The live Internet and digital TV broadcasts of action in the House and Senate this year got a big boost today, as the Idaho State Broadcasters Association contributed $35,000 toward the effort for this year’s legislative session. With another $25,000 from the Idaho PTV Foundation endowment, the service is fully funded for the session. Lee Wagner, ISBA president, said the group decided the service “was consistent with our mission as broadcasters across the state.” This year, in the Legislature’s temporary quarters in the old Ada County courthouse, there are no public galleries in the House or Senate chambers, so the live broadcasts provide “virtual” galleries. But Jeff Youtz, legislative services director, said they’re drawing thousands of viewers – far more than ever could have been accommodated in public galleries. Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes called it “a great service,” adding, “Really the business that we’re doing here is the people’s business.”

---

---