Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Mushroom Farming flourishes on Beacon Hill!

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Mushroom Farming is what it is: Grown in the dark and fed a diet of manure. And it’s flourishing on Beacon Hill.

In November, little noticed, I posted Beacon Hill: Democracy dies at gambling interests’ request

Kathi-Anne Reinstein, a Revere Democrat who organized the SECRET CLOSED DOOR briefing, told the News Service the session was closed TO THE PUBLIC so state reps would “feel comfortable to ask any questions without having any type of criticism” and surely at the request of gambling interests who can make undisputed wild promises that are unsubstantiated and never be held accountable.

OTB was crammed through after secret meetings and a voice vote.

Arrogance Prevails on Beacon Hill

So why did DeLeo close the caucus to the public and the press? What is he trying to hide?

The most likely answer is that keeping serious discussions secret is the default setting on Beacon Hill. When in doubt, lock everyone out.

The practice of having its most important debates behind closed doors, and the arrogance that practice reflects, has everything to do with the Legislature’s lack of credibility with the public. It may be unfair, even inaccurate, to assume corruption thrives behind locked doors in the Statehouse, but DeLeo and his colleagues only feed that notion with their actions.

House Speaker “Slots” DeLeo has two ‘race tracks’ in his district and is conducting meetings behind closed doors with whom? The Industry?

There are many surrounding issues that require open, public and transparent discussions.

Who will pay the cost of the infrastructure required for DeLeo’s fantasy being one of the most expensive?

How is the Speaker determining what should be in the legislation? Is it being based on promises made behind closed doors?

The voters expressed their disgust at the voting booth when they sent Scott Brown to Washington.

Why the secrecy, Mr. Speaker? Something to hide?

Mr. Speaker, why do you oppose an Independent Cost Benefit Analysis that the Governor, the AG, the Mass Chiefs of Police Assn., and others support?  Are you afraid of the results?

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Comments

  1. Whatever your position on casinos (and I think mine is well known) what about acting as if Open Meeting Laws apply on Beacon Hill?

      • it was Kathi-Anne Reinstein, a Revere Democrat who said

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        …closed TO THE PUBLIC so state reps would “feel comfortable to ask any questions without having any type of criticism”

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        p>Which state reps sought office to avoid criticism?

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        p>Sounds like someone has had too much Casino KoolAid to drink and wants to give the Industry free rein to make promises and misleading statements that go unchallenged.

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        p>That’s how we got here!  

    • This doesn’t sound like a committee hearing or anything where any formal business gets done or votes taken.  I’m not sure why it needs to be closed, but nor am I that upset over a Q&A session being out of sight and off the record.

      • OTB was discussed and then a VOICE VOTE was taken.

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        p>Where was the public discussion?

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        p>How’d your Rep. vote?

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        p>Sorry, Christopher, but I’m not the only one questioning the arrogance of Beacon Hill leadership.

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        p>This secrecy leads one to believe they’re hiding something and they’re willing to formulate significant public policy without information, facts and statistics.

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        p>The only member of the THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES to ask tough questions of the Gambling Industry was Senator Tucker. The rest of the Committee sat like Bobble Heads, nodding agreement, their decisions made from lobbyists whispering in their ears.

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        p>I watched as Clyde Barrow developed amnesia about receiving money in Maine from the Industry only a few months earlier when Senator Tucker asked him a direct question. Not one of the Bobble Heads challenged his comment.

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        p>Les Bernal had to testify that the Committee had never asked the Industry about 90% of their profits originating with 10% of their patrons to prompt a member to ask Jennifer Lindler, a former/current Harrah’s employee about the statistic. She denied any knowledge! (Christina Binkley, “Winner Takes All,” page 184)

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        p>Study after study indicates comparable statistics.

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        p>Where has the public discussion taken place regarding House Speaker “Slots” DeLeo’s pending proposals?

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        p>If you don’t want the public to believe that Beacon Hill is corrupt, closed door meetings need to stop.

