Democracy
We are responding to this unprecedented moment in our nation’s history by organizing people who want to take action in response to rising authoritarianism and fascism at the federal level. We coordinate with in-state partners and national networks on timely calls to action that respond to issues of the moment. We know that a mass movement of non-compliance is necessary to hold the federal government accountable to the standards of the constitution, defend democratic norms, protect vital social programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and push back against the inhumane actions taken by the Trump administration against immigrants, trans people, and people of color.
Progressive Taxation
Due to the passage of H.R. 1 (One Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill Act), the top 1% of Vermont income-earners are set to receive an average federal tax cut of $57,000 per filer in 2026. Meanwhile, reduced federal funding for programs Vermonters rely on is putting additional pressure on Vermont families.
We are a member of Fair Share for Vermont Campaign, which is calling on legislators to pass tax reform so that the wealthiest Vermonters will pay their fair share of taxes.
Tenant Protections
RAD VT has been engaged in pro-tenant policy since 2021, when we supported a campaign for Just Cause Eviction (JCE) policy in Burlington. Between 2021 and 2025, we passed Just Cause Charter Changes in four Vermont municipalities (Burlington, Essex, Montpelier, and Winooski); unfortunately, the Vermont legislature has failed to approve them, which means that the existing no-cause policy remains in force statewide.
During the 2026 legislative session, we helped defeat H. 772, which would have made it easier to evict tenants in Vermont. We collaborate with Vermont Legal Aid, CVOEO, End Homelessness Vermont, and the VT ACLU and other organizations to protect and advance tenants’ rights.
Healthcare
After passing Act 48 in 2011, the State of Vermont failed to implement the law that was designed to establish a single-payer universal healthcare system for the state. Despite multiple attempts to ensure universal insurance coverage over the years, the state of health care in Vermont is dire: the state has the highest premiums in the nation, rural hospitals are closing, some Vermonters who saw their premiums skyrocket when the ACA premium subsidies ended in January are declining to enroll in health insurance, and cuts to Medicaid will result in even more Vermonters losing health insurance in the coming year.
We are working with an emerging coalition of unions and community organizations committed to building the power to acheive full implementation of a publicly-financed universal healthcare system in the state of Vermont in the coming years.
Climate
Vermont has been a leader in responding to climate change even as the state has suffered climate disasters in recent years. But we know there is more we can do to reduce emissions, cut energy costs for working class Vermonters, and protect our communities against future climate impacts. As a member of the Act On Climate Coalition, we work with partners like 350 Vermont, Conservation Law Foundation, Vermont Conservation Voters, and many other orgs fighting to ensure state policy is responding to this existential threat.