Senate and House have agreed to use video-conferencing for public testimony from across the state.

By The Herald Editorial Board

Although we’ve harped on the Legislature for years regarding access to the public records of lawmakers, they are now due some praise for making what should be a significant step to improve the ability of the public to testify on legislation and issues that are before them.

Both Senate and House have passed resolutions this session to provide more opportunities for Washington state residents to testify regarding legislation during committee hearings using video-conferencing equipment, saving many the time and expense of making a long journey to the Capitol in Olympia.

Washington state residents have long had the ability, thanks to the TVW website, to watch committee hearings, floor debates and more, live or recorded, but the communication has been one-way. Those who had something to say regarding a bill had to make the multi-hour trek to Olympia to get her or his one to three minutes before a committee.

And who, aside from Tim Eyman, has time for that?

The Senate, after some preliminary video-conference experiments last year, adopted a bipartisan proposal by Eastern Washington lawmakers in February to make the video-conference option a regular part of committee hearings. And earlier this month, the House adopted a similar resolution by freshman Rep. Jared Mead, D-Mill Creek.

Needing 50 votes to adopt the resolution, Mead gathered 58 co-sponsors.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-move-will-allow-public-a-greater-voice-in-olympia/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=3e6089a7c2-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-3e6089a7c2-228635337