THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE IS EXCEPTIONALLY BAD
The Massachusetts State House has distinguished itself as an underperforming outlier on numerous parameters we, the people, care about: effectiveness, competence, diversity, integrity, accountability, adherence to democratic principles, and transparency.
Lack of Resources
The legislature has neither a legislative research nor a fiscal analysis bureau, leaving essential legislative functions like policy analysis and bill-drafting to committee staff beholden to leadership and lobbyists beholden to outside special interests. It is the only state in the nation without some form of independent, professionally staffed legislative services bureau.
Low Productivity
The legislature, one of the nation’s largest, passes the fewest bills. In 2023, of the 10,508 bills filed, only 21 were enacted.
Budget Bumbling
For more than a decade, the legislature has been late passing the Commonwealth’s annual budget, impeding public agencies’ ability to plan and to commit funds for the fiscal year. Massachusetts is routinely one of the last states in the nation to pass its annual budget.
Lack of Transparency
The legislature is rated one of the least transparent in the nation. It has exempted itself from both the Public Records Law and the Open Meeting Law. It has also resisted the authority of our elected state auditor to examine its finances and operations. Committee votes on key measures are secret.
Pay and Power
Members of the legislature are beholden to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President for a significant portion of their pay, which comes in the form of stipends for serving in appointed leadership roles on committees. The stipend system is unique in the nation.
Lack of Diversity
The legislature has made little progress in achieving gender and race parity.
The Will of the People Ignored
Lack of turnover and an entrenched leadership have resulted in corruption and a lack of responsiveness to the priorities of the people.