Senate Passes Election Reform Bill

The Senate on Thursday voted 37-1 to pass legislation reforming the election laws in the Commonwealth by authorizing early voting for state and federal elections and primaries, allowing residents to register to vote on Election Day and creating an online voter registration system. The bill also allows 16 and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote.

“This bill will modernize the state’s election system and bring us in line with many other states that have already successfully implemented early voting,” Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. “Supporting the right to vote should be our top priority and these changes are necessary to help us reach that goal.”

Invitation to Public Oversight Hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Service on Pension Liability

Senator Brownsberger and Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Service, issued the following invitation to a public oversight hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Service. TO:                  Community and Organizational Representatives listed in Attachment FROM:            Representative Aaron Michlewitz and Senator William N. Brownsberger, Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Service …

Lobbying/Campaign Finance/Ethics/Open Meeting Reform Law of 2009

Did you serve on the 13-member Task Force On Public Integrity that made recommendations towards the important law, An Act to Improve the Laws Relating to Ethics and Lobbying? I’m trying to find someone with specific knowledge of the text concerning the Open Meeting Law — I think that an error may have been made …

Letter regarding process of government web site development

Senator Brownsberger passed on the ideas of a constituent for improving the process by whicvh government enters into contracts for web site development. December 9, 2013     John Letchford Chief Information Officer and    Assistant Secretary Administration & Finance 1 Ashburton Place, Room 804 Boston, MA 02108  Dear Mr. Letchford,  I have recently met …

Early Voting and other election reforms (H 3772)

I’m glad to see the House passed H 3772 (Early voting) and I hope the Senate works on passing it as well. It’s about time we made it easier for people to vote — we are way behind many other states in this area. Editors note, May 23, 2014: Please see this post for information …

Retiree Health Care Benefits

One of the critical issues before the Public Service Committee this year is retiree health care benefits. We recently held a hearing on the issue which Anne Landry has summarized — see below. I will be working closely with my colleagues to study the issue over the weeks to come. I welcome your thoughts and …