Our coalition seeks to shine a light on the Massachusetts Legislature’s dysfunction. Here are accounts from activists about the Legislature’s inability to advance important policy objectives or even to fix its own mistakes:
“It Fell Through the Cracks,” The Defunding of Crucial Services and Programs for People Incarcerated in Massachusetts
Lois Ahrens | January 10, 2025
Real Cost of Prisons Project Director Lois Ahrens details the Massachusetts government’s repeated failures to pass legislation protecting critical services and programs for people incarcerated in Massachusetts, such as law libraries and benefits funds.
Act on Mass Saturday Scoop
Scotia Hille | Act on Mass, November 23, 2024
Act on Mass Executive Director Scotia Hille recounts the latest updates in the fight for increased accountability and action in the Legislature — highlighting the bloated economic development bill recently passed without the opportunity for advocates to review or challenge its contradicting provisions.
Why can’t the Legislature do its job?
Jeanne Kempthorne | CommonWealth Beacon, September 7, 2024
CROL Steering Committee member Jeanne Kempthorne describes her failed efforts over two sessions to get the Legislature to simply correct a poorly-written statute intended to protect children from electronic surveillance.
Legislative Dysfunction and the Failure of Inactive Voter List Reform
Jonathan Hecht | November 13, 2023
Former State Representative and CROL Steering Committee member Jonathan Hecht breaks down the Legislature’s lackluster attempt at reforming the inactive voter list — failing to ease this barrier to voter participation in Massachusetts.