Lege votes to continue business as usual

I would be interested to know... (0.00 / 0)

...who voted FOR the internet posting, but against the preferential treatment?  It looks like one vote changed between the tow.

(Unless somebody just went to lunch, and somebody else came in...)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 11:41:36 AM CST

Looks like Hynes. (0.00 / 0)

My reading of the roll call is that all the Repubs voted yes on both and then Hynes joined them on the Internet posting. Right?

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by: theloquaciousliberal @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:25:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Frank rocks!!!! (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:49:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

blech is right (0.00 / 0)

I went to an education hearing last year.  There were a few hundred black parents, mostly black and Hispanic moms, in the gallery, with a few hoping to testify. 

Streams of Reps and Senators came in, though, taking their "automatic" slots.  The day went by, hour after hour....many parents kind of squirming, bumped, not sure what to do (there was no way to predict how many electeds would come in), and finally leaving to pick up their kids from school.  Most just wanted to hear a single parent speak so they could feel, collectively, "heard." 

To their credit, chairs Antonioni and Haddad were sensitive to the situation, promised that they'd stay as long as it took.  And they lived up to their promise.  You could tell they wanted to actually hear testimony, not just canned remarks of electeds. 

When a parent finally got the mic -- maybe 4 or 5 hours into the hearing? -- the crowd roared in appreciation. 

Question: can electeds just drop off prepared remarks and have them inserted into the record, instead of needing to bump citizens? 

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by: GoldsteinGoneWild @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 12:07:24 PM CST

Yes. But if they just drop off the remarks - they don't make it into the papers. (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 12:21:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

but realistically (0.00 / 0)

when was the last time a state rep made the papers for a comment during a typical lege hearing? 

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by: GoldsteinGoneWild @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 18:40:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

a good legislator (6.00 / 2)

would find their constituents waiting to testify and chaparrone them to the mic.  just my little peon opinion.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

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by: Laurel @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:31:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I remember, fondly, one legislator who did just that (0.00 / 0)

It was the hearing on H4321 [really was the number] that sought to provide the first change to the rate for court appointed attorneys.  Rep. Edward Connelly, since deseased, rose to take the mike, ahead of everyone, and then with a grin, yeilded the floor to a court appointed attorney!  I  miss Rep. Connolly.

Deborah Sirotkin Butler
AmberPaw dot @aol.com

"Failure to plan is planning to fail."
Proverb

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by: AmberPaw @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 18:55:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I sent an e-mail to town on-line (0.00 / 0)

Looks like Bob Katzen does the roll call for each local rep.  for the Town Online newspapers.  I asked for the entire roll.  I'll post if I get it.

But, methinks the 20 or 19 is from the PP side of the aisle.

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

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by: johnk @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 12:46:03 PM CST

That's my guess too. (0.00 / 0)

Which speaks to the general problem we face, don't you think?

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by: David @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 13:05:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Agreed .... Got the roll call (6.00 / 1)

roll call pdf file

Listening to Charlie Baker talk about fiscal responsibility is like getting lectured on abstinence from Paris Hilton - Tim Murray

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by: johnk @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:12:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hynes? (0.00 / 0)

Hynes was the only Dem to support either of these efforts (which the Speaker obvioulsy "encouraged" all Dems to vote against)?  Anyone know why?  Does he have history of ignoring the leadership.

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by: theloquaciousliberal @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:23:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Not a history of IGNORING... (0.00 / 0)

...but a history of being fair minded and a hard worker.

I agree with Laurel about the Legislator Escort thing - it's done often if the legislator notices them - even if it does come off like cutting into line.

The rationale for the in/out is a legislator might wish to tesify, but also has his/her own committee hearing being held in B-2, so runs to A-1, testifies and takes off back to the other.  Also, if there are Formals, EVERYBODY may be running in and out (which is why those underpaid Chiefs of Staff are so important, as THEY are the only ones who are sure to stay for the whole thing!).  No question it is abused, but that may be why Rep. Hynes voted against changing the right to have cuts, while voting to post votes online.

His heart is in the right place.

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 15:55:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Holy Toledo. (6.00 / 1)

Looks like the GOoPers were unanimously in favor of these changes, and the Dems were unanimously (with one exception -- Hynes voted for the website disclosure) against.

That's really horrifying.

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by: David @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:29:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Any Way to Find Out Who Proposed the New Rule? (6.00 / 2)

I mean the rule proposing posting the roll call votes on the website.  I am assuming it was one of the same 20 who voted for it.  It is when stuff like this happens that I wonder why I am a member of the Democratic Party here in Massachusetts.  What are these people afraid of, and if they are afraid, doesn't that say something about who we have as our legislators?

As for rejection of the second proposed rule, I am just speechless by the arrogance. 

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by: TheOpenSociety @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 13:37:42 PM CST

Saw the same news in the local paper last night (6.00 / 2)

I was especially bothered by the attitude that it was OK to make people drive into Boston to research committee votes. and was vaguely troubled that I'd seen this attitude before.  This morning I remembered where I'd heard it....

