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Happy Summer! While many workplaces tend to slow down during the summer months, the 2021-2022 legislative session is in full swing.   Every bill filed in the legislature must receive a public hearing before the appropriate committee before the bill can move forward. Understanding that it’s nearly impossible with your busy schedules to tune in to every hearing, I have posted videos on social media of some of my testimony. For example, I have already testified in front of the Joint Committees on Health Care Financing, State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, Financial Services, and others, on bills that would reform the pharmaceutical industry, increase transparency around the use of toxic chemicals in children’s consumer products, allow for the creation of transportation improvement districts, and more. I have uploaded these videos on my website for easy viewing. Scroll through the 2021-2022 legislation page to watch video testimony. Moving forward, I will continue to record and post videos of my testimony when possible, and I encourage you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for timely updates.   I wish you all a happy, fun, and safe rest of your summer. Remember: don’t skimp on sunscreen, stay hydrated and get your Covid-19 vaccine if you haven’t done so already. We are seeing an uptick of positive Covid-19 cases here in Massachusetts, and across the nation, and getting vaccinated will help prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.   As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at (617) 722-1432 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Sincerely, Cindy Friedman To stay up to date on all that I'm doing on behalf of the 4th Middlesex and the Commonwealth, please visit my website and check out my legislative profile on the Massachusetts Legislature website. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. P.S. Please forward this message to friends, family, and members of our community who may be interested in hearing about this news. They can sign up for my email list to receive future news and updates from the State House and our district! Copyright © 2017 | Massachusetts State Senate | All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 24 Beacon Street Room 208 Boston, MA 02133 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

UPDATED July 9: In a column headlined “What is our State House afraid of?,” I asked Arlington's legislative delegation -- Rep. Sean Garballey, Rep. Dave Rogers and Sen. Cindy Friedman -- to comment on this question: What steps should be taken to move this process forward, toward more public transparency, not less? Rep. Garballey is away but noted that he plans to respond. Meanwhile, the state House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a rules package that will extend some pandemic-era policies, but excludes several transparency initiatives such as making all members’ committee votes public. Sen. Friedman has responded, and it is published in full:

First and foremost, while I can’t speak for the entire “State House,” I am not “afraid” to be transparent with my constituents. I think there would be consensus from my constituents and colleagues that I am honest and very straightforward. I am always willing to share how I voted on a matter or how I feel about a particular bill – just ask me.

Second, in speaking for the Senate, we’ve been clear from the start where we stand on the issue. We had a robust debate in February when we discussed and accepted or rejected many amendments to a proposed set of Senate, joint and emergency rules. You can view those rules online:

• Proposed Senate rules for the 2021-2022 legislative session;
• Proposed joint rules for the 2021-2022 legislative session; and
• Proposed emergency rules for the 192nd General Court.

Why do Massachusetts representatives and senators continue to do public business behind closed doors?

 They are members of the only State House in the United States to do so.

As a longtime advocate for open government, I offer a plaintive but determined question: Why?

Instead of pawing through the maw of history to learn why this state of affairs came to be in "blue" Massachusetts, let's start with the present and try to move toward a more open future.

Two news articles by The Globe's Emma Platoff reported over three months lay out some facts.

Most recently, consider "Months later, Beacon Hill has no agreement on contested transparency rules."Here are its key points: