Editorial Staff

Pioneer Institute Applauds Secretary Galvin’s Legislation to Subject Governor’s Office to Public Records Law, Calls for End to Legislative Exemption

/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on
LinkedIn
+

Pioneer Institute applauds Secretary of State William Galvin for filing legislation that would subject the governor’s office to the Commonwealth’s public records law.  Since 1997, Massachusetts governors have broadly interpreted the Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling in Lambert v. Judicial Nominating Council to shield themselves from releasing certain documents.  Secretary Galvin’s legislation would prohibit future governors from doing so.

Pioneer has long requested that Governor Baker formally extend his administration’s public records reform efforts to his own office through means such as an executive order or a gubernatorial memorandum.

“The Massachusetts governor’s office is the only one in the nation to claim a blanket exemption from public records laws,” said Pioneer Director of Government Transparency and COO Mary Connaughton.  “Secretary Galvin’s legislation is an important step toward a more free and open government that the Commonwealth’s citizens deserve.”

The next step in bringing transparency to state government would be to further extend applicability of the public records law to the legislature and administrative operations of the judiciary.  The law currently applies to all of state and local government except the legislature.  As with the governor’s office, broad interpretations of court rulings have led to the judiciary being exempted.

Get Updates on Our Pioneer Public Initiatives!

Related Posts:

Is the Commissioner of Education Complying with the Law?

0 Comments
/
Twenty years after the passage of the landmark Massachusetts…

Who’s Responsible for the MBTA Retirement Fund

0 Comments
/
It cannot have been a particularly merry Christmas for Stephen…

Let’s Not Waver on Testing: An Open Letter to MA Education Commissioner

0 Comments
/
In the letter below, Pioneer Institute Executive Director Jim…

Somerville police want $780 for routine personnel records

0 Comments
/
For the past several months, the Pioneer Institute and MuckRock…

Public Statement Regarding the MBTA’s Lack of Transparency

The future finances of the MBTA’s employees depend on solid…

Open Letter to the Commissioners of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission

0 Comments
/
Gaming Commission's Enhanced Ethics Code On October 24, 2013,…

Gaming the Gaming Commission’s “Enhanced Code of Ethics”?

0 Comments
/
The Boston Globe published stories on November 21st and December…

Have the MBTA’s Retirement Plans Gone Off the Rails?

Study Finds Lack of Transparency and Chronic Underfunding Among…

Boston Herald: State often keeps public in dark

0 Comments
/
Massachusetts performs dismally when it comes to government openness. Pending legislation filed by state Rep. Peter Kocot (D-Northampton) could begin to change that.

Watertown Police Department stubbornly refuses electronic public records requests

0 Comments
/
Despite repeated appeals to reason and official state guidance,…