So I’m reading through these new ethics proposals by house repubs and I can’t help thinking that these guys are not only stupid they’re phonies.
Stupid? yes stupid. One proposal forbids reps from contacting state agencies regarding pending contracts. For instance. If you think the MBTA commuter rail line is not living up to the terms of the contract the provider has with the T, then don’t complain to your rep when the same company is up for renewal. Instead you have to track down some faceless bureaucrat who isn’t elected and reports to some other nameless stiff. You’re on your own. The rep can’t even send a letter to the MBTA saying poor Charley Blandy had to wait and wait for a train to see the Bruins’ rolling rally.
Suppose you have a severely handicapped child that recieves state services from a company under contract. Very common. Well don’t tell your state rep how you feel about the company. He can’t say anything.
Imagine that. Make the it more secretive because Sal had a scheme.
It violates democratic principles. If you can’t call your rep who can you call. And your rep should be able to call any agency for anything. He’s the most basic elected state official. Are these repubs just trying to get out of some work. Don’t charter schools have contracts? Methadone clinics? Hey, remember that thing called the Big Dig! If only reps asked more questions about those contracts?
As for being frauds, they want lobbyists to wear name tags when in the chamber and members’ lounge. Frauds Frauds Frauds. Lobbyists and civilians are not allowed in chamber or lounge. Never have been never will be. Try getting by a court officer. Do they mean while sitting in the balcony in lobbyist’s section? Big Deal. That’s just making rules for the sake of making rules.
As for the mandatory snitch rule, well, that just ain’t me. Not how I was raised. Besides you will have people snitchin on people because they didn’t snitch. Talk about murky.
So there you go. Opportunists who act without thinking.
Here’s some ideas off the top of my head.
1. Cut leadership positions by half.
2. Let committees choose vice chairmen. That will be fun to watch
3. Have con con and raise speakers pay close to that of govs. Forbid outside jobs for speaker.
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I really never knew I had so much vomit in me until hearing mob lawyer Tony Cardinale’s media blitz preaching like Billy Graham about the evils of Whitey. Man did he make me puke.
JimC says
Monday night, first day back from vacation so I was rusty, I fantasized about screaming at my rep over the commuter rail. Screaming.
Bob Neer says
All three proposed reforms are excellent ideas. The last one is the best, however. It is no wonder so many elected officials in Massachusetts are on the take: they are paid a pittance compared to the authority they wield. Members of Parliament in Singapore, a tiny country of less than five million, get paid $166,000 per year according to this survey. That sounds about right to me.
Bob Neer says
Prepared by the World Bank. Light reading.
Patrick says
Hard hitting interviews with 2 former Bulger people in which he fawned all over them and pimped their books. They undoubtedly left the interview chastened.
Charley on the MTA says
My saga of the rolling rally is truly a sad tale that bears remembering. I’m lighting a candle right now.
(It did suck.)
Bob Neer says
If history is any guide. Then again, the T may indeed have been better in 1972 than it is now, if perhaps a bit smaller. That is a depressing thought.
bob-gardner says
after reading that post by the guy who hid behind a phony pen name and attacked the families of murder victims?
JimC says
There’s that word again. People use that way too loosely, apparently including you.
(And no, I’m not going to get into a debate about the term.)
bob-gardner says
…instead of “attacked”.
So my post would read “You still had vomit in you after reading that post by the guy who hid behind a phony pen name and smeared the families of murder victims?”
Okay?
JimC says
Let the committees choose their chairmen too. Eliminate vice chairs — what do vice chairs do?
Trickle up says
what would vice-chairs do if they were elected by their committees?
AmberPaw says
Did you know that? Here is the table of what states require: http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=15363 Pretty interesting. I didn’t know lobbyists in Massachusetts already got laminated ID cards with photos and all – so why not wear them visibly? Most schools and employers do that, and as a member of the public, being able to “spot” lobbyists when I happen to go down to the State House on an issue is something that appeals to me. Unlike professional, paid lobbyists, I don’t walk those hard terrazo floors every day.
Christopher says
I would have chairs elected by the chamber rather than appointed by the Speaker, and prohibit outside income for all legislators. As for constituent service, it would seem being able to contact a state agency (which I thought the MBTA was rather than a contractor) is at the heart of that part of a legislator’s job.