Committee decisions and rushing through bills prior to the opening of the nest legislative assembly are practices that have been common in the Massachusetts legislature. They, however, showcase the need for more transparency and accountability in the state’s legislature. This article published in the Milford Daily News is written by guest columnist Lincoln Anniballi. Here is an excerpt:

Government transparency and representative accountability are fundamental principles in our democracy. Since the founding of our nation, Americans have emphasized the importance of holding officials accountable and being allowed to know what’s happening behind the scenes, yet the Massachusetts State House has failed to provide adequate procedures and rules to ensure the actions of our representatives are transparent.

Massachusetts has received failing scores for its lack of openness and opaque procedures in our States House. According to a report card released by Open States, a project of the Sunlight Foundation, Massachusetts ranks 47th out of 50 for transparency and openness, yet local media and politicians have completely ignored the issue, leaving voters in the shadows once again.

From keeping committee votes secret to not giving the public enough time to review upcoming legislation, the Massachusetts House has failed to provide the people of Massachusetts with the transparency voters and citizens require in an open democratic society.

Read the full article here.