state government

The wellbeing of our communities across Massachusetts hinges on our ability to work together with our government in finding ways on how to support the public structures we have built and maintained for decades. Public education, clean water, public security, clean streets, snow and trash removal, prevention programs among many others are some public structures that we all value and seek to continue funding. These public structures are what make Massachusetts competitive.

As residents of this state we need to continue participating in the decisions our elected officials make on our behalf. Our elected officials as our representatives are accountable to our communities. We are the ones electing them to make decisions that have an impact on all of us. Recent government scandals have undermined the faith many have in our government and in our ability to work together to solve the big issues of our time. Government transparency and accountability play an important role in restoring the public’s faith in the mission and purpose of the Legislature, and government as a whole.

In an article dated on January 26th, State Representative Will Brownsberger talks about the lack of transparency in certain activities of the state Legislature. Representative Brownsberger particularly discusses the lack of transparency around how funds are spent in certain legislative accounts and about hiring patterns in the House leadership. The article rightly states how these indiscretions "obscure real recent accomplishments like pension reform, ethics reform, transportation reform, and education reform, not to mention producing a timely budget in a deep recession" that state government has accomplished recently.