Issue Position: Transparency

Issue Position

It is important that citizens get what they vote for when they elect a statewide leader. Recently our constituents have asked us about State Government transparency. I personally send an email newsletter each week to advise people of upcoming and current topics up for discussions and votes. This allows me to receive feedback about important matters from my district.

Sometimes it is difficult to find out what is going on even when working in the capital, especially if there are no recordings of the committee meetings. Transparency -- or the lack thereof -- impacts every issue we address in every branch of state government. It is imperative that the public have access to information.

Live streaming of committee meetings by video is now available in some of the rooms and by audio in many more. We are working to make the legislative process more accessible by eliminating anonymous bills, recording all votes, and limiting other maneuvers used to avoid transparency.

We must require more transparency in our agencies, too. For example, when a person is in state custody the state is responsible for their care. If there is mistreatment, injury, abuse or death, accurate information needs to be available to the public to serve justice. Besides prisons, this includes any agency such as the foster care system and our mental health facilities. Good government goes beyond transparency.

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