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.
The Senate Public Affairs committee approved a measure to add more cameras to the webcast on the Senate floor–but voted against a measure to add any cameras to committee meetings.
During the debate Sens. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, and Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, tried to add an amendment to the bill which would allow for webcasting of all Senate committees, but Sens. Tim Eichenberg, D-Albuquerque, and George Muñoz, D-Gallup, joined Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, and Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad, in voting it down.
In the video below, Sen. Griego explains why he thinks webcasting in committees is essential.
“This is a good example, ironically, or coincidentally, of why committees are important to be webcast. People need to know what we’re doing,” Griego told The Independent.
“For folks that can’t get up here and folks who don’t understand, committees are where key decisions are made–90 percent of bills are determined in committee, only 10 percent get out here to the floor,” he said.
Sen. Tim Eichenberg said senators have many commitments at the Roundhouse and are sometimes absent from committee meetings, so the image of an empty chair could easily be misunderstood. Eichenberg voted in favor of the bill to expand the Senate floor cameras.
Others in the committee reportedly expressed concerns over the cost of expanding webcasting.
The Independent on Saturday repeatedly asked Sen. Eichenberg for an on-camera interview; twice he demurred.
Senator Griego says the idea of webcasting in Senate committees isn’t completely dead. He will try to bring the measure to the Senate floor for a vote.
SR 1 would increase the number of webcams on the floor, adding more than the one that is there now. How many more is still a question since the measure is worded like this (words struck out are those being removed from the current rule):
the live video stream shall be [from a single
camera installed at the rear of the chamber, positioned
and focused so as to capture an image of the chamber that
as nearly as possible replicates the view of a member of
the public seated in the gallery] produced from cameras
configured and operated in such a way that as much of the
chamber is displayed as practicable but that no material
on members’ desks, computer monitors or similar devices
can be read or viewed except as would otherwise be
possible with an unaided eye
SR 1 was given a do pass by the committee and according to the Legislature Web site is due up next in the Senate Rules committee.