        • Any votes should be taken in public session.  I also think that any substantive vote such as amendments or final passage, should always be by roll call.  Any step that is part of the proper legislative process, such as hearings and markups in committee or floor debate should be open.  I understood what this diary described to be an informal optional meeting of whatever legislators cared to show up to hear from the industry people, rather than a real committee meeting.

          • gaveled to silence and denied the right to ask questions in a public forum when this issue was forced on Middleboro. There has never been an independent study of impacts or costs either in Middleboro or the state level.

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            p>That’s how the Gambling Industry works – rush it through with as little discussion as possible.

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            p>Pennsylvania voted on casino gambling at midnight on the Fourth of July.  

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            p>You may recall that Senator Spilka convened an “Educational Forum” last year that was mostly one sided.

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            p>The public will never know what was discussed in that meeting, but suggestions of corruption and secret deals will prevail when meetings are not public and the best Beacon Hill can do is Kathi-Anne Reinstein’s disclaimer:

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            …closed TO THE PUBLIC so state reps would “feel comfortable to ask any questions without having any type of criticism”

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            p>Having watched Rep. Reinstein rudely disrupt a meeting, it’s difficult to imagine that she would be averse to criticism.

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            p>NGIS found that for every $1 in tax revenue provided by gambling, the cost was $3. Where has that been discussed?

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            p>The Speaker’s district would require major, expensive infrastructure improvements. Where has that been discussed?

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            p>Closed door meetings leave a stench, regardless of intent.

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            p>

      • are working for us and not the special interests, allowing closed-door meetings is not the way to do it. If local members of the School Committee can adhere to Open Meeting laws, then so can state legislators. There should be no closed-door meetings. Period.

  2. So reps can go to their constituents and say, “well, I only would support legislation if it had x, y and z to mitigate costs and protect the arts,” so their constituents can’t get them to try to take a stance on the Speaker’s bill.

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    p>We need open meeting laws on Beacon Hill.  

    • Rep. Steve Canessa who represents a portion of Middleboro?

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      p>Taunton Gazette

      State Rep. Stephen Canessa, D-New Bedford, said he hoped Southeastern Massachusetts would be selected to host one of the resort casinos. But if Boston and a site in western Massachusetts are awarded license, he might reconsider his vote.

      “Boston gets enough. They don’t need another resort attraction,” he said.

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      p>Or making a comment about totally overinflated revenues at a non-public meeting that get quoted like this:

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      State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, said slot parlors and casinos could deliver $1 billion to state coffers, helping to fill the state’s $2.5 billion structural deficit.

  4. Politicians candid at breakfast

    Before a gathering of about 100 business professionals, Flynn publicized the dates for the highly-anticipated gambling hearings in the House of Representatives.

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    p>Rep. “Racino” Flynn attends a non-public meeting and annouced the dates of the House casino/slot hearing are April 14, 15, 16.

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    p>Scheduling hearings, but not publicly posting the dates?
    Why is this secret?

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    p>The last series of meetings were emailed directly to those with a “vested” interest, like the owner of Plainridge.

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    p>This needs to change!  

  5. Swampscott Reporter
    Posted Mar 26, 2010 @ 05:15 PM
    Swampscott – State Rep. Lori Ehrlich, who represents Swampscott, joined forces with more than two dozen lawmakers to co-sponsor House Bill 2972, titled “An Act relative to the Massachusetts Revenues and Expenditures Transparency Act.”

    This bill, which was just reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, would establish a comprehensive state budget website that makes state spending and revenue transparent.

    “Many states have already taken the lead to better inform citizens of the budget process.  Massachusetts is overdue to utilize new technology and work to increase budget efficiency and accountability,” said Ehrlich.

    The bill, filed by Representatives Jay Kaufman and Antonio Cabral and Sen. Cynthia Creem directs the Secretary of Administration and Finance to create and maintain a searchable Web site detailing the costs, recipients, and purposes for all appropriations, including contracts, grants, subcontracts, tax expenditures and other subsidies funded by the state government.

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    p>http://www.wickedlocal.com/swa…

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