GOVERNANCE &
TRANSPARENCY
THE CHALLENGE
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Too many people still don’t trust state government, and with good reason. While the Legislature has taken steps toward greater transparency, the process remains opaque and inaccessible for most residents.
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Committee votes are supposed to be public, but in practice they are often hard to find, inconsistently reported, or unavailable in real time. Constituents still struggle to understand how decisions are made, who is influencing them, and how to meaningfully engage before outcomes are locked in. When transparency exists on paper but not in practice, trust erodes.
MY APPROACH
Make committee transparency real, not just theoretical - Ensure committee votes are consistently published, timely, searchable, and easy to understand, so constituents can see how their representatives are voting, not just technically have the right to know.
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Require disclosure of outside clients and interests - Strengthen disclosure rules so the public can clearly see when lawmakers are paid by law firms, consulting firms, or other outside interests. Encourage recusals when conflicts arise and give constituents the information they need to judge whose interests are being represented.
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Reform the legislative process - Expand meaningful public input earlier in the process. Make bills easier to find and understand. Reduce last-minute additions to major legislation and budgets, and ensure adequate time for review by lawmakers and the public.
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Strengthen ethics and accountability - Close loopholes, increase enforcement authority, and ensure the Ethics Commission has the tools it needs to hold lawmakers to high standards, consistently and credibly.
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Make government accessible to everyone - Improve constituent services, ensure participation regardless of disability or language, and provide legislative information in clear, accessible formats.
Lead by example - Maintain transparent communication with constituents, provide clear information on votes and positions, be accessible and responsive, admit mistakes when they happen