Vermonters made a big deal about the fact that they would remember this come election time and vote accordingly. Some incumbents were catching so much flack from their voters that they decided not to even bother running for re-election. Of those that did choose to run again, 2 House Representatives and 1 Senator lost their seats, during the primary. During the General Election 12 House Representatives and another Senator lost their seats.
One House of Representative lost his seat during the election for voting against the Civil Unions bill. Republican James McNamara, a democrat representing ward 7-5 in Burlington represents a district that has a lot of homosexuals and most people in this area are relatively liberal. As a results the majority of the people in this area are liberal and democrats.
Some Republican representatives that that voted for the civil unions bill, decided to get around the voters by running as a Republican, Democrat, and Independent. Five on these incumbents lost their seats during the general election anyway.
Starting with 2001, The make-up of the Vermont General Assembly will be 16 democrats and 14 republicans in the senate. The House will have 83 republicans, 62 democrats, 1 independent, and 4 progressives. Of the 73 democrats TIP-PAC, expects 10 - 12 to be "blue dog democrats".
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