The Senate released legislation requiring the Governor, Senate, and House of Representatives to be subject to greater transparency and make expansive records available to any person who requests them.
Transparency
Response to Auditor
Today, the state senate resolved to expeditiously provide to Auditor DiZoglio all the records she has requested.
Is the legislature productive?
In several recent contexts, I have seen unhelpful and misleading uses of bill counts as a way of measuring the legislature’s productivity.
Audit of the Legislature
I often get questions about the proposal by the Auditor to “audit” the legislature.
Public Records Reform
The Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday released the Senate’s Public Records reform bill. It is a big step forward that has pleased advocates for reform. I will be supporting the bill — transparency has been an important theme in my work. One issue that I am interested in feedback on is attorneys fees. I would also really appreciate hearing any personal experiences you have had with this issue generally.
Mass. Medical Examiners Prolonging Agony
Families facing an unexplainable death of a loved one sign up for a prolonged agony if they ask for an autopsy. It will be an entire year, on Father’s Day, for my friends who still do not know why their 20-year-old son died. It is unconscionable for a civil service to delay providing a report that should be deliverable under 90 days according to the national standard set by the Association of Medical Examiners.