Transparency is necessary for good policy

Thank you Sarah Gamard of Delaware Online for once again pushing the debate on government transparency to the forefront in Delaware.

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/07/12/delaware-government-livestream-video-general-assembly/7872455002/

“The only way to protect those measures that are in place is to have it in writing,” Shupe said. “It will be good for people to see what’s going on, some of the political games that are being played…

He contended there’s “no excuse” for lawmakers not to continue livestreaming committee hearings when they no longer hold them virtually and argues that leading lawmakers are “fearful” that livestreaming in-person hearings would mean “more scrutiny of what really goes on in those rooms.”

In February 2020, about a month before the pandemic, that same idea was essentially dead on arrival when Democrats didn’t support a proposal from Republicans to start livestreaming floor debates and committee hearings.

John Flaherty, director at the Delaware Coalition of Open Government, supports Shupe’s proposal. He pointed to how much of a bill’s debate happens within those meetings instead of on the floor.

“People need to be able to observe that,” Flaherty said. “A lot of people can’t get down or may not know that there are issues of critical importance that are being considered at a committee meeting.”

“I think the General Assembly has plenty of time between now and January to work out the kinks and start live streaming committee hearings,” Flaherty added.