The political class in Massachusetts, birthplace of the American Revolution, has a rather inglorious record when it comes to practicing some of the basic tenets of the open democratic government that its18th century forebearers so eloquently preached. That was the message of a Boston Globe story last Friday, which painted a picture of a state government that operates far more secretively than most in the country.
When it comes to making the works of state government open and accessible to citizens, Massachusetts sits with a handful of other states “at the absolute bottom of the barrel,” University of Missouri journalism professor Charles Davis told the Globe. The article described how the crucial decisions on the $30.6 billion state budget approved this month were all hashed out behind closed doors among the six members of a legislative conference committee. Everything from how many aides lawmakers have on staff to their votes on some committee decisions is shielded from the public by a Legislature that sees fit to continue exempting itself from the state’s Public Records Law.
As if to prove the story’s point, on the same day the Globe story appeared, the liberal-leaning blog Blue Mass Group provided an eye-opening window into the secretive ways of Beacon Hill. The tale appears to have started with this post by Boston attorney Ted Folkman on a legal affairs blog he operates. It recounts his experience trying to obtain copies of written testimony and a list of witnesses who testified at recent Beacon Hill hearing of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Incredibly, the committee staff informed him that it does not make such information available to the public. (The hearing was on the Uniform Foreign Court Money Judgment Act, not exactly an issue that has inflamed broad passion in the land.)
Blue Mass Group co-founder David Kravitz apparently forwarded the post to House Judiciary chairman Eugene O’Flaherty asking for his comment. O’Flaherty replied with this email, defending the practice of not making publicly available written testimony that is submitted to his committee, saying public release of such submissions would have “a chilling effect” on the willingness of people to testify on sensitive subjects — even though these are people who have willingly come forth to testify at an open, public hearing. That prompted Folkman to follow-up with a direct email to O’Flaherty, who replied with a further elaboration of his position.
Give O’Flaherty credit for engaging with his critics; his rationale for the policy, however, was not particularly persuasive. Call it a case of commendable legislative transparency about its highly suspect policy of thwarting transparency in the legislative process.
–MICHAEL JONAS
BEACON HILL
The Sunday Globe reported that state’s handling of problems that arose last winter with corrosion of Big Dig light fixtures was “more secretive and sluggish” than has been suggested by Transportation Secretary Jeff Mullan. In a follow-up story today, legislators say Mullan and state officials have some more ‘splainin’ to do — though there remains a lot of good will toward the popular transportation secretary.
In an editorial, the Herald says Gov. Deval Patrick is caving to the unions on municipal health care reform.
The Springfield Republican reports on the state’s push to overhaul regulations for temp agencies.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
In a 180-degree reversal, Mayor Tom Menino plans to inform federal officials today that Boston will withdraw from the Secure Communities program unless it limits its focus to targeting immigrants who commit serious crimes. Menino says including those who commit minor offenses in the information-sharing program has stifled cooperation with police among immigrants and thereby threatens public safety.
The Swansea Recreation Commission has switched its meeting from tomorrow to Thursday and moved it to the police department so the town counsel can monitor what is becoming an increasingly fractious and tense situation between board members.
The former police chief of Salisbury, who resigned after he was accused of trading drugs for sex from women facing criminal charges, is now facing criminal charges for stealing from crime scenes, the Herald reports.
Matthew May, in an Eagle-Tribune op-ed, likens Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua to former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who is now in federal prison.
A Middleboro man who owns four Dunkin’ Donuts in town is abandoning plans to build a fifth and will donate the land to the town to ease a parking crunch at the public library.
Between retirements and other absences, Freetown’s police force could be reduced by 25 percent by the fall unless replacements and auxiliaries are found soon.
The city of Pittsfield is looking to designate its downtown as one of the state’s first “cultural districts,” the Berkshire Eagle reports.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
Treasury Secretary TIm Geithner raised the specter of Social Security checks not going out to recipients if Congress doesn’t raise the federal debt limit. The Washington Post looks back at a 1979 incident that offers a glimpse of what could happen if debt talks fail. More on debt ceiling negotiations.
Newsweek reviews The Other Barack, a book about President Obama’s father by Globe reporter Sally Jacobs.
The Springfield Republican looks at the financial disclosure reports of US Reps. Richard Neal and John Olver.
ELECTION 2012
City Year co-founder and second-time Democratic senatorial candidate Alan Khazei tells Keller@Large he is “very confident” he can beat US Sen. Scott Brown despite a gaping fundraising difference.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
The Lowell Sun reports on a Massachusetts economy that is growing fairly strongly but in an imbalanced way, with most of the growth coming in high tech, health care, and higher education.
A member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors says the growing gap between America’s rich and poor is hindering the economy’s ability to grow, WBUR reports.
Time magazine reports that housing prices may be in the tank now, but over the next 20 years real estate looks to be a fantastic long-term buy.
The Phoenix calls for restraint in redeveloping the Christian Science plaza.
EDUCATION
Tom Ashbrook hosts a discussion centered around reports that teachers and principals in the Atlanta Public Schools doctored student test papers to improve scores on standardized tests.
The Globe reports that “innovation schools,” new in-district schools that have many of the autonomies of charter schools, are beginning to catch on among Massachusetts districts.
HEALTH CARE
Former Health Connector honcho Jon Kingsdale, writing on HealthAffairs Blog, weighs in on “hypercostitis” and the efforts by state officials to control market-driven pricing. He says one way to perform a “costectomy” is the institution of global payments.Via Not Running a Hospital.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
A state report shows Massachusetts is second only to California in energy efficiency efforts, and by this time next year, utilities in the state will have tripled their budgets for efficiency programs over their 2009 levels.
Former New Hampshire US senator John Sununu, in his regular Globe column, says “fracking,” the extraction of natural gas from shale rock, is a promising avenue for our energy future — despite what some environmentalists say.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
A Norfolk Superior Court judge has ordered a Milton firefighter to turn over his cellphone records from the day he was shot allegedly by the son of a prominent Quincy developer, whose attorney is arguing the victim was on drugs when he was shot and on his way to buy more.
MEDIA
Howard Kurtz looks at some ethically questionable practices in American media in the wake of the British tabloid scandal.
HISTORY
A new Civil War guidebook issued by the group that maintains Boston’s Freedom Trail is rubbing some black history groups the wrong way, the Globe reports.
