I've long believed that there is a concentrated and entrenched power structure on Beacon Hill that too often stands in the way of good policymaking. As a possible remedy, I've been advocating for twelve-year term limits for state legislators.
A column in today's Boston Globe reminds me of why this effort is so important.
The column, by Joan Vennochi, talks about the process that yielded passage of legislation regarding ticket scalping a few years ago. This is the same legislation that produced charges of corruption against former House Speaker Sal DiMasi and ultimately led to his resignation.
In the column, Vennochi writes about how members of the majority party blindly followed the directives of House leadership to vote for the bill, mainly as a way to earn favor and secure their chance for future advancement. This happened even though some members did not understand what the bill was about, or even worse, even though they thought it was a poor bill that was being rushed through the House for political purposes. And this process stood in the way of meaningful consideration of the legislation, which related to a gap in our laws that still needs to be addressed.
Vennochi's closing words are positively chilling for those who worry about good government:
"Voters send representatives to Beacon Hill. Once there, institutional leaders vie for their loyalty. That’s when the people’s lawmakers start turning into the leader’s sheep."
We can't expect real change on Beacon Hill or progress on the important issues of the day until we break the cycle Vennochi discusses in her column. The focus of our elected officials needs to be turned back to doing what's best for the people, not what's best for themselves or for their political leaders. One-party rule just isn't working. We need balance on Beacon Hill. Limiting the amount of time people can serve in the Legislature and accumulate power is one way to break the cycle and get us back to the citizen legislature we're supposed to have.
What do you think? I'd like to know. Please share your thoughts in the space below by posting a comment.
