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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Idaho Legislature uniquely transparent

In looking at the Gem State’s Legislature compared to those of its neighboring states, one significant difference emerges. Idaho citizens enjoy a level of transparency unseen in surrounding states.

While the structures of legislatures in Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington and the compensation of their legislators make for interesting comparisons with Idaho, there really is no comparison between the Gem State and its neighbors when it comes to legislative transparency. “Idaho In Session,” the service provided by Idaho Public Television allowing access to both live and archived legislative proceedings, is both more comprehensive and provides more platforms than any other similar service in the neighboring states.

Nevada, for example, provides a live web stream of legislative floor sessions and sells DVD copies of the archives, but doesn’t provide any audio or video coverage of committee hearings. Oregon provides live web streams of floor sessions and committee hearings, but only archives the audio. Washington provides web streams and cable TV coverage of floor sessions and some committee hearings, along with archives of some sessions for on-demand consumption. More here. Austin Hill, IