WickedLocal Needham reported on the scores of the Needham delegation on PM’s legislative scorecard:

Progressive Needham, a chapter of advocacy group Progressive Massachusetts, recently released a statement regarding the Progressive Mass scorecard, which grades state legislators for their actions in 2019.

The scorecard can be found at http://scorecard.progressivemass.com.

State Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham, distinguished herself by writing, cosponsoring and supporting “progressive” legislation and backing the transparency pledge, standing for votes in the senate eventually being joined by colleagues in this effort.

State Rep. Denise Garlick voted against bills rescinding corporate tax breaks and increasing oversight of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. While Garlick was lead sponsor for the Medicare for All bill in the house, her testimony left many questioning “whether she was in fact for the bill or against it.”

The Massachusetts Legislature is one of only four states in the country that exempt themselves from public records law. After a commission to address this failed, state legislators tried to change this, filing amendments to allow more time for legislators to read bills and amendments and to publish committee votes and testimony online. Garlick was actively lobbied to sign the Transparency Pledge and votes for all transparency bills. Garlick voted no, with her process related reasons including reduced efficiency of the Statehouse.

State Sen. Mike Rush, D-Needham, voted against increasing the frequency of reviewing school funding allocations, voted to weaken the Fair Share Amendment and skipped votes on both the ban of conversion therapy, gap funding for family planning and on a bill that would have tightened child welfare eligibility requirements.