Editorial: Massachusetts Senate should toughen public records law

The Massachusetts Senate plans to debate legislation that ideally should be aimed at giving the state’s public records law – one of the weakest in the nation – a much-needed backbone transplant.

Last fall, the Massachusetts House approved its version of the bill, but changes rendered the final result anemic. The Senate, which recorded 64 amendments to its own bill this week, now has a chance to make things right.

State senators should work to give the public a law that mandates streamlined access with reasonable limits on fees, meaningful enforcement, and mandatory attorney’s fees if the government behaves in bad faith. Continue…

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