Back in January (remember January?), the MA House delayed consideration of a rules package for the new legislative session, instead creating a committee to explore possible reforms.

Unsurprisingly, that committee did little of its work in public, but it finally issued its report last week. Although there are some recommended reforms worth celebrating (Floor votes will continue to be easier to access on the website, virtual participation will not become a thing of the past when COVID is over, and members will get summaries of bills before voting on them), the new rules package that resulted still leaves much to be desired.

Every system is perfectly designed to produce the results it gets. And if we want to see different outcomes, part of that requires changing the rules.

Can you email your state rep today in support of key rules reforms that will make a more democratic and transparent Legislature?

In particular, your state rep should support the following reforms, championed by the People’s House campaign:

• Amendment #2 (Gouveia): Speaker Term Limits, ensuring that no one holds the office of Speaker of the House for more than eight years
• Amendment #16 (Uyterhoeven): Public Committee Votes, ensuring that the full record of the yes and no votes taken in committee are made public, rather than a mere tally of the vote
• Amendment #17 (Uyterhoeven): Adequate Time to Review, ensuring that members have at least 72 hours to read bills before they vote on them and allowing for greater public participation 

Also, as the Globe pointed out recently, the House and Senate have yet to agree to a set of joint rules, and your state rep should hear from you about that too.

But The Fight Continues On

Here in Massachusetts, with a progressive electorate, we should already be leading the country in climate action, in providing Medicare for All, and more — but policies that have majority support languish in the State House year after year.

We’ll be joining together with a coalition of progressive organizations to build a movement for change through Incorruptible Mass. Incorruptible Mass has an 18-month plan to raise awareness of the deep problems at our State House and to amplify our demands for progressive policies, building pressure in each district.

Want to get involved? You can sign up here to get involved with your Incorruptible Mass district team. You’ll play an integral part by contributing your knowledge of the people and issues right in your own backyard, engaging people on what matters most to them.