From the Globe: A Massachusetts legislative panel
has been disbanded after failing for two years to reach an agreement on whether
to expand the public records law to cover the Legislature, judiciary, and
governor’s office.
The Special Legislative Commission
on Public Records missed its final deadline last month to file a report making
recommendations, disappointing some lawmakers and advocates for open government.
“The inability of the commission to
find common ground is an epic failure that weakens our democracy,” said Mary
Connaughton, director of government transparency for the Pioneer Institute, a
Boston think tank. “The Legislature has kicked the can down the road again, and
with it the public trust.”
Massachusetts is the only state in
the nation where the Legislature, judiciary, or governor’s office all claim to
be completely exempt from state public records laws. And even when agencies are
covered, the law is laden with exemptions that state agencies routinely cite to
deny a wide variety of records, ranging from police reports of officers caught
driving drunk to résumés for new hires.
The Legislature overhauled key
aspects of the public records law in 2016, including requiring state agencies
and municipalities to designate someone to field requests, setting new limits
on fees, and giving people the opportunity to potentially recoup legal fees if
they are forced to sue to obtain public records.
Just another example of how deadlines don't seem to matter to anyone in MA government. We should vote them all out!
ReplyDeleteoh yeah
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Ms. Robinson has to say about the lack of transparency on the hill.
And I'm almost positive that DeLeo had a hand in this not being completed.
This is one of the things that Rep. Robinson touted she would address when she was running. Let's hope she meant it.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone thinks the MA legislature is going to actually become transparent they have been drinking the cool aid too long.
ReplyDeleteI'll take a hit of that cool-aid. I still believe, we as plain old citizens can demand transparency in our state government and should get it.
ReplyDeleteThe key word in your last statement is we CAN demand....problem is they don't listen
ReplyDeletesad but true... but we can't stop demanding
ReplyDelete