As residents of this state we need to continue participating in the decisions our elected officials make on our behalf. Our elected officials as our representatives are accountable to our communities. We are the ones electing them to make decisions that have an impact on all of us. Recent government scandals have undermined the faith many have in our government and in our ability to work together to solve the big issues of our time. Government transparency and accountability play an important role in restoring the public’s faith in the mission and purpose of the Legislature, and government as a whole.
In an article dated on January 26th, State Representative Will Brownsberger talks about the lack of transparency in certain activities of the state Legislature. Representative Brownsberger particularly discusses the lack of transparency around how funds are spent in certain legislative accounts and about hiring patterns in the House leadership. The article rightly states how these indiscretions “obscure real recent accomplishments like pension reform, ethics reform, transportation reform, and education reform, not to mention producing a timely budget in a deep recession” that state government has accomplished recently.
We as active citizens of this state we need to continue being part of discussions and forums that address the issue of government transparency and accountability. We must reach out to our elected officials and let them know that we support initiatives that include a transparency message in them. For more information about some transparency initiatives in our state read an article Rep. Carl Sciortino wrote on the matter, visit Common Cause or read a letter to the editor in the Cambridge Chronicle where a resident asks for more transparency at the city level.
but transparentcy in the Massachusetts legislature is like putting a bell on the cat. Which of the mice in our legislature can attach the bell without being swallowed up?
Like applying all of the open meeting laws the state legislators passes to themselves. But they just seem to keep exempt themselves I guess they forgot.
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Cape Cod news link and more in case you missed it. Rep. Matt Patick, from the Cape is one of the 8 courageous legislators signing the letter – Cape Cod News listed them all.
Deserves praise, along with the other 7, who signed onto the letter demanding more transparency on Beacon Hill. Brownsberger took it a step further by giving up his vice chair position.
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p>There has been much good done on Beacon Hill and much more to be done, but the items that catch the eyes and ears of the people and the press are too often where the Lege has gone astray, unfortunately, that has happened too much recently.
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p>Amber had posted a similar item last week and I neglected to comment so I will say to both Amber and Carman, Thank You, for raising the issue and keeping the heat turned up.
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p>I also went to the Cambridge Chronicle to read the letter referenced in the post above. Very interesting, but I was also heartened to see another letter from Dan Hill who is running for the Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex Senate Seat previously held by Senator Galluccio.
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p>http://www.wickedlocal.com/cam…
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p>Mr. Hill calls to task the leadership of Beacon Hill for not doing enough for the people they represent.
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p>While I do not live in the district (Pertucelli is my Senator) I look forward to a great race over the coming months as it may serve as a preview of how candidates view the desire of the voters for more from the representatives in terms of transparency and advocacy.
and the other 7 signers to be contenders for the next BMG PAC contribution. Please put them on your list. Life would be SO MUCH EASIER if we could count on our elected officials to work for us instead of their own interest. Thanks to those Representatives for their willingness to address this issue, and for their willingness to be mice in a room full of cats. KUDOS!
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And he has perhaps the best website of any state rep I’ve seen. Plus, he was raised in Watertown, so we get to claim him!
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p>That said, his district covers Belmont, Arlington & Cambridge. His seat is probably safe enough that dropping additional money on him is not cost-effective unless we’re priming him for higher office.
Well, my state rep may not support openness and transparency, but he does show up to all of our Boy Scout meetings, and sends notes to Grandma when she turns 100, and makes nice speeches about his support for local aid, and remembers my name when I see him around town, and always remembers to send the pork back to the local district.
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p>So why should I get rid of him? So what if he votes with leadership 98% of the time, and opposes an independent redistricting commission, and always has a reason why he supports protecting the hack culture at the expense of funding for our social services?
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p>He sent my grandma a handsigned citation when she turned 100! Good enough for me!
constituents brag on the fact that their Rep or Senator is fighting the good fight against the leadership and can’t get a hand signed citation or a state road paved.