Question of the Month
January
2002
What kind of coverage
of Midwestern states’ legislative sessions is available to the
public?
The public’s
ability to view state legislative sessions has improved substantially,
thanks both to technological advances and decisions by lawmakers and
the private sector to provide more coverage. Here are some noteworthy
examples in the Midwest.
Michigan’s
"House Television" provides Web casts (audio and video) of
House floor sessions and select committee meetings. "Michigan
Senate Live" offers similar Internet coverage of the state’s
upper chamber. Residents in the state also have access to MGTV, a
public affairs initiative of Michigan’s television industry.
Programming includes floor coverage, committee meetings, live call-in
shows, press conferences, and live and taped oral arguments before
Michigan’s Supreme Court.
In Kansas,
where audio proceedings of both chambers’ sessions are available
online, limited radio coverage of the Legislature is funded by private
donors. In Wisconsin, starting next spring, a public
affairs station will begin broadcasting state government functions
live. Funded entirely by the private sector, "Wisconsin Eye"
will televise floor and committee debates, oral arguments in the
Supreme Court and press conferences. Minnesota’s two
legislative chambers have special media services departments, both of
which produce live and taped television coverage of floor sessions and
some committee hearings.
"Ohio Legislature
Live" offers full coverage of both the House and the Senate, and
the programming is available on public educational channels. The state
also offers an "Ohio in Focus" show, in which a legislator
can bring in a guest and discuss a current issue. With only a few
exceptions, some kind of coverage of Midwestern states’ legislative
sessions is available online, although audio and video coverage of
committee hearings is often more limited.
For
more information on this or any other public policy issue, please call
630-925-1922 or complete the online
form for research services.
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