The Maine State Employee's Association has weighed in on MHPC's new website, calling it "underhanded" and "despicable".
I'm trying to figure out the benefits to be gained from this denunciation. The state isn't likely to change its freedom of access laws and this rhetoric just raises the profile of the website. My guess is the MSEA wants to appear to its membership as if it is standing up for them and their privacy.
I'll admit I'm a little biased on the issue. My salary and benefits for the past two years have been publicly available, printed in the local paper and debated in public meetings. I don't see what the big deal is.
Two last points: as a commenter noted in the last post, despite standing as champions of transparency, MPHC is reluctant to reveal their own expenditures and funding sources. Second, what kind of tracking software are they using that was slowing down their site so much that they could only record "several thousand" hits? That's just weird.
As long as MHPC does not
As long as MHPC does not receive any government funds, then I am ok with the disclosure as it stands.
Of course, now that I know that Maine Medical Association rec'd 100K from Dirigo and Consumers for Affordable Health Care rec'd 200L from DHHS, I will be sure to discount everything that comes out of their bought and paid for mouths.
It's my money and I have a right to know how it is spent. My only problem with it, is that the State should be doing this anyway.