Reform and Transparency

Marty believes reform should not only cut costs but also improve efficiency and create greater accountability. As the former Vice Chair of the House Ethics Committee, she played a central role in drafting the ethics, campaign-finance and lobbying-reform law that earned praise from Common Cause Massachusetts. The comprehensive law bars gifts to public officials, expands the definition of “lobbyist,” increases penalties for violating the law, and provides the state Ethics Commission with new investigatory powers, including enhanced subpoena power.

Manipulation of the state pension system by politically powerful people and groups must end. Toward this end, Marty supported reforms in the pension system that scaled back excessive benefits for state workers; did away with the “one day, one year” rule that allowed elected officials to serve just one day in a calendar year and gain credit for a full year of service; and eliminated the “king for a day” rule that increased benefits for employees who go out on accidental disability retirement while filling in for a supervisor. The law also stops legislators from receiving increased benefits after losing an election, extends vesting periods for elected officials from 6 years to 10 years, and eliminates termination benefits for all state employees. The new rules apply to both current and future employees.

In an effort to save taxpayers money, Marty voted to eliminate Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day as holidays for public employees working in Suffolk County.

Marty worked with her colleagues to overhaul the state’s antiquated transportation-agency structure, saving the state nearly $6.5 billion over the next 20 years. The transportation reform law eliminated the Turnpike Authority, abolished the “23 years and out” rule for MBTA retirees, and brought all active and retired MBTA workers into the Group Insurance Commission, which will reduce health care expenses at the T. While paid police details at construction sites have been reduced, Marty wants to see them eliminated entirely.

Marty looks for ways to make government more efficient and to curb fraud and abuse. She voted for creation of a state budget website to make spending and revenue sources transparent and let taxpayers see exactly where their money goes. Marty co-sponsored An Act Relative to Establishing a Searchable Website on State Expenditures and is pleased such a website—listing state spending and revenue sources for all public agencies—will soon be available.