I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Today on KOB-TV’s “Eye on New Mexico” show, you could see a very engaging state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones dissect Santa Fe’s now-adjourned legislative session.
And I don’t think I’m the only one who detected maybe a hint that the Albuquerque Republican was basking in the glory of what was clearly a very a successful 60 days for her.
Arnold-Jones, of course, was the four-term state representative — a member of the long-suffering GOP minority in the House – who took it upon herself to webcast her own committee hearings.
On KOB, she said she did it for those constituents who genuinely wanted to see their government in action.
Despite all the commotion and consternation that single act of high-tech (actually, low-tech) digital trailblazing unleashed, in the end, legislative leaders in the House approved only an official audio stream of floor sessions.
Common Cause Executive Director Steven Robert Allen, also a guest on the show, explained how the Senate had a much more comprehensive webcasting approach — at least initially.
“They did have ultimately this whole setup so they could have full broadcasting. They narrowed it down, narrowed it down. Eventually they just have one camera in the back of the room that shows about five senators” — just the backs of their heads, I might add — “of the 42. It’s pretty poor quality.”
Then Arnold-Jones jumped in to pile on the Senate.
“And the sad thing is they had the opportunity to have the camera at least show the display board so the citizens knew what bill they were on. In their rules, they chose not do to that.”
And with that, “Eye on New Mexico” co-host Dennis Domrzalski asked the money question: “Why on earth would someone be opposed to live broadcast so the public can find out and track what their lawmakers are doing?”
“We are their bosses,” he added for emphasis.
“Exactly,” Arnold-Jones responded. “You know, I would say probably on several levels. One is the way we have done business for a very long time.”
She continued:
On a very personal side, you know, as legislators, we’re human, we’re fallible. Because there have been no cameras, we have been able to be glib. And we all know that. One of the downsides of doing this is you cannot be as instantaneously funny, because it will be misinterpreted. And I know people are worried about that.
And then, we’re from New Mexico. We have individuals that speak with a bit of an accent. Believe it or not, that is one of the major issues for several of our members — is that they are afraid that people will see this and think that they are unschooled. And that’s clearly not the case. But that’s their fear.
Domrzalski: “I see.”
“So there’s a human side, they’re nervous,” Arnold-Jones said.
It was only after offering that bit of insider insight that Arnold-Jones noted what she called “the other bigger, overarching” argument against legislative webcasting: “that we will change our behavior and grandstand for the camera.”
Interesting how the Roundhouse works, huh? Maybe it’s not all the surprising, either. The main question left in my mind is: Which accents are lawmakers most “nervous” about?
Northern New Mexico Hispano? Southern New Mexico Hispano? Little Texas Anglo? Navajo? Pueblo? Albuquerque city slicker? Or maybe just the sweet-sounding Caribbean cadences of state Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton?
Your guess is as good as mine.
