Beacon Hill witnessed something rare this past week.

A Democratic state senator from Quincy publicly rebuked Senate President Karen Spilka’s reelection to the chamber’s top leadership post. Sen. John Keenan opted to vote “present” during Spilka’s reascension to the Senate President’s Office because of what he said were the branch’s poor marks on transparency.

He said his vote was “indicative that I don’t support her reelection.”

“We have to be more open, participatory, more inclusive going forward, and I think we have to respect the right of our constituents to know where we are on issues,” he told reporters.

Transparency and efficiency are quickly becoming major issues of the 2025-2026 legislative session, which kicked off Wednesday after lawmakers closed out the previous two-year term by passing almost 100 bills during a 14-hour meeting that lasted past midnight.

In twin speeches this past week, both Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano said they are planning to propose internal rules changes in the coming month that will aim to bolster public confidence in the legislative process.

The pledges came after legislators blew past multiple major deadlines in the 2023-2024 legislative session but eventually completed work on all major priorities that were left hanging at the conclusion of formal business over the summer.

In her speech, Spilka said she wants to move up the deadline for reporting bills out of legislative committees from the second year to the first year of a legislative session and introduce more transparency into the secretive negotiating process for compromise bills.

Keenan said Spilka’s ideas did not change his mind.

“I appreciate her comments. I appreciate her leadership. I appreciate what she does as Senate president. I just have a disagreement as to how as an institution, business should be conducted,” he said.

Spilka, who wields a large influence in the Senate over things like lucrative committee assignments, said Keenan “certainly has the right to do” what he wants.

“But I again go back to all of what the Senate has accomplished and how we have been leaders in transparency, and we’ll continue to be and evolve and make some changes, and some I laid out, and I’m sure there will be others,” she told reporters.

Keenan’s dissatisfaction with transparency in the Senate comes as State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is attempting to investigate the Legislature following the successful passage of a legislative audit law in November.

DiZoglio has faced resistance from Spilka and Mariano, who have argued a legislative audit is not necessary and violates separation of power principles outlined in the state constitution. The issue is likely going to end up in court.

Keenan said he supports a legislative audit but believes there should be “limits on what the auditor should do.”

“I’m respectful of the separation of he powers, and I think that will ultimately be addressed. But in terms of being more open and transparent, clearly, the voters have sent a message to us that they believe that we should be,” he said. “Hopefully we will be open and transparent as we go through the next session.” – Chris Van Buskirk

Looking back at Jimmy Carter with George Regan Jr.

Boston PR guru George Regan Jr. passed up an opportunity to work with President Jimmy Carter. But, he did keep a lifelong friendship with Jody Powell, Carter’s chief spokesman, who had offered him a job in D.C.

Boston Mayor Kevin White, who briefly contended for the Democratic nomination that Carter eventually won, convinced Regan to stay in the Hub.

“He said, ‘do you want to be a minnow in the deep ocean or a big fish in a small pond and be able to make a difference?’” Regan said of the mayor’s appeal back in 1976.

Carter wasn’t mentioned ever again, but Powell was.

“Jody Powell was my mentor,” Regan said, adding fate kept him in the city and soon opening his own shop.

“So it all worked out for the best,” Regan said. “As was often the case, time proved Kevin right.” – Joe Dwinell

Senate Pres. Karen Spilka speaks as new members of the House and Senate are sworn in on Jan. 1. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

The late Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter smiles during a meeting with Sudanese officials at the national elections commission in Khartoum, Sudan, April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)