What do these states have in common? They all rate F for transparency. Here’s the Weekly Dig’s take on this https://digboston.com/mass-house-blocks-pro-transparency-pro-democracy-proposals/ The Globe has some similar coverage, I’m sure.
Rep. Dan Cahill had the funniest quote in the article, opposing a measure that would make committee votes public information,
It went something like “COVID 19,,, mumble mumble. . . overburdened staff . . . mumble mumble. . granular data.” Or as Mel Brooks said “Gentlemen, we have to save our phony-baloney jobs!”
Please share widely!
Say it ain’t so, Joe
In other words, we are neither tech leading or progressive.
It may take another couple of years of post secondary education for the state house staff to acquire the skills needed for posting committee votes online.
We honestly need to consolidate to a 100 member unicameral. Most of the committees are joint to begin with and it’s rare the Senate and House are not in alignment. This way we could raise individuals salaries without having to raise the cost of the legislature. It should also have the cleansing effect of removing some of the dead weight from the chamber like Mr. Cahill.
Seeing as how the Supreme Court doesn’t allow different models of representation I think there is merit to unicameralism, though 100 seems low. I would say maybe keep the total at 200, but in a single chamber.
I’m down with that.