Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote "sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”
Yet when it comes to access to public records: Massachusetts is shady.
Transparency watchdog groups have given the state "F's" when it comes to providing access to public documents.
The Bay State ranks 49th out of 50 for the time it takes in responding to public records requests.
And can you believe that the state police demanded two point seven million dollars for copies of their databases of breathalyzer results which other states provide for free?
Given the scandals in the state drug lab, the DCF, the probation department, many believe we need more transparency, not less.
A bill aimed at strengthening the state's public records law is making its way through the House, though critics say it’s creating new problems.
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Galvin talks the battle over access to public records.
"I've been advocating changes for many many years," said Galvin.
"If all else fails I intend to take this to the ballot."
