Gov. Susana Martinez
Gov. Susana Martinez is joining the webcasting revolution in Santa Fe by posting video of what her office calls “key” legislative committee hearings and of speeches she has given.
Video of the legislative hearings can be found by clicking here, and there’s also a link to the committee videos on the governor’s home page. Video of Martinez’s speeches is here.
Thus far, Martinez’s office has posted video of hearings on initiatives she’s pushing – outlawing driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, implementing voter ID, assigning letter grades to schools, and expanding Katie’s Law to include the taking of DNA samples from those arrested for felony crimes.
“Governor Martinez is excited to post video of these hearings because she believes it is an opportunity to bring the process in the Roundhouse to the public throughout New Mexico,” Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said.
“The governor knows that New Mexicans can and will find value in being able to log onto the web and see the discussion and votes being taken in the Legislature on important issues, such as balancing the budget, reforming education, fighting corruption, and strengthening public safety,” he said.
The governor’s office isn’t webcasting live, but staffers are working to post videos fairly quickly following committee hearings they film.
So far, Martinez’s State of the State Address and her speech about Hispanic Heritage Day are the only speeches Martinez’s office has posted. Darnell said the office will “continue to post video of key announcements and speeches.”
Using webcasting to lobby
Darnell said the governor’s office will focus on posting video of legislative hearings “on many of the critical and important issues… with a focus on the governor’s top priorities – including bills dealing with the budget, education reform, fighting corruption, public safety and other topics.”
Martinez is using the webcasting to push for issues she’s supporting. For example, after a House committee shelved a Martinez-backed bill that would have outlawed licenses for undocumented immigrants, Martinez’s office posted video of the hearing along with a note expressing her disappointment.
The note urged people to contact those who voted to shelve the bill “to respectfully voice your disappointment.”
“Let them know where you stand on this important issue,” the note states. “As always, please be respectful and courteous.”
Beyond what the Legislature is doing
Martinez’s webcasting of legislative hearings is an expansion beyond what the Legislature is doing to webcast its own proceedings. The House webcasts live audio of committee hearings but not video, and the Senate doesn’t webcast committee meetings at all.
Both the House and Senate webcast floor sessions live. Legislative webcasting can be found here.