Thursday, March 20, 2008

Rays in Parts

The NYS Assembly web page is improved, partially. I've found that introduced legislation is now available on the site on the day a bill is introduced. This is a welcome step towards bringing the elected Legislature in stride with the advancements of the 21st century and the innate obligation they have to the public to release this information.

But the released information only goes so far. In the case of Senate Bill S-7224, the Bill title, Same As, first action (Committee Referral), and areas of law amended appear. But who introduced the bill? Where is the bill text? Who am I to call, if this legislation affects me? All of this information is available on LRS, the afore-ranted pay-to-play site the Legislature sells to special interests and State Agencies. Yes, state agencies, whom the Legislature helps appropriate money to. In short, the agencies rely on the Legislature for millions or billions of dollars in tax-payer appropritations, one of which is siphoned right back to the law-makers kitty called the Computer Services fund.

I've also noticed that the Assembly site updates bills moving along the legislative process as well. As an example, Assembly Bill A-54 advanced to the 3rd Reading calendar today, and the action is available on the Assembly's page today. It won't appear on the LBDC's page until tomorrow.

Still, with this brief break in the clouds, there is no way for the public to search for this information. How can the public view all bills introduced today in one screen? Why can't the public view this? Partly cloudy, followed by showers.

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