Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

Please attend this two-day event if you can, and consider endorsing important related Statehouse bills S304 (campaign funding disclosure) S305 (corporate accountability) S308 (clean elections) 1577  (pay to play) On the January 20–21 anniversary of the Citizens United decision, a wide coalition of groups will stand together for GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS! From 12:30pm-1:30pm [...]

The state’s new “Open Checkbook” website is a big step forward.

In the spirit of transparency which I believe is the foundation of trust in government, I wanted to report to you about a hacking incident affecting my websites (among many others at my web hosting company, InMotion Hosting).

Hi Will — I will be honest with you, the front page Globe article on the lights in the new central artery/harbor tunnels scared the bejezus out of me. Not so much because of the thousand-pounds of lights hanging precariously over my head every time I go to the airport, but moreso the final comment of the [...]

The first substantive roll call of the new legislative session was to adopt a transparency amendment to the house rules. I had been working hard on the changes for over a year and I was grateful for the unanimous support of the leadership team and my colleagues on Thursday.

In April, the House, with leadership support, passed two big steps in the right direction on financial transparency. The Senate, during budget debate, approved roughly the same measures, making their final passage highly likely.

The House agreed last week to make important improvements in budget and tax credit transparency.

I applaud your efforts toward transparency re: state contracting. I am a bit concerned, however, re: transparency as understood by the Pioneer Institute.

I remember how shocked I was when the cable broadcasts of the House and Senate sessions were dropped, and then I checked into it and found that long before I even moved to Massachusetts, which was in 1983, the legislature had voted to exempt itself from both Open Meetings laws and the Freedom of Information [...]

This from a lifelong Democrat and continuing true believer in government spending: The heart of our problem is a sense of entitlement to spend the taxpayers’ money.

Just read this Globe article today.; A growing group of dissidents in the Massachusetts House yesterday called on Speaker Robert A. DeLeo to open the chamber’s books, allow healthy debate on all bills, and subject the Legislature to the laws that cover other elected bodies – including laws on public records, open meetings, and competitive [...]

Thank you for your efforts on behalf of a more transparent legislature. While information is essential to democracy, it is the organized participation of informed people that is necessary to achieve the political and economic reforms that will move us toward a more just society. We are fortunate to have an honest and progressive voice [...]

There is a deep and passionate conversation going among legislators right now around the issue of transparency. There is a growing group of legislators who feel that the legislature needs to change the way it manages its own business.

I’m happy to see Speaker DeLeo has responded to his house members and begun an investigation of legal fees for the ex-speaker.  But – it’s only a start.   The entire Legislative body’s spending, perks and benefits must have records open to the public.  To think they are “special” and don’t need to have the public see [...]

This post relates to a fairly technical question that has been the subject of some confusion on the House floor: Exactly what information is available to the public about spending on legislative operations?

I found myself voting in the minority — with the Republicans and a small group of Democrats — on three financial integrity issues this week.

I have been reading about the idea of having a budget transparency website where citizens can get information easily.  Apparently, there are 23 states using this system and wonder what your thoughts are on the pros and cons of this.