Eavesdropping on Public Policy.

What's going on in America's first branch of government? Thanks to state legislators embracing the Internet, it doesn't take long to find out.

On March 8, state legislators across the country debated and passed legislation on gun control, HMOs, college savings accounts, school violence, state budgets, charter schools and the Green Bay Packers.

I didn't have to wait until the following day to read it in the official records or through newspaper accounts. I know because I was there. And I didn't have to leave my desk.

While the national media focused on the presidential race following the Super Tuesday primary, I set my attention on public policy debates that were taking place in more than 20 state legislative chambers or hearing rooms. With nothing more than a list of links and a sound system on my computer, I spent most of the day eavesdropping on legislators from Maryland to California.

When I wrote an article on legislatures broadcasting their proceedings on the Internet two years ago, only seven states were providing full access to their proceedings. This year, 22 states allow anyone with access to a computer and a sound card to listen in live. Several also provide a video signal, and more and more states are extending their offerings to committee hearings.

States continue to show great innovations in broadcasting their proceedings. The South Carolina Senate provides closed captioning for its feeds. Nebraska produces a daily video clip of the day's activities, and more states keep archived records online. States with video broadcasting are beginning to use graphics to identify speakers.

Listening to the legislature is further enhanced since states also offer unprecedented online access to bills, schedules, member information and even online activities for students.

I was not able to visit every state that had Internet access. Among those not included because legislatures were not in session or simply bad timing on my part are: the California Assembly, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan House, Minnesota House, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas Senate and Wisconsin Senate.

Here are some highlights of my national state legislative tour on March 8.

Maryland Senate, 9:15 a.m. (audio)

www.mlis.state.md.us/asp/listen.asp

With the cost of gas rising steadily and a federal report released the day before saying fuel could hit $1.80 a gallon by summer, Maryland senators consider final action on a gasoline price control bill. The legislation, SB 597, prohibits gas stations from selling below cost except for specific instances. I find out on the Web site later that the bill eventually is approved and goes to the House on a 26-19 vote.

Maryland House, 9:26 a.m. (audio)

www.mlis.state.md.us/asp/listen.asp

In 1997, Maryland was hit with an outbreak of Pfiesteria, a toxic algae linked to fish kills. It has been suggested but, according to a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Web site, not proved that runoff from agricultural operations was a contributing factor. House members debate an amendment to HB 327 designed to get more farmers to participate in a state program to clean up state waters. House members approve the amendment 96-26.

Georgia Senate, 9:36 a.m. (video)

www.ganet.org/services/leg/audio/nolive.html

With a bigger and clearer screen than most corporate Web sites with video streaming, video from the Georgia Senate looks very impressive on my computer monitor. The subject of debate, again, is timely. Senators are discussing minors and guns within a few days after a classmate killed a 6-year-old in Michigan. SB 466 changes the penalties for furnishing a pistol or revolver to a person under the age of 18 years. The Senate approves the bill and sends it to the House.

Georgia House, 9:44 a.m. (video)

www.ganet.org/services/leg/audio/nolive2.html

With the same impressive video quality as its Senate counterpart, House members debate a measure to allow citizens to set up education accounts up to $5,000. The bill, the sponsor says, is needed because of limitations of the Hope scholarship. HB 1189 is approved and sent to the Senate for consideration. The subject will come up later in another state.

Texas House committee, 10:03 a.m. (audio) www.house.state.tx.us/audio/audvid.htm

The Texas House State, Federal and International Relations Committee is considering issues affecting veterans. The committee is told that 55 percent of the state's veterans served in conflicts after World War II, and the witness suggests it is perhaps the only state to have the majority of its veterans in that category. The state needs to be "very concerned and aware" when troops come back from Bosnia, he says. The Web site tells me that the committee is slated later to hear testimony from a National Guard member.

Missouri Senate, 10:10 a.m. (audio) www.senate.state.mo.us/debate.htm

Charter schools are the focus of debate for Missouri senators this morning, as they consider amendments to SB 729, Senators take language out of the bill that would have required that information from background checks for a charter school's board members be included in the school's annual report. Later in the day, the bill is tabled for further discussion.

Missouri House, 10:19 a.m. (audio) www.house.state.mo.us/debate.htm

The House considers discrepancies in state teacher retirement for those who have worked more than 25 years. The sponsor of HB 1644 equalizes the retirement system for each year worked past the 25th year. The measure passes 152-0.

Kansas House, 10:26 a.m. (audio) www.state.ks.us/public/legislative/status/status.cgi

House members consider establishing workforce pilot projects to determine if changes in human resource policies are worthwhile and cost-effective. Parliamentary procedure comes into play as the chair rules, and the body supports in a vote, that a "whistle blower" amendment is not germane to the bill. A check later finds that the House defeated the measure, HB 2481.

Minnesota Senate committee, 10:37 a.m. (video) www.state.mn.us/television.html

Users benefit on this site from graphics identifying speakers shown during the broadcast of the Senate Transportation Committee. The committee is considering SF 3356, which addresses snowmobiles and the state gasoline fuel tax. A representative from the state snowmobilers association testifies.

Nebraska Unicameral, 10:45 a.m. (video) www.unicam.state.ne.us/video.htm

Not only could I watch live floor proceedings from Nebraska, but I also could view a two-minute wrap-up of each legislative day, as produced by the Unicameral Information Office. I watch as senators in America's only unicameral Legislature begin discussion on LB 1253, a measure to extend insurance coverage for children and developmentally disabled citizens who need dental care in a hospital setting. The bill receives unanimous support later in the day.

Wisconsin Assembly, 11:02 a.m. (audio)

www.legis.state.wi.us/insession/assembly

The term "political football" has double meaning as lawmakers debate AB 730, which concerns renovation of historic Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. And to confirm my belief that lawmakers are required to be experts in an endless list of subjects, I come in as lawmakers discuss the finer points of the NFL salary cap and its impact on team revenues. Institutional memory also comes into play as a member is asked how the Packers' cap compares to the 49ers and Cowboys.

Washington House, 11:11 a.m. (video)

www.tvw.org/

Ceremony plays an important part in legislative proceedings, even as a legislature prepares to end its business for the year. The Washington House, the day before session ends, watches as young people present the flags and listen as Representative John Pennington offers a prayer of thanks for the diversity of the House membership, a request for "clear minds" and a special note of appreciation for the sacrifices of members' families. The House then approves HR 4794 supporting organ donations, as the sponsor of the measure honors a staff member waiting to undergo a transplant.

Idaho House, 11:29 a.m. (audio)

www.idahoptv.org/idreports/audio.html

For the second time today, college savings plans are the topic of discussion. The sponsor says Idaho is one of only four states without a plan and that the legislation is a "good private-sector solution" to allow family members to provide financial assistance to future students. HB 627 is approved and sent to the Senate on a 65-4 vote.

Idaho Senate, 11:43 a.m. (audio)

www.idahoptv.org/idreports/audio.html

The sponsor of SB 1377 wants to get drivers to respect the speed limits in school zones and is proposing stricter penalties for offenders. She says the most effective way to "get people's attention" is through strict enforcement and increased fines. The measure passes 20-14 and is sent to the House.

Kentucky Senate, 1 p.m. (video)

www.ket.org/legislature

In a debate that ranges from intense, to heated to humorous, senators are asked to approve an amendment to force members to resign from the legislature if they switch political parties. That happened during the interim, which gave Republicans control of the Senate for the first time in the state's history. The amendment is defeated 17-20. The full bill, HB 350, which changes the state's primary election dates, is sent back to the House with amendments.

Kentucky House, 1:16 p.m. (video)

www.ket.org/legislature

The House is moving quickly through a number of bills that entail little controversy. Sent to the Senate for consideration are: 1) HB 408, giving firefighters with five years experience workers' compensation protection for heart and lung disease, 2) HB 677, relating to continuing education for real estate agents and 3) HB 309, providing free post-secondary tuition for disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters. All bills pass unanimously.

Kansas Senate, 2:35 p.m. (audio)

www.state.ks.us/public/legislative/status/status.cgi

Kansas senators debate the pros and cons of requiring school districts to perform national background checks, through the FBI database, for all new employees. Current state law requires only a state check. Any person with a criminal history that includes specific offenses would be disqualified for employment. The sponsor says the cost of the search, about $41, would have to be paid by the school or the applicant. Senators approve the measure the following day 26-13.

Arizona House committee, 2:47 p.m. (video)

www.azhousetv.org/contents/home.html

The House Commerce Committee considers an omnibus health care insurance bill, SB 1038. Again, it is a prime example of the depth of knowledge policymakers must possess to do their jobs. Discussion in my brief visit centers on product liability and the rights of consumers to sue HMOs. The committee sends the bill to the House floor with amendments.

Arizona Senate committee, 3:11 p.m. (video)

www.arizonasenate.org

The Senate Appropriations Committee considers various amendments to the state budget. An amendment asking the auditor general to put out a request for proposals regarding the costs of a potentially court-required bilingual education program is defeated on a 5-6 vote. The committee then embarks on a discussion regarding funding education programs for juveniles incarcerated on state tribal lands.

Nevada task force, 3:27 p.m. (audio)

www.leg.state.nv.us/audio/index.htm

Without much fanfare, legislators spend a considerable amount of time examining their processes. The Task Force for Long-Term Financial Analysis and Planning holds a meeting on long-range budget forecasting in Carson City. The Web site informs me that a video feed of the meeting also is available at the Grant Sawyer Office Building in Las Vegas, Nev. Discussion centers on the timing of producing long-term forecasts that would best serve the appropriations process.

California Senate committee, 3:37 p.m. (audio) www.sen.ca.gov/htbin/testbin/noframe_raudio

The day ends, appropriately, with one of the most important, but most often ignored, functions of a legislature -- poring over budget numbers. The California Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee listens to a witness who says legislative oversight and accountability is necessary to ensure the success of the "storage investigations program" and that midyear reports detailing expenditures, activities and a proposed work plan for the rest of the year should be required. On this day, committee members will consider budget numbers for the California Conservation Corps, and the departments of conservation, forestry/fire protection, fish and game, parks and recreation, and water resources.

Overall, my national tour accurately reflects how state legislatures operate. The day illustrates that debate and issues discussed can range from fascinating to tedious. Issues can be very subjective or highly personal. But mostly it demonstrates that access to legislative proceedings is more available to citizens than at any time in our nation's history.

As technology advances, users in the future undoubtedly will be given access to more live information, such as bill text, summaries and copies of amendments. Just as this experiment demonstrates significant improvements in just two years, it also means that today's access will seem downright primitive in a short amount of time.

Regardless of the technology they use, legislatures still are the branch of government closest to the people. Legislators' commitment to their responsibilities and their willingness to provide increased avenues for the public to be involved in the process demonstrates a continued commitment to the citizens they represent.

Editor's note: For the most up-to-date list of states broadcasting over the Internet, go to www.ncsl.org/programs/press/leglive99.htm

Gene Rose directs NCSL'S Public Affairs Office.

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