On the State Senate’s first day in session, a further amendment offered by State Senator Ryan C. Fattman (R – Webster) passed unanimously to increase transparency in votes taken on Beacon Hill. The Fattman amendment mandates all recorded votes taken in senate committee shall be posted online no later than 48 hours on the General Court Website.
“This amendment makes the State Senate more accountable and transparent to the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Fattman. “Votes by elected officials are sometimes lost in the darkness of night or behind closed doors of a legislative hearing. My amendment posts committee votes online so that voters are able to track how their elected officials are voting,” Fattman concluded.
The Rules of the Senate help the body of 40 to operate and govern itself over the next two years, and is the first formal debate of every legislative session. Massachusetts has consistently ranked low in government transparency laws. Most recently the Sunshine Institute graded Massachusetts state government an “F” for transparency.
“I am proud that this common sense reform of posting how we vote online had the support of both democrats and republicans,” said Fattman.
UPTON DAILY 