The Gatepost Editorial: FOIA and find out with Question One
By The Gatepost Editorial Board
The spirit of the American Revolution started in Boston, and the idea that people have the right to question those in power was an Enlightenment-era ideal of figures such as John Hancock and Samual Adams.
Two-hundred-and-fifty years after these men championed independence, Massachusetts now finds itself as a state where those who hold power are above the law.
This must change. The way forward lies with the people. This election season, Massachusetts voters have the capability to improve our current Public Records Law.
We, The Gatepost Editorial Board, endorse a yes vote on Question One, which will ensure that the commonwealth is making positive efforts toward becoming more transparent and accessible.
Massachusetts is the recipient of the not-so-distinguished 2026 Black Hole Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, which names government entities that demonstrate a lack of transparency and disregard for the public’s right to know.
Question One asks voters if they approve a law that would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
This initiative exempts certain documents relating to public policy and communications between legislators and constituents if they are related to a request for assistance.
Several positive advancements would come from approval of this law - records that have not previously been available to journalists will now become accessible if requested through the proper channels.
It would also promote governmental transparency in an age when misinformation is becoming synonymous with American politics.
It would also be a message to the people of Massachusetts, and the rest of the country, that no one is above the law.
This is especially important as the laws of the United States continue to be tested. It’s time for Massachusetts to be an example of a transparent government.
Passing Question One is important for both sides of the political spectrum. Regardless of where you fall politically, more governmental transparency is always positive.
The approval of this law will ensure the people of Massachusetts are well informed about their government.
Adopting Question One will also be positive for journalists.
As the watchdogs of government, it is the responsibility of journalists to seek truth and ensure all avenues of investigation are explored. How can they do this if information regarding public officials isn’t reasonably accessible?
Journalists will tell you the best example of bureaucracy at work is requesting public information. Clerks quickly become friends of reporters after countless visits and numerous requests for city or town documents.
While it is reasonable for journalists to accept that public records requests take time to process, the added uphill battle and cost to obtain information about the operations of government is unnecessary.
Public records laws exist so we can hold the government accountable, not to create unnecessary obstacles for those seeking answers.
Under the current system, the Massachusetts Legislature and the Office of the Governor are exempt from the state's Public Records Law.
Approval of Question One would change that by making most records held by those offices subject to the law, allowing journalists and residents to request information that could shed light on government spending and administrative decisions.
The issue is not simply that obtaining records is a time-consuming process. Rather, it is that two of the most powerful parts of the Massachusetts government are allowed to operate outside the current Public Records Law.
Residents should not have to rely exclusively on the willingness of elected officials to share information about their own work. A government that serves the public should also be accountable to the public.
Question One is a safeguard, allowing the public to pull back the curtain on Beacon Hill and see just where their taxpayer dollars are going.
The benefits of Question One extend far beyond the newsroom. Residents also deserve to know exactly how their government is operating. Transparency allows the public to examine those decisions rather than simply accept them.
A yes vote on Question One is a yes vote for transparency.
