Minnesota recently received a grade of D- from the Center for Public Integrity for its lack of transparency and openness in state government. In response, Minnesota House Minority Leader Paul Thissen has called for much needed and long overdue reforms. MNCOGI supports such reforms, and encourages Rep. Thissen and other legislative leaders to strengthen the public’s right to know.
The Center for Public Integrity and Rep. Thissen were both highly critical of a process where closed door meetings produced agreements and bills that were rushed to a vote before lawmakers knew what was in them. Rep. Thissen said that the “chaotic conclusion” of the 2015 session was a “mockery of legislative process,” and called for reform legislation that would provide lawmakers and the public at least 24 hours to review any proposed legislation.
MNCOGI believes that this proposal is a good first step, but also believes that the legislature and the governor should do more. Meetings where deals are being cut should be open to the public. After all, it is the public’s business that is being done, and taxpayers’ money that is being spent.
Voters cannot hold their lawmakers accountable if they are kept in the dark, and the deal making is secret. A little sunshine would go a long way to restoring Minnesota’s reputation for clean government.
If lawmakers cannot see their way clear to opening the doors, they should at least require that the closed meetings be recorded, and the recordings be made public after the legislation is adopted. That would provide the transparency the public needs in order to hold its elected officials accountable.
Back in the 1970s, the Minnesota Legislature passed good-government legislation called the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The law applied to almost all levels of Minnesota Government. Counties, cities, school districts, and more were included, but courts and the Minnesota Legislature were excluded. Rep Thissen thinks it’s time to see if the law should be extended to the legislature. MNCOGI believes that this is a sound suggestion, and pledges its support to craft appropriate legislation.