“Just saying she’s transparent is meaningless”
Governor Healey can’t have it both ways on transparency
I appeared on the GBH program Talking Politics to discuss Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s approach to transparency and public records with host Adam Reilly and Boston Globe reporter Samantha J. Gross on Friday.
Before taking office, Healey promised to honor public records requests despite the Supreme Judicial Court’s 1997 Lambert ruling, which past governors have cited to claim a total exemption from the public records law. But shortly after taking office, Healey reversed herself.
The Healey administration rejected my request for emails and text messages from the Charlie Baker administration, citing the Lambert decision. The Healey administration also rejected most of a request for other basic records from Globe reporters Gross and Matt Stout.
Despite going back on her word, Healey has insisted that she will be the most transparent governor ever.
In the GBH segment, I said that simply saying she’s transparent is meaningless. If Healey truly wants to be the most transparent governor ever, she should tell the Legislature that making her office subject to the same public records law that cities, towns, and state agencies are expected to follow is one of her top priorities. She should tell the leaders of the House and Senate that she wants a bill on her desk this legislative session.
If you want to hear me talk about public records even more, I also recently appeared on The Weed Out podcast to discuss other problems with the law. You can listen here.
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