In an August 15th interview with GBH 89.7 News’ Katie Lannan, Ward 4 Dems secretary Jonathan Cohn provides a cogent analysis of the frustrating inertia of the Massachusetts Legislature. He points out that most state legislators aren’t concerned about defending their records because “so few of them are ever really contested in elections [and] it flattens the sense of time so they can think, ‘Oh, well, we’ll just be back at it in January.” As a result, instead of acting on the urgent measures before them, “…it’s just one never-ending legislative session for them.”
Addressing the issue of uncontested elections and the “unappealing” nature of electoral politics, Jonathan explains:
“I also think that the Legislature’s history of long, late-night sessions that end with nothing also make it seem like an unattractive job. If you see a place where you look at it and you think, ‘I don’t even know that I could accomplish anything by being here,’ it’s understandable why somebody might not want want to run for that office or think that their that their talents, skills, etc., would be better used elsewhere — even though those people could be the best people for the jobs.”
Read the full story.
Jonathan Cohn is also policy director for Progressive Massachusetts.
Graphic: GBH
