Once again, our arrogant Great and General Court and its “leadership” have slathered themselves in shame and completely abdicated their responsibility to both their members and the public. Whatever the merits of the just-passed police “reform” bill, this is just another in an endless string of shameful attempts by the House and Senate leadership, with the ovine consent of the membership, to ram an undigested and complex – and politically sensitive – bill down the throats of their members with little or no notice after months of inaction and/or months of secretive drafting.
A 129 page “reform” bill, drafted in complete secrecy by a handful of members, is unveiled to the world, and to most of the House and Senate members, less than 24 hours before the leadership intends to, and does, put it to a vote. This is after the leadership cabal has spent four full months working on it because it is so complicated and sensitive. And then their members get not-even 24 hours to read, digest, and think about all its provisions and whether or not they are good public policy. And rather than put on the brakes, they vote the way their “leadership” tells them. Kudos to those who did not go along and voted against the bill, though it is unclear whether “no” votes were on the merits or because of some principled grievance about the process and timing.
This is not representation of the citizenry in any sense of the concept. The American colonists in the 1770s had more to say about how they were taxed than the people of the Commonwealth, and most of their elected representatives, had to say about this bill, and many, many others. This is the paternalistic (and maternalistic) “leadership” deciding what is going to happen and then using every slimey and rushed tactic they can to get it to pass with few people actually reading it, never mind understanding it. Unfortunately, this is business as usual on Beacon Hill – nothing ever gets done when it should, so there is a panicked rush at the end of each term to cram legislation through the House and Senate with most members not even being able to read most of what they vote on. There actually was no rush to get this passed once a draft was ready other than the political pressure of the progressive interest groups. But alas, that is what passes for public-policy-making on Beacon Hill.
According to the Globe article above, “‘It takes courage to take a vote like this,” Representative Claire D. Cronin, an Easton Democrat and one of the chamber’s chief negotiators, said on the House floor . . . . ”
Yeah, right. It takes “courage” to try to hoodwink your colleagues and the public and ram something down their throats and not even give them a chance to read or think about what this bill contains. There’s only one reason to push this bill through so fast, and that’s because if people actually had a chance to read it and think about it, that process likely would come to a screeching halt so sober minds could reflect. (That and the upcoming Christmas holidays of course). And of course bringing an end to the constant yapping and sniping of the interested advocacy groups. Maybe some members want to be untroubled by thinking about the legislation they consider and vote on, but we think not – we ardently hope not, anyway.
The Globe further reports that “House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, referencing the push by advocates to tighten police accountability, said lawmakers had vowed to usher in change during the summer. ‘With today’s vote, the Legislature acted on its promise to ensure fairness and equality,’ the Winthrop Democrat said.”
Well, that sentiment is utter nonsense. The members, unfortunately, did what their leadership demanded. That certainly does not equate to acting on their “promise to ensure fairness and equality.” Fairness would be publicizing this draft bill, circulating it to the public and having a public comment period, and allowing the membership to review the bill themselves and hear from their constituents. THAT is representation and fairness, which is NOT what the General Court and its “leadership” regularly serve up.