Pioneer Commends MA Governor-elect Healey’s Step Toward Greater Transparency
Pioneer Institute commends Governor-elect Maura Healey for choosing not to claim a public records exemption for the governor’s office. Governor-elect Healey also pledged to support legislation that would curb exemptions claimed by the legislative and judiciary branches of state government.
Massachusetts and Michigan are the only states where the governor’s office claims to be exempt from the public records law, and Massachusetts is the only state in which the judiciary, legislature and governor’s office all claim such exemptions. The Commonwealth has repeatedly been ranked among the worst states in the nation for government transparency in this area.
Past governors claimed they are exempt citing interpretations of the Supreme Judicial Court’s 1997 ruling in Lambert v. Executive Director of the Judicial Nominating Commission, a decision Secretary of State William Galvin has called “terribly abused.”
Pioneer Institute urged previous governors to extend this reform initiative to their offices. Governor Charlie Baker proposed public records reforms but continued to claim the exemption.
“There is no better way for the governor-elect to kick off her term,” said Pioneer’s Director of Government Transparency Mary Connaughton. “Hopefully, this will mark the dawn of a new era of government transparency in the Commonwealth. Ultimately, we hope it will inspire the judiciary and legislature to follow suit and become more transparent.”
Get Updates on Our Pioneer Public Initiatives!
Related Posts:
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-Secret.jpg
1935
1807
Tom Nash
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Tom Nash2013-03-20 11:02:492013-03-20 12:10:35‘Calling out’ the Secretary of State
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Statehouse-dome-with-flag.jpg
2608
3768
Mary Connaughton
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Mary Connaughton2013-03-14 15:43:082021-11-23 10:32:27Pioneer’s Transparency Update: “Sunshine Week” Edition
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Tom Nash
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Tom Nash2013-03-13 16:02:052013-03-13 16:02:05MassDOT won’t say who’s getting a free ride
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/revolving-door.jpg
600
800
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-03-06 10:36:302013-03-06 10:36:30Revolving Door on Beacon Hill, Healthcare Edition
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/MaryFox25.jpg
400
640
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2013-02-02 09:47:572013-02-07 14:54:50Mary Z. Talks EBT Reform on Fox 25
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/GBU_cover.jpg
375
638
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2013-02-01 09:42:382021-11-23 10:30:09The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A 2013 Pioneer Institute Release
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Boston-transportation.jpg
1920
2600
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2013-01-15 01:40:312013-01-15 11:21:21Lots of art, little science in transportation plan
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Jim Stergios
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jim Stergios2013-01-11 09:05:162013-01-11 09:05:16I could support the bottle bill if…
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Jason Turesky
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Jason Turesky2013-01-04 18:28:062023-06-15 14:47:50SABIS Charter Lessons from Springfield
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2012-12-22 13:05:452013-03-22 13:11:39Medfield residents get around $2K if House GOP OKs payroll tax cut
