Governor forms Task Force on Public Integrity
Nov 12, 2008 13:11
It's
taken some extreme ethics problems to get action, but
finally, there's hope of some reform. Gov. Deval
Patrick has created a Task Force on Public
Integrity,
saying “We in public office are not entitled
to our positions. We are placed here by voters to
do the best we can on their behalf. And we are
expected to conduct their business honestly and
openly.” Gov. Patrick, who has chosen to
exempt himself from the Public Record Law and has
done little if anything to open the meetings of
either executive or legislative bodies to the
public, is going to need some prodding to do this
right. So far, his 12-member panel includes no
ordinary citizens (many of whom have had only too
much experience with problems in government
accountability) and is not planning to meet in
public. Suggestions can be submitted at the above
website; the first, I'd say, is to make every
meeting and record of this group fully public.
Patrick ran on a promise of transparency, accountability, ethics and civic engagement. He is constantly urging citizens to participate in their governance. Well, we participate without information. That's why I, together with Kevin McCrea and Kathleen Devine, have spent almost four years in court trying to force the Boston City Council to obey the Open Meeting Law.
Patrick ran on a promise of transparency, accountability, ethics and civic engagement. He is constantly urging citizens to participate in their governance. Well, we participate without information. That's why I, together with Kevin McCrea and Kathleen Devine, have spent almost four years in court trying to force the Boston City Council to obey the Open Meeting Law.
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