The intent of this letter is to condemn the outrageous tactics of the Massachusetts legislature in its handling of the so called police reform bill and not to discuss the contents thereof.
On July 23 The Reminder published an article articulating the positions of state senators Eric Lesser and James Welch . On July 11 I called the office of Sen. Lesser and left a message on an answering machine asking for a copy of the senate bill and indicating my concern over some of its provisions. Although I left my name and telephone number, I never received a return call. Also on that date I emailed Sen. Lesser stating my displeasure that a 72 page (senate bill) with complicated issues, enormous consequences and logistical challenges (filed on July 7) was being rushed to a vote in the senate WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT OR DEBATE. Once again, no response from Sen Lesser.
At 4 a.m. on July 14 the Senate passed a bill. Sadly, in its consideration of the bill, the House limited public input from Wednesday night (July 15) until 11 a.m. on Friday (July 17) and ONLY via email. The House passed their version of the bill on July 24. Is this representative governing? The speed and lack of substantive input in both branches is antithetical to the TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY the proponents loudly claim to champion. This reckless disregard of appropriate legislative process is appalling. Please spare me the excuse that the pandemic necessitated this haste. We have not rushed the distribution of a COVID 19 vaccine because the scientific community recognizes the absolute value of ‘getting it right not trying something’. We can debate the utility and effects of the bills but we CANNOT accept the manner in which it was addressed in the legislature. It was disgraceful. What is so sacrosanct about a July 31 end of the legislative session? I find this incomprehensible. Can’t the session be extended until the proper consideration of the bills are completed? More sunshine needed.
In the article I find indicative of misfeasance, the comments of Senator Welch. He stated he ‘voted for amendments to protect qualified immunity and due process, that ultimately failed.’ but ‘voted for the 95 percent of good measures in the bill with the understanding it would move to the House.’ He then, in an astonishing statement, declared ‘The House will have the benefit of time and I am hopeful they will have the votes to rectify the outstanding issues...’ What a shameful dereliction of legislative responsibility. Why didn’t he vote against passage until the requisite consideration was completed by the SENATE and not ‘kick the can down the road’ to the House? What political rhetoric, lacking in affirmative action and demonstrating pathetic representation.
I would note that in the same edition, the same Senator Welch is delivering state money to provide support for police programs. This smacks of talking the talk (I support law enforcement) but voting against their interests ( if one considers the police unions and chiefs opposition to much of the bill for which he voted.
Tom Fitzgerald
East Longmeadow
