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July 28, 2010
The Massachusetts Senate voted to enact the national popular vote legislation. Once passed by other states constituting a majority in the Electoral College, the law will create a popular vote in presidential elections rather than continuing to use the state-by-state winner-take-all system that is currently the norm. The legislation, which was enacted in the Massachusetts House last week recieved final approval in the Senate this afternoon with a vote 28 to 9, now sits before Governor Deval Patrick. Click here to see how State Senators voted. Click here to see how State Representatives voted. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet.
Click here to see how State Senators voted. Click here to see how State Representatives voted. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet. July 15, 2010
After many hours of debate, the Massachusetts Senate moved the state one step closer to joining the movement to create a popular vote in presidential elections, rather than continuing to use the state-by-state winner-take-all system that is currently the norm. The legislation, which passed the Massachusetts House last month by a vote of 113 to 35, passed the Senate by a margin of 28 to 10. It must now undergo several procedural votes before it goes to the desk of Governor Deval Patrick.
Click here to see how State Senators voted. Click here to see how State Representatives voted. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet. June 25, 2010
After the Massachusetts House overwhelmingly passed the National Popular Vote legislation by 113 to 35, the Senate began debate on the bill then tabled it. It will be brought up again on July 7th. The proposal would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states, rather than the current winner-take all method used in all states but Maine and Nebraska. The National Popular Vote (H. 4156) legislation is sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Creem, Charles Murphy, Garrett Bradley, and 70 other cosponsors. During the last session, the bill passed the House by a vote of 129-37 and the Senate by a voice vote, but it did not receive a final enactment vote on the last day of the session. The proposal is backed by a coalition of groups that includes ACLU of Massachusetts, Common Cause Massachusetts, JALSA, MASSPIRG, MassVOTE, NAACP New England Area Conference, Oiste the Latino Political Organization, and the Sierra Club of Massachusetts.
Click here to write your State Senator. Click here to see how State Representatives voted. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet.
May 27, 2010
The week before the Massachusetts House is scheduled to vote on legislation to establish a national popular vote in presidential elections, Common Cause Massachusetts released a statewide poll showing overwhelming public support for the measure. The National Popular Vote bill (H. 4146) sponsored by Charles Murphy (D-Bedford), Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham), and 70 other cosponsors would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia wins the presidency, rather than the current winner-take all method used in all states but Maine and Nebraska. During the last session the National Popular Vote bill passed the Massachusetts House by a vote of 129-37 and the Senate by a voice vote, but it did not receive a final enactment vote on the last day of the session. The bill is backed by a coalition of groups that includes ACLU of Massachusetts, Common Cause Massachusetts, JALSA, MASSPIRG, MassVOTE, NAACP New England Area Conference, Oiste the Latino Political Organization, and the Sierra Club of Massachusetts.
Click here to view the poll. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet. May 27, 2010
Common Cause Massachusetts, MASSPIRG, and One Massachusetts praised last night's vote by the Massachusetts Senate approving two reforms which will set a new standard for government transparency and accountability. With unanimous votes during its budget debate, the Senate created a searchable new state budget website, making transparent much of state spending and revenue sources for all state agencies, including quasi publics. The website will allow the public, including local officials, businesses, lawmakers, citizens, and others to see where the state is investing our tax dollars. The second reform will provide greater transparency of transferable or refundable tax credit programs granted to businesses in the Commonwealth. This information would be made available on the state budget and spending website. May 6, 2010
Forty years ago, we were founded to fundamentally change the way government works. On June 12th we will mark the occasion at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. We will recount our many triumphs, commiserate over our occasional defeats, and look forward to the work that still lies ahead. It will also be an opportunity to recognize several people who have had an enduring impact on our fight -- among them, George Pillsbury who has worked tirelessly to increase civic engagement, Meg Gage who, with the Proteus Fund, has carried the movement for public financing, Phil Johnston and Andy Card who, as a bipartisan team while they were state representatives in the late 1970s and early 1980s, sponsored and propelled the legislation that has become the backbone of Massachusetts ethics laws, and activists Beth Lowd and Jerome Medalie.
Click here to purchase tickets. Click here for the online auction. April 13, 2010
As the House debates whether to allow casinos to operate in Massachusetts, Common Cause Massachusetts is supporting an amendment that would prohibit casinos, applicants for casino licenses, and their subsidiaries, executives, and other key employees from making campaign contributions to anyone running for office or to any political party. Common Cause Massachusetts is also supporting an amendment to tighten the conflict of interest provisions in the bill and another that would require that successful applications for casino licenses become public records.
Click here to read the amendments. Click here to read the bill. Click here to read a summary of the bill. Click here to write your State Representative. Click here to watch the debate live.
April 6, 2010
The Massachusetts Senate is considering two critical transparency reforms as part of the Economic Development Bill, which will be debated this Thursday. These amendments, if adopted, would allow the public to see check-book level detail of state spending by creating a searchable website detailing costs, recipients, and purposes for all appropriations. They would also allow the public to see information about development investments which include tax reductions, tax credits, subsidies, and direct grants.
Click here to write your State Senator. Click here to watch the debate live. March 8, 2010
On Tuesday, March 16th at the State House, Common Cause Massachusetts will honor 180 municipalities that have made important governance documents available on their websites. The event will occur during Sunshine Week, a national initiative of the American Society of Newspaper Editors to encourage transparent government.
Click here for more information. Click here to read the press release. Click here to read the full report.
January 26, 2010
The national non-profit Good Jobs First, in collaboration with Common Cause Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and MASSPIRG, and others, released a report examining the quality of information provided by all 50 states on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) spending. Massachusetts ranks 10th in the nation in providing detailed, user-friendly information, up from 15th and 38th in previous rankings. The Massachusetts recovery website, www.mass.gov/recovery, has steadily improved, and provides the public with a tremendous amount of information including the text of all contracts and bids.
Click here to read the report. January 12, 2010
Last July, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law comprehensive ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reform legislation. The new law increases transparency, tightens ethics rules, substantially increases penalties, and gives the Ethics Commission and other enforcement authorities more tools to detect and punish wrong-doing. To assist non-profit organizations in deciding if or how they should register as lobbyists under the new law, Common Cause Massachusetts has prepared answers to commonly asked questions.
Click here for lobbying compliance information for non-profit organizations. Click here to read more about the new ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance law. December 22, 2009
Common Cause of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and MASSPIRG, released a brief examining how Massachusetts has used its website to provide information about American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spending. In assessing the state’s progress on designing a website, the groups measured the website against the principle that it should be comprehensive and easy for an ordinary citizen to navigate. The brief found that in some areas the state is providing information in a clear and transparent manner and in others it did not.
Click here to read the brief. Click here to read the press release. Click here to read more about the coalition. December 4, 2009
Author and commentator Hendrik Hertzberg spoke at two events in the Boston area on December 7, 2009. Hertzberg, a leading voice on American politics, delivered a lecture Suffolk University in Boston and spoke at a fundraising reception at the Walker Residence in Cambridge.
Click here for pictures and more information.
Suffolk University Amenities Conference Room 73 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02111
5pm-6:30pm
Walker Residence 237 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138
7pm-9pm
November 2, 2009
A bill that all but eliminate the Electoral College and create a national popular vote in presidential elections is expected to reach the Massachusetts House before they recess in mid-November. The proposal, which has been passed in five states already, is supported by 70% of Americans.
Click here to send a letter to your legislators. Click here to view a summary of the bill. Click here to view the full text of the bill. Click here to download a factsheet. November 3, 2009
Nearly 1/6 of Massachusetts cities and towns -- including Boston -- will hold elections today for local offices. In the words of the author Louis L'Amour, "To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers."
Click here to see the list of municipalities holding elections today. Click here to find your polling place. October 7, 2009
Common Cause Massachusetts joined the Lawyer's Committee on Civil Rights Under Law, MassVote, Demos, MASSPIRG, and numerous residents in testifying in support of the Massachusetts Freedom to Vote Act, a comprehensive package of election reforms sponsored by Rep. Jay Kaufman and Sen. Jamie Eldridge. If enacted, the legislation would update existing voting laws to include Election Day registration, audits of electronic voting equipment, prohibit touchscreen voting and deceptive practices, and allow high schoolers to preregister to vote.
Click here to read the full text of the bill. Click here to ask your legislators to support the bill.
September 9, 2009
At a State House hearing this afternoon, Common Cause Massachusetts' Executive Director Pam Wilmot reiterated the organization's long-held position in support of a temporary appointment for U.S. Senate vacancies. While it is critical that the remainder of the term be filled by an individual elected by the people of the Commonwealth, it is important that continuity of representation exists in the interim. This is best accomplished through a temporary appointment while a successor is determined. Click here to read the full testimony.
July 1, 2009
This morning Governor Deval Patrick signed a sweeping ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reform bill. Common Cause Massachusetts has reviewed this legislation and endorsed it as a significant reform that will bring more transparency to government, Among many improvements, this bill will give enforcement authorities more tools to detect and punish wrong-doing. At a press conference, Common Cause Massachusetts was acknowleded by the Speaker Robert DeLeo for its input into this monumental reform.
Click here for the full-text and summary of the law.
Click here to read the Boston Globe article.
June 24, 2009
This afternoon a joint House and Senate conference committee released a compromise ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reform bill which is scheduled for a vote in both the House and Senate tomorrow. Common Cause Massachusetts has reviewed the bill and endorsed it as a significant reform that will bring more transparency to government, tighten ethics rules, substantially increase penalties, and give the Ethics Commission and other enforcement authorities more tools to detect and punish wrong-doing. Click here for the text of the bill. Click here to read about the history of this bill. June 23, 2009
Click here to see pictures from the event. June 16, 2009
Governor Patrick signed a comprehensive pension reform bill into law this afternoon after a legislative conference committee resolved differences in the House and Senate versions last week. The bill closes loopholes in the current law and will prevent many of the most significant abuses in the pension system, which have weakened public confidence in government. While the new law is an important initial step, trust will only be restored with comprehensive ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reform. June 13, 2009
June 2, 2009
The former speaker of the Massachusetts House, Sal DiMasi, was indicted for his involvement in a bid-rigging scheme. The indictment comes as a conference committee begins the process of reconciling differences in the House and Senate versions of the ethics bill that was introduced by Governor Patrick in January.
Click here to watch WGBH's coverage. Click here to read the Boston Globe's coverage. Click here to listen to WBUR's coverage. May 14, 2009
Despite several significant provisions dealing with campaign finance law, the Senate’s ethics package will hurt, rather than help, state ethics law. The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, would adversely affect the State Ethics Commission (SEC) by transferring its enforcement powers to the Division of Administrative Law Appeals (DALA), which is already overburdened and has no expertise in conflict-of-interest statues. The legislation, along with that passed by the House in March, is scheduled to go to a conference committee where final language will be drafted. May 6, 2009
At a State House hearing today the Joint Committee on Election Laws considered a reform that would dramatically change the way we elect the President of the United States. The National Popular Vote bill (H.660, S. 353) would guarantee that the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will win the Presidency, rather than the current winner-take all in all states but Maine and Nebraska.
April 30, 2009
Over 200 Massachusetts residents met at the State House to talk to their state legislators about Election Day registration as part of a ‘lobby day’ organized by a coalition that includes MassVote, Common Cause, and other advocates of electoral reform. In addition to increasing voter turnout in Massachusetts by up to 12%, the Election Day registration bill (H. 576) will ensure that no eligible citizen is turned away from the polls. To learn more about this legislation click here. March 23, 2009
In an effort to regain public trust following the resignations of several public officials since last year, the House voted to unanimously to pass ethics legislation based on Governor Patrick’s recommendations. The bill, which was on the floor for nearly eight hours, strengthens the existing laws and increases outdated penalties for violations. The Senate has already begun deliberations and vote is likely within the coming weeks, click here to ask your Senator to pass the bill. March 19, 2009
On Thursday, March 19th at the State House, Common Cause Massachusetts honored 118 municipalities that have made important governance documents available on their websites. The event occured during Sunshine Week, a national initiative of the American Society of Newspaper Editors created to encourage transparent government. For information about the event and a list of recipients, please click here. March 4, 2009
As Massachusetts prepares to receive nearly $6 billion in federal stimulus funds, Gov. Patrick has promised transparency in how the money will be spent. A new website detailing how disbursement will occur can be found at mass.gov/recovery. Additionally, legislators have created an e-mail hotline for Massachusetts residents to report stimulus waste at mass.stimwatch@gmail.com. January 21, 2009
In the new session, Common Cause Massachusetts will advocate for a national popular vote for President, comprehensive election reform (including random audits of voting equipment, early voting, Election Day registration, and penalties for deceptive practices), increased government transparency, and campaign finance reform.
Ask your legislator to cosponsor our priority legislation.
Click here to see our complete list of legislative priorities.. Janurary 6, 2009
Gov. Deval Patrick with the Public Integrity Task Force at a press conference on January 6, 2009.
Gov. Deval Patrick's task force, which included Common Cause Massachusetts Executive Director Pam Wilmot, released its report today recommending changes to state ethics and lobbying laws. The report included legislation which will be filed by Governor Patrick that expands the enforcement powers of the secretary of state, the ethics commission, and the attorney general, closes loopholes in the lobbying and ethics laws. Common Cause praised the report as ambitious and timely and vowed to lobby for swift passage by the legislature.
Tell the Temporary Committee on Ethics to address this bill immediately.
Click here for press coverage. Click here to read a summary of the report. Click here to watch the press conference. |
Massachusetts Legislature Sends National Popular Vote Bill to Governor Senate Overwhelmingly Approves National Popular Vote Senate Tables National Popular Vote Until July 7th |
