The existing webcam in the back of the Senate chamber. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
All legislative interim committee meetings are being held in Santa Fe this year to save money. To ensure the public still has access, state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones has asked legislative leaders to allow webcasting and video conferencing of those meetings.
The issue may come up today, when the Legislative Council meets at 9 a.m. in Room 307 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. For the issue to be considered, a member of the council must make a motion to consider Arnold-Jones’ request.
“I am hoping this issue will be taken up and acted upon,” said Arnold-Jones, an Albuquerque Republican.
Interim committee meetings are usually held around the state to give New Mexicans a chance to have input in the legislative process and give lawmakers a chance to see what’s going on in areas other than their home districts and Santa Fe. But because of the budget crunch, lawmakers decided to hold all interim meetings in Santa Fe this year.
Earlier this month, Arnold-Jones sent a letter to Legislative Council Co-Chairs Ben Luján and Tim Jennings asking them to webcast the meetings in the same way some session committee meetings are already webcast, and/or to link New Mexicans to the interim committee meetings through an existing video conferencing system that has 20 “gateway” centers around the state.
Webcasting costs little to implement.
“It is more important now than ever that we make every effort to ensure that New Mexicans have every opportunity to follow the work of our interim committees,” Arnold-Jones wrote.
The Legislature has implemented and expanded webcasting of its work significantly in the two years since Arnold-Jones forced the issue by doing her own webcasting of her committee meetings during the 2009 session. But a memorial that would have directed Legislative Council Service to begin webcasting interim committee meetings except where technological barriers prevent it failed to pass earlier this year.
House Joint Memorial 15, sponsored by Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, passed the House and made its way to the Senate floor, but the session expired without Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, calling it up for debate.