Tag Archive for: government transparency

MBTAAnalysis: A look inside the MBTA

0 Comments
/
The MBTA shuttles over a million passengers a day around Greater…

The Clock is Ticking…….

0 Comments
/
The clock is ticking towards December 30, 2017.  As part of…

An Examination of the Commonwealth Rainy Day Fund

Established in 1987, the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund has been a key component of the financial stability of Massachusetts. As of recently, it's seen spectacular growth. Why?

Installing bike and bus lanes requires public debate

The problem isn’t with the concept of bike lanes but, rather, the lack of public conversation or transparency. Municipal governments are changing the infrastructure and character of entire neighborhoods and small commercial centers with little input from those most affected.

Massachusetts Needs a Comprehensive Performance Management Framework

0 Comments
/
Many states have made promoted government efficiency and effectiveness by setting goals and tracking their progress. Massachusetts tried making a performance structure, but in 2014 it was discontinued. Today, the state lacks a comprehensive structure to track progress.

New Hampshire Tax Burden Dramatically Less than Massachusetts

0 Comments
/
New Hampshire collects less than half the amount of taxes per capita as Massachusetts. How do they do it, and which strategy produces better outcomes?

Putting in the Extra Hours: The Spike in Mass. Department of Public Health Overtime Pay during COVID-19

During the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) payroll data presented a 29.09% increase in the average employee’s overtime pay from the previous year. Pioneer wanted to dig deeper into the Department’s compensation trends to put the $5M bump in 2020 DPH overtime pay into perspective.

New Pioneer Institute Hotline Allows Public to Report Violations of Open Meeting Law

0 Comments
/
With most public meetings taking place remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pioneer Institute has unveiled an online hotline that allows members of the public to report potential violations of the Commonwealth’s and other states' Open Meeting Law.

In The Era Of COVID-19, Mass. Needs To Get Long-Term Care Right

0 Comments
/
This op-ed originally appeared in WGBH News. In much of the…

Sunshine Week 2020 – When Government Transparency Is More Important Than Ever

0 Comments
/
COVID-19 has overshadowed what was supposed to be Sunshine Week, but vigilance on behalf of open government is even more crucial during times like these, when the public has limited access. But government transparency is important at all times. Each year during Sunshine Week, Pioneer reviews some of its recent work to increase public accountability in Massachusetts government.

New Video Highlights Need for Greater Access to Public Officials’ Financial Ties

With as new animated video, Pioneer Institute aims to inform the public about barriers to accessing Massachusetts elected officials’ financial information.

Survey: MA Least Transparent State at Making State Official Financial Disclosures Public

New rankings from Pioneer Institute show that among the states that require financial disclosures of elected officials and other significant policy makers, Massachusetts is the least transparent.

A Public Transit that Neglects Its Public

0 Comments
/
Two of a community’s most important hubs are its colleges and…

Falsified Records & Shady Human Resources Policies: The Latest Scandal in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

0 Comments
/
The Office of the Medical Examiner for Massachusetts is a taxpayer-funded…

How does the Commonwealth Pay for Roads?

0 Comments
/
Maintaining, safe, efficient public infrastructure challenges…

Time to End Legislative Exemptions from Public Records & Open Meeting Laws

0 Comments
/
Under Massachusetts law, the state Legislature is not considered…

Auditing the New Transparency Law: Where are the Records Access Officers?

0 Comments
/
With the advent of the Baker administration, Massachusetts transparency…

How Legislators’ Late Session Scramble affects Government Transparency

0 Comments
/
Now that there has been sufficient time for experts and the media…

Volatility and Expansion at the MassCEC

0 Comments
/
This blog entry was edited from its original version on July…

An Open Request to the State Ethics Commission

0 Comments
/
When the State Ethics Commission was created in 1978 under Section…