Establishing policies for the Legislative Broadcast Program's cablecasts of House of Representative proceedings

House Committee on Legislative Management (LMG) - chair: Tokioka, vice chair: Oshiro

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 2:30 p.m.. Conference Room 329

Testifier: JoAnn Maruoka, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view HR205

Chair Tokioka, Vice Chair Oshiro and LMG committee members, The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports the intent of HR 205 to establish policies for the cablecast of House of Representatives' proceedings. To that end, we strongly recommend that you include having the director of the Public Access Room (PAR) make the selections of house hearings and floor sessions to be broadcast. We find great value in airing legislative proceedings. Not everyone can sit for hours in hearing rooms and chambers. Airing the proceedings gives the people front row seats in their own homes. Because funding is not available for complete coverage, the selection of the proceedings to be aired is all-important and should be made with both the importance of the issues and the greatest level of public interest in mind. A Committee assembled by 'Olelo to help evaluate their two-year pilot program cablecasting the legislative proceedings reached the consensus that “Diversity of issues covered is not as important as is the coverage of those issues generating the greatest controversy, those involving the appropriation of significant funds, and those impacting the largest number of people.” We wholeheartedly support as sound and prudent having the broadcast selections made by the PAR Director, who is not only the contract administrator for the broadcast project but who, in administering the facility, keeps abreast of the issues before the Legislature. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.