TIN:
SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ
Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2018
Open to Public
Inspection
Inspection
Name of the organization
Vermont Public Interest Research Group Inc
Employer identification number
03-0228267
03-0228267
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pt XI | Line 8 / Prior Period Adjustments: $3,986 to correct contributions receivable and prepaid expenses as of 12/31/17 based on 12/31/18 financial statement review. |
| Pt VI, Line 6 | Supporters of VPIRG who make contributions of at least $30 per year - to either VPIRG or its affiliate VPIREF - are automatically considered members. |
| Pt VI, Line 7a | Directors serve two-year terms with the membership generally electing half of the Directors each year via mail or electronic ballots. |
| Pt VI, Line 7b | Members must approve any changes to the Organization's bylaws. |
| Pt VI, Line 11b | A draft of Form 990 is reviewed by management with a copy of Form 990, in PDF format, made available to the Board prior to filing. |
| Pt VI, Line 12c | Board members are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest annually with compliance monitored by management. |
| Pt VI, Line 15a | The Executive Committee of the governing Board reviews comparability information as part of the annual salary review of all top officials. |
| Pt VI, Line 15b | See above description for Part VI, Line 15a. |
| Pt VI, Line 19 | The Organization does not release its financial statements or other governance documents. General financial information is provided annually to members. |
| Other | Part III / Line 4d - Other Programs: |
| Other | Toxics & Environmental Health - VPIRG works to protect the public health and our environment from the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals that we're exposed to every day. VPIRG aims to fundamentally reform how chemicals are regulated by encouraging the use of safer alternatives whenever possible and minimizing exposures particularly for children. For almost two years, VPIRG has fought to pass a wide-ranging toxic chemical reform bill that would, among other things have given parents clearer information about the toxic chemicals in children's products, and given Vermont's Health Commissioner greater authority to regulate a children's product if it presented a toxic threat to kids. In 2018, VPIRG finally succeeded in putting the bill on Gov. Phil Scott's desk, only to see the governor side with industry lobbyists over kids' health by vetoing the legislation. A veto override vote succeeded in the Senate but fell just four votes short of the two-thirds majority needed in the House of Representatives, laying the groundwork for a potential - and long overdue - victory on toxics in 2019. |
| Other | Elections & Government Reform - VPIRG actively supports efforts to make our democracy more open and transparent. We seek to ensure that elections are fair and balanced by reducing the undue influence of money in our political process. We continue to draw attention to the devastating impact of the Supreme Court's verdict in Citizens United and press for meaningful campaign finance reform. VPIRG and our members have been saying for years that corporate money has no place in Vermont elections, and in 2018 we got closer than ever to real action in Montpelier that would drastically reduce the influence of corporate money in our democracy. The Senate passed a VPIRG-supported bill that would ban corporate campaign contributions in Vermont, and though the bill ultimately stalled in the House, we remain committed to pushing for Vermont to join 22 other states and the federal government in banning such contributions. |
| Other | Consumer Protection - VPIRG serves as a watchdog, protecting the public interest when corporations attempt to put profits over people, and ensures that the policies and laws that we do pass to protect the public interest are, in fact, enforced. VPIRG has long supported efforts to make prescription medications affordable for all those who need them. In 2018, we backed a law that creates a process whereby certain prescription medicines could be imported into Vermont from Canada, where they cost only a fraction of what they do in the US. Vermont is the first state in the nation to pass this type of law, and we will need federal approval to implement it. Also in 2018, two VPIRG-supported digital consumer protection bills were enacted into law, marking major victories for Vermont consumers. The net neutrality law ensures the state only contract with net neutral internet service providers and lays the groundwork for even more robust net neutrality protections moving forward. The data broker law gives consumers back some control over their own data and privacy by requiring data brokers - third party companies that buy and sell individuals' personal information - to register with the state and report their opt-out practices. It also requires these companies to maintain a minimum data security standard and makes it a crime to obtain an individual's information for malicious purposes. Together, these pieces of legislation represent major wins for Vermont taxpayers, Vermont consumers and anyone who cares about preserving a fair and open internet and maintaining their security and privacy online. |
| Other | Health Care Reform - VPIRG works to reform our health care system so that it provides all Vermonters access to quality, affordable health care when they need it. For more than two years, VPIRG has joined with allies in the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance coalition in advocating for a bill to establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program in Vermont. Despite overwhelming support from working families, small businesses, and public interest advocates, the bill was vetoed in 2018. We remain committed to advancing policies that no Vermonter ever has to decide between receiving a paycheck or caring for a loved one. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4d | Other programs include Toxics & Environmental Health, 136788. 0. 0. |
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2018
Additional Data
| Software ID: | 18007482 |
| Software Version: |