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Editorial: Legislature must invest to make sure all parts of state are heard

Fri., Jan. 16, 2015

The Legislature is coming to Eastern Washington. At least, that is, if efforts underway to connect those of us on the east side of the Cascade Curtain to Olympia succeed.

Spokane residents got a peek at the possibilities in November, when the Senate Law and Justice Committee chaired by Sen. Mike Padden heard testimony from witnesses speaking in front of a camera at Spokane Community College. Normally, those witnesses would have had to drive over Snoqualmie Pass in winter conditions, into the Interstate 5 mash-up, with the chance that whatever hearing they were prepared for would not be postponed or canceled.

Too often, short notice of a hearing negated any possibility the trip could be made in time.

The risk and inconvenience deny Eastern Washington residents the opportunity to be heard by legislators who might be considering a bill that could directly affect them, their businesses or the well-being of their communities.

The November experiment was successful enough that the Senate Committee Services is advertising for remote testimony clerks in Spokane Valley and the Tri-Cities who would organize the process at those sites. Unfortunately, the late start and low pay given the responsibilities – $12.20 per hour – may not get someone in place until the session is well underway.

The recognition that much of the state has been shut out of the legislative process has been a long time coming, so this outreach is encouraging, and it is not the only one.

Wednesday, Secretary of State Kim Wyman and four senators – all from the West Side – announced the introduction of SB 5267, a bill that will allow prerecorded video testimony and written comments to be submitted to legislative committees, and made available to all legislators.

The bill language strongly suggests the provider of this new service could be TVW, “a nonprofit organization that produces gavel-to-gavel television coverage of state government deliberations. …”

But unless lawmakers step up with funding to replace 20-year-old equipment, TVW may have to rely on 8-millimeter film and reel-to-reel audiotape.

The service’s officials say its broken-down analog cameras can no longer be repaired or replaced. Every time one quits, viewers around Washington who rely on the service to monitor legislation lose access to another committee room. TVW asked lawmakers last year for $2.8 million to replace the system, but were snubbed.

Given the heavy use – TVW managed 5 million video streams in 2013 – an appropriation that assures all Washington citizens continued access to state government is not only a bargain, it’s a necessity. Expecting TVW to take on new responsibilities without more funding makes no sense.

Keep your eyes on Olympia – if you can – and make sure your legislators are doing all they can to put their eyes and ears on you.