Traditionally, legislative leaders and state agencies listen to floor and committee meetings through electrically wired squawk boxes. When the governor insisted that the wiring be removed, the vacuum appeared ready to launch West Virginia into the 21st century
Many expected live streaming audio of the West Virginia Legislature to replace the decommissioned squawk boxes this year. Streaming video and/or audio of legislative sessions and committees is available to the public through computers or television in 46 states.
If technology is in place to stream live audio of our legislature into leaders' and agencies' offices, then what about live audio streams for public consumption over the internet? The WV Supreme Court has live video web casts of proceedings, so why not the legislature?
When public consumption of the streaming audio was denied, criticism quickly followed. Before the session began, squawk boxes were rewired.
Some legislators fear what they say could be taken out of context and used against them. The reticence to allow the public to hear live sessions or archive them was explained by a wise lawmaker, "it would make it difficult to revise history".
The need to rewire allowed for a new computerized phone system. House members now have caller I.D. to see who is calling them and whose call they missed. The Senate President is old school. Each senator has a secretary, although they have the new phone systems, they still have no voice mail.
This summer, the legislative website began posting House recorded roll call votes. The House of Delegates did not record votes until they caught up with the Senate in 2003. The yeas and nays can be searched in the daily Senate Journal.
Public bill tracking information has been free for a decade. Prior to the internally created legislative system, there was EDGAR. EDGAR was the nickname for Electronic Data Gathering Analysis Resource or the big computer system that also tracked legislation. Lobbyists paid $1,500 per year to access EDGAR.
Six republican delegates decided to free EDGAR so regular citizens could have free access. Within 48 hours a bill was introduced with seven democrat sponsors, who cared about who got credit, and EDGAR was free.
The current legislative website is inferior to the automated chamber computers which post pending amendments. This is a policy decision that only acts of the legislature be available to the public, not potential actions.
For three years, wireless internet has been available on the House side for $250, but only legislative members and staff have access to the automated chamber system. Senators do not have computers on their chamber desks and wireless has been available on their side of the rotunda for a year. A nice touch for visitors is free wireless internet in the revamped cafeteria.
Lobbyists can listen to floor and committee meetings outside the room through Telax, a $300+ hearing aid. This system is required by law to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act. Until the transmitter was stolen from the Capitol Dome last month, lobbyists 20 miles away could hear House proceedings. The Senate did not have a transmitter to steal.
Technology offers a means to legislative accountability if legislators are willing to allow transparency. If a House Committee would participate in a streaming audio pilot project, maybe the comfort level would increase, allowing us to catch up with the rest of the nation.