This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council.  As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of he Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system.  The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes...There's no point in acting all surprised about it.  All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it now.

Its sad when our legislature takes its cues from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

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by: jcsinclair @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:27:49 PM CST

Yes (0.00 / 0)

This is exactly what I thought of when I blogged about this last week.  I was wondering if they keep the records in a disused lavetory with a sign that says "beware of the leopard."

The Dem leadership was obviously against this and legislators did not think it was important enough to buck them.

.08 Acres
.0000016% of Massachusetts Political Commentary

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by: sco @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 14:41:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There ARE Vogons running things, to be sure (0.00 / 0)

One "Commission" I was following and attending whenever I could [and trying to arrange coverage when I could not] only posted its "open meetings" initially on the fourth floor of the State House, on the wall across from a men's lavoratory.  No, I am not kidding.

Deborah Sirotkin Butler
AmberPaw dot @aol.com

"Failure to plan is planning to fail."
Proverb

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by: AmberPaw @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 18:58:41 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Time to write letters (6.00 / 1)

This is outrageous. I'm contacting my State Rep, are you?

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by: Marcus Graly @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 15:16:12 PM CST

hmmm...but he already knows me...may do more harm than good.... (6.00 / 1)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 15:57:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Sunshine Week March 11-17 (5.00 / 1)

It is a little ironic that the Massachusetts legislature voted against an open government provision two weeks before the start of Sunshine Week.  Sunshine Week is an annual national event that focuses on the importance of open government and freedom of information.  Guess we will not be seeing the Massachusetts legislature listed on the project's "Bright Ideas for Sunshine Week" list. (Scroll down the page.) 

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by: TheOpenSociety @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 18:00:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Open Government means bring back cable and more (0.00 / 0)

Remember, "gavel to gavel" television coverage was allowed to die.  No more televised State House coverage.

I do not see a legion of citizens with digital video recorders - but that is about what it would take.  I think, too, that recorders would be excluded by some committees.  A friend had that experience.

SUNSHINE is going to take a herd of frogs hopping all over, I think.

Deborah Sirotkin Butler
AmberPaw dot @aol.com

"Failure to plan is planning to fail."
Proverb

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by: AmberPaw @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 19:00:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What's the big deal? (5.00 / 1)

Has anyone who has posted in this section actually read the rules of the MA Legislature? Being a little nerdy, I have and they are quite thorough and actually all.ow for a very open process.

If one goes on the legislative home page - you can access The Rules of the House and Senate as well as their Calendars and Journals (which have links to roll calls) and it seems that the clerks are also posting notice of executive hearings there as well.

So, I find it quite amusing that so many of my fellow Dems in this section are siding with the Republican Leader Brad Jones in this matter but have found him appalling in other sections when he criticizes the Governor.

During the debate on rules which I actually had a chance to see while I was in work (due only to the House webcasting) It looked like mostly all of the republican amendments were rejected and to me that's a good thing...I would imagine DiMasi and Travaglini don't need the Republican minority blocking the Governor's priorities through rules changes that would have assisted them in doing just that....

Do you think that the Gov's tax loophole bill will be given a fair shake by Brad and his little gang of GOPr's?

I recall people on this site marveling how wonderful Barney Frank was when he presided in the Congress during the debate over minimum wage (there was an actually a link from You Tube) We all applauded when Barney Frank cut off the Republicans, we thought it was great that there was a rule attached to the bill that allowed no amendments to a bill on the floor and limited debate. A little hypocritical, don't you think?

Let's not gang up on our own?Remember the Legislature is Democratic. It was OUR Democratic Legislators who have approved increases in the minimum wage, landmark health care reform, stem cell research, emergency contraception and defeated the death penalty.

Should we give Brad Jones the tools necessary to block these achievements? I don't think so.

The process is very open...one just has to take a proactive approach to know what happens up on Beacon Hill.

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by: Capital D @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 20:05:28 PM CST

This Is About Making the Process More Open (6.00 / 2)

which the people who call themselves Democrats should be for.  Apparently they are not.  As for the Massachusetts legislature's website... it is really an embarrassment when you compare it to legislative websites in other states.  Take a look at the one for Virginia. 

The process in the Massachusetts legislature is actually not very open.  It should be Democrats who are proposing to make it more open; they are not.  They do not get a pass on this one because they voted for things all Democrats should support. Oh, as for the death penalty, it was defeated by one vote... cast by then Rep. John Slattery, so I do not think the Democrats in the legislature at the time can take credit for that one. 

By the way, how can Brad Jones possibly block anything that the Democrats are doing in the legislature by making the process more open? I really would like to know the answer.  I think it is more likely that the Governor's proposals will be blocked by Democrats who do not want the grassroots to know who they are. 
 

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by: TheOpenSociety @ Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 23:31:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]