Keyes: She’s right, she has been there so long she doesn’t understand how the public is shut out
Sandwich, MA—Yesterday Tom Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senate in the Plymouth & Barnstable District, and Senator Therese Murray debated on WATD. During the exchange Murray said she was “confused” about the lack of transparency. She went on to say the Senate is “extremely transparent.”
There are a few problems with her claims. First, all conference committees are negotiated behind closed doors with no press allowed and only a few selected members participating. Second, the bills are not available for 24 hours after coming out of conference committee. That’s not transparent. That’s secretive.
Murray attempted to spin the closed door caucus that cut the cooling off period from 5 years to one year. That decision was made behind closed doors and after the negotiation was final, then it was brought to the floor for a vote.
During this year’s budget debate on EBT reforms, the session was closed down for 45 minutes. When Murray gaveled it back into session, the further amendments magically disappeared with no explanation to the public.
Keyes also points to the 188 budget amendments consolidated into one for a vote. “No one knew what was being voted upon. I can see why she is confused on transparency, because she doesn’t believe in it,” said Keyes.
Three times during the debate Murray said that she has never been accused of being unethical. “Did she miss the news reports on the Probation Department scandal? She was the most mentioned legislator by title in the indictments,” said Keyes.
Keyes asked Murray to disclose why she spent thousands and thousands of dollars on legal bills. She refused to answer. Keyes believes the public has a right to know.
When it came to the wind turbine issue, Murray did not acknowledge flip flopping on the issue. In fact, it seems she might be once again supporting the wind turbine bill. She praised Senator Hedlund for supporting the bill despite supposedly now being against it. Keyes had the most concrete answer by stating all industrial wind turbines should not be located within 1 mile of a residence.
Keyes, 45, has served on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and as a Sandwich Selectman. He has also served on numerous boards and committees including: Water Quality Review Committee, Sandwich Economic Development Committee as liaison of the Board of Selectmen , Cemetery Commission, Assembly of Delegates Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, the 21st Century Taskforce to review the Cape Cod Commission and draft operational changes to the County Commissioners, President of the Cape Cod Selectmen and Councilors’ Association and Board of Directors, member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Selectmen and Councilors’ Association and member Board of Trustees Sandwich Glass Museum/Sandwich Historical Society.
Keyes founded his private practice, Keyes Quality Systems in 1998, providing consulting and contract services in management, ethics and compliance. He and his wife, Melissa have two daughters, Madelynn, and Julia.
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