There is a lot more to reform, but by any fair reckoning, the last four months of legislative activity have been extraordinarily productive. It didn’t have to turn out that way.
Final Ethics Reform Bill Passed Unanimously
The House voted unanimously in support of far-reaching ethics reform today. The bill included not only core ethics reforms (enhanced penalties for all forms of inappropriate gifts and self-dealing), but also enhanced regulation of lobbying and campaign political finance.
S58, Anti-human trafficking bill
Will, thank you for testifying for S58, the anti-human trafficking bill filed by Sen. Mark Montigny, and for cosponsoring the bill. Human trafficking, which is the crime of buying and selling human beings, typically into servitude or prostitution, occurs everywhere in the world (www.polarisproject.org). There are victims here in Massachusetts.
Final Ethics Bill Released — Full Text Available.
House and Senate conferees released the text of the final ethics bill that they have agreed on. The initial read from informed observers is that it is a very strong bill that more or less takes the strongest ideas from the House bill, the Senate bill and the recommendations of the Governor’s task force.
Pending Ethics Legislation
As a constituent, I appreciate the opportunity to comment here on the pending “ethics” legislation.
Devocalization of Dogs and Cats
A group of citizens who care for the rights of animals are advocating a bill to end the practice of surgical devocalization of dogs.