As a Boston Herald editorial summarized:

Just in case anyone thought the Patrick administration’s health insurance rate cap was anything other than an exercise in raw political pandering, along comes a set of e-mails that proves the point.

Thanks to a Freedom of Information request made by State House News Service, we now have a glimpse into how the administration crafted and rallied to defend what has turned out to be an indefensible policy.

Many of the e-mails were in response to a column by Mike Widmer, head of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, who pointed out what a dreadful idea the rate cap was. But the oped, which ran in The Boston Globe on March 17, did nothing to prevent the administration from going ahead with the cap officially on April 1. The e-mails showed administration officials were less concerned about the policy than about the spin!

The Associated Press had apparently filed its own  request for the e-mails discussing the rate cap, but one thing is conspicuously missing from both reports: The actual e-mails themselves.  Not surprising, but a bit obnoxious: Why can’t we see for ourselves how the Patrick administration was discussing the proposed internally? Soon, state willing, we will. MuckRock has filed our own request (click the link if you’re a registered member), which we’ve reproduced below the fold.

Our Request, filed via the Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation contact form

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the state Freedom of Information Act, G.L.M. c.4, €7, clause 26th, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all e-mails and related materials provided to the State House News Service and/or the Associated Press in response to Freedom of Information requests for e-mails regarding the proposed health insurance rate cap instituted April 1st, as referenced at the following URLs:

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/editorials/view/20100715policy_vs_the_spin/

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GUQG880.htm

and including but not limited to e-mails from and to Barbara Anthony, a government employee serving as the undersecretary of consumer protection.

I also request the initial requests filed by the State House News Service and/or the Associated Press that lead to the e-mails release.

I agree to pay reasonable search and duplication fees for the processing of this request in an amount not to exceed $5.

In the event that fees do exceed $5, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, via e-mail attachment or CD-ROM.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Michael Morisy
Filed via MuckRock.com
185 Beacon St. #3
Somerville, MA 02143

Daytime: (857) 488- 3081
E-mail: requests@muckrock.com