LETTER: Dykema Responds to Criticism
After voting down an amendment to post legislative votes online, Rep. Dykema said she supports the intent.
Submitted by Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston.
Last Thursday, the state Republican Party publicly questioned a vote I cast last week against an amendment to post legislative committee votes online, a concept that I had supported during a pre-election debate.
As your legislator, it is my responsibility to explain any vote I cast on your behalf and I appreciate this opportunity to respond.
While I fully support the intent of the amendment to increase transparency, passing this type of proposal without understanding the practical resource requirements is not something I could support.
Unlike roll call votes, which are currently posted online and number in the hundreds each legislative session, there are approximately 6,000-8,000 committee votes taken in the same period. Cataloging this quantity of information online is not a trivial task. In requesting support for the proposal, the amendment’s sponsor did not provide any basic information on resource requirements or planning, nor had they contacted legislative information services to request that such information be compiled.
This session I am co-sponsoring a bill (HD 3412) that, unlike last week’s amendment, will pass through the full committee and public hearing process allowing important details to be addressed. This will allow us to move forward with a more thoughtful and productive proposal.
As we continue to discuss ways to increase transparency in our legislative process, I appreciate the opportunity to highlight some of the progress we have made in recent years:
- All House and Senate roll call votes are available online.
- Video of all House and Senate formal sessions are available online.
- New House and Senate budget websites that allow citizens to track amendments in near real time as they are filed, debated and voted on.
- Video of many committee proceedings are available in real time and are archived online.
- As part of the FY11 budget, the Open Checkbook website was launched which details state spending, payroll and pension information and tax credit information.
Thank you again for this opportunity to respond and, as always, please contact me at carolyn.dykema@mahouse.gov if I can answer any questions.
Don Folkes
11:00 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
she has voted it down 3 times now and the Senate voted to put the votes online.
She filed a bill that will go no where. furthermore, technically under the house rules it is a matter previously considered and would be ruled out of order.
Lisa Keefe
11:02 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
As far as her filing legislation, it is nothing more than a smoke screen. During the recent rules debate, she could have voted for 26 measures to create more transparency, but she did not.
Seeing as she has only passed one piece of legislation in the past 5 years, the chances of this transparency bill going anywhere is none. She only filed it to give herself cover. It is good spin for a professional politician, but the people of our district don’t want a representative owned by the Speaker.
Iron Mike
11:19 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sometimes in life you get ONE (1) chance to get a thing right.
Mz. Dykema had that chance, - and she voted 'NO!' - JUST the way Speaker Bob Deleo told her to.
Anything she says after that broken promise is spin and smoke screen.
But living in Massachusetts – you should be used to it. Teddy tried to save the girl, Lurch is a gen-u-ine war hero, we need a $1Billion rail line to Hyannis Port, - and the dog ate Carolyn's vote. You are EXPECTED to swallow it all....
Don Folkes
11:49 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Ms. Dykema cannot change the facts. In her own words - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0E66UJ3IPI&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=midnite&utm_campaign=midnight&utm_medium=email
Shelli Sandrew
11:56 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
I appreciate your explanation and I agree. Just because a vote comes up, it is important to examine the ramifications on person resources, technological resources, etc. She clearly supports transparency but in a way that makes sense and does not end up costing the taxpayer more money to deliver. Good job Ms. Dykema.
K Napolitano
1:03 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Many of us realize that legislation doesn't get out of committee. Also, committee votes is not supposed to be law. It is the operating procedures in the House. The rules were debated 10 days ago. They will not come up again for another 2 years. This matter has been considered by the legislature and cannot be taken up again.
That's the indisputable fact. Ms. Dykema lied.
Timothy Roesch
12:26 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Shelli, do you need a chiropractor to untwist yourself from the position you put yourself into to accuse of Ms. Dykema (of the do nothing but collect a salary Dykemas) of doing a good job?
Nancy Quimby
2:20 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Transparency on HER term-it's all very clear to me!
SJohnson
1:02 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
@Shelli Sandrew: If Rep Dykema truly wants to support something in a way that it does not end up costing the taxpayer more money to deliver, as you say, then Rep. Dykema should be helping Rep. O'Connell in EBT reform. Talk about costing the taxpayer...! I'd like to see your angelic Rep. Dykema doing something in THAT respect. Oh, I'm sorry, the Speaker wouldn't allow that. If it weren't for handouts, how else do all these charlatans get elected?