Legislate out loud, please

Rep. Sharon Schwartz, R-Washington, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, recently warned her panel members against text-messaging during meetings, to ensure that the debate is out loud and lawful. “I think we need to be careful that we don’t violate the open meetings law,” Schwartz said. True, few of those serving in Kansas government text like teenagers — yet — but it’s something all Kansas government boards should guard against as technology takes over communications.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

4 Comments

  1. GSheridan
    Posted January 31, 2007 at 3:58 am | Permalink

    It’s the correct thing to do. When an official issue is being discussed, it would be wrong for any Congressmen to get together and whisper. ‘Texting’ is no different.

  2. CF
    Posted January 31, 2007 at 9:16 am | Permalink

    When students in my classes are caught text-messaging, they are forced to sing “Happy Birthday” in a voice chosen by the members of the class. A recent offender had to adopt the voice of Eric Cartman from “South Park,” while another had to use the voice of Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks.

    If Chairwoman Schwarz is reading this, I highly recommend the policy. It works.

  3. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted January 31, 2007 at 11:13 am | Permalink

    Funny that she gets religion about open meetings NOW, when she voted to uphold decisions reached in closed meetings by the kansas water office, the city of hays, and the city of russell.

    Glad she gets the point, but too bad she got so smart AFTER the damage had been done to water in western kansas.

  4. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted January 31, 2007 at 11:14 am | Permalink

    I wonder if she supported the open government bills last year that were endorsed by the Kansas Press Association? You know, the one that would require that all closed meetings be recorded to determine later if open meeting laws were violated?

    Just wondering….