Legislators and Laptops
The big flap this week, or I should say, one of the big flaps this week in the Arkansas Legislature has been over laptop computers being used while the House and Senate is in session.
The State, via the will of the legislature and our tax dollars has made available to every member of the House and Senate a pricey little laptop computer. At an estimated $1,800 each, per my handy little solar powered calculator is about $243,000. Also each "station", that is my term for their assigned seating, in the Chamber has been wired for power and internet. Just guessing, the cost of installation or ongoing service for this one has to be, remember this is under government contract not what you or I would pay, $1,200 per. That makes the “system” cost to tax payers about $405,000
Now the rub. The leaders of the Legislature want the internet to each legislator “shut-off” during sessions. So far it is uncertain if and at what cost that would be to reprogram the State’s computer system to get this selective switch installed and operational. The reason for this is the fear that lobbyist, special interest groups et. al. seem to be sending their legislator messages about Bills and discussions during the session. As has been rightly pointed out the time to peddle influence, Mr. And Ms. Lobbyist is before and during Committee Hearings. Not during the voting and discussion process of the “in-session” periods. By the way, no-one has mentioned the fact that the legislators themselves are reading and in some cases answering these e-mails.
Having been in almost every Committee Room at the Capitol for one reason or another, I can tell you that most, if not all, have a sign on the door. “Turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering” or “Cell phones and Pagers are Prohibited”. Also, to my knowledge everyone seems to be able to read and turns off their communication devices before entering the rooms. The cost of 30, eight and a half by eleven sheets of paper, a little inkjet printer ink and some tape to stick the little signs up can not be more than $50.00 by anybody’s estimate.
My question to our leadership and our elected officials is perhaps a little simple, but give me a break, I spend my own money or funds entrusted to me to help others wisely not tax dollars “donated” by laws you enacted, so I have to watch this stuff. Why not print up two more eight and a half by eleven little signs… post them on the entry to each chamber that says. “Use of Laptop Computers when the House/Senate is in session is prohibited”. This of course makes the assumption that the Members would follow the rules and that each of the pricey little State issued Laptops has an on/off switch.
Last question, is this by chance, an attempt to keep the ink media busy with this trivia while you increase your retirements, raise your pay, build more highways and increase the debt of our State while cutting services to our poor, our women, our children and families?
The State, via the will of the legislature and our tax dollars has made available to every member of the House and Senate a pricey little laptop computer. At an estimated $1,800 each, per my handy little solar powered calculator is about $243,000. Also each "station", that is my term for their assigned seating, in the Chamber has been wired for power and internet. Just guessing, the cost of installation or ongoing service for this one has to be, remember this is under government contract not what you or I would pay, $1,200 per. That makes the “system” cost to tax payers about $405,000
Now the rub. The leaders of the Legislature want the internet to each legislator “shut-off” during sessions. So far it is uncertain if and at what cost that would be to reprogram the State’s computer system to get this selective switch installed and operational. The reason for this is the fear that lobbyist, special interest groups et. al. seem to be sending their legislator messages about Bills and discussions during the session. As has been rightly pointed out the time to peddle influence, Mr. And Ms. Lobbyist is before and during Committee Hearings. Not during the voting and discussion process of the “in-session” periods. By the way, no-one has mentioned the fact that the legislators themselves are reading and in some cases answering these e-mails.
Having been in almost every Committee Room at the Capitol for one reason or another, I can tell you that most, if not all, have a sign on the door. “Turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering” or “Cell phones and Pagers are Prohibited”. Also, to my knowledge everyone seems to be able to read and turns off their communication devices before entering the rooms. The cost of 30, eight and a half by eleven sheets of paper, a little inkjet printer ink and some tape to stick the little signs up can not be more than $50.00 by anybody’s estimate.
My question to our leadership and our elected officials is perhaps a little simple, but give me a break, I spend my own money or funds entrusted to me to help others wisely not tax dollars “donated” by laws you enacted, so I have to watch this stuff. Why not print up two more eight and a half by eleven little signs… post them on the entry to each chamber that says. “Use of Laptop Computers when the House/Senate is in session is prohibited”. This of course makes the assumption that the Members would follow the rules and that each of the pricey little State issued Laptops has an on/off switch.
Last question, is this by chance, an attempt to keep the ink media busy with this trivia while you increase your retirements, raise your pay, build more highways and increase the debt of our State while cutting services to our poor, our women, our children and families?
posted by The Merlin Foundation | 7:39 AM
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