Jim Snider at State Integrity Investigation

Jim Snider commented on Maryland: The story behind the score 2012-03-20 00:21:44 -0500 · Flag

Strong on analyzing the problem; weak on proposing a solution. My preferred solution is a state constitutional convention, which Maryland’s framers envisaged would be used to address such democratic accountability problems. Since Maryland doesn’t have the ballot initiative, the con-con is the only game in town to bypass the General Assembly when it doesn’t want to reform itself. For details, see www.MarylandConCon.org.

—J.H. Snider

Jim Snider published For recommendations, see my survey of the 99 state legislatures in What Would Make Legislative Accountability Policies Most Effective? 2012-02-21 13:27:36 -0600

For recommendations, see my survey of the 99 state legislatures

I surveyed the legislative transparency of 125 legislatures, including the 99 state legislatures (Nebraska has a unicameral legislature), 2 houses of Congress, and 25 largest metro area city councils. The paper, published in the Journal of Information Technology & Politics, is "The Dismal Politics of Legislative Transparency."

Jim Snider published Use redistricting juries and take advantage of Maryland's state constitutional convention referendum in What Would Make Redistricing Practices Most Effective? 2012-02-21 13:23:40 -0600

Use redistricting juries and take advantage of Maryland's state constitutional convention referendum

For an accessible introduction to these recommendations, see my Feb. 12, 2012 Washington Post op-ed, "It will take a con-con to untangle Maryland’s gerrymanders." For more background, see www.MarylandConCon.org.

Jim Snider commented on Maryland - Public Access to Information 2012-02-21 13:17:19 -0600 · Flag

Thank you for noting the extreme discrepancy in Maryland between the public’s legal right to know and enforcement of that right. You might also want to cover the culture of intimidation and harassment when individuals try to enforce their right to know.