“Law Enforcement Councils” exist in many states to coordinate police activities across a region. Nearby, we have the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) that includes police departments in 58 communities in Massachusetts. This article in the Bay State Examiner describes an ACLU lawsuit to obtain records of SWAT team activities, which NEMLEC refuses to supply.
Government Reform
children and families, election laws, ethics rules, insider jobs, pensions & benefits, structure and operations, transparency
An Act establishing a family and medical leave and temporary disability leave insurance program
Several constituents urged Senator Brownsberger to co-sponsor SD1853, An Act establishing a family and medical leave and temporary disability leave insurance program. The Senator has signed on to the bill as a co-sponsor. Here is more information about SD1853.
Senate Adopts New Rules, Reflecting Transparency and Openness, for 2015-16 Session
This is the earliest the rules have been adopted by the Senate since they moved to a two year session in 1995. The new rules reflect the priorities of openness and transparency for Senate business that Senate President Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) promised in his inaugural Senate address on January 7th.
Health Benefits for Public Retirees
At a recent town financial forum in Belmont, a number of residents questioned whether we should continue to promise subsidized health plans for retirees from state and local government jobs. In this post I’d like to sketch a possible response to the problem and get some feedback.
Pension Fund Transparency Update
Last week, the MBTA reached agreement with its largest union, Local 589, on a new collective bargaining agreement which includes commitments to increase transparency of the union’s pension fund. Concerns about the issue aren’t fully settled, but this is real progress and I commend the MBTA, the union’s leadership and the fund itself for these major steps towards transparency.
Health Connector Report
Ed Lyons shares a link to a new report on problems with the health connector. He sees the report as a good occasion to discuss issues of transparency, procurement reform, and public-private partnerships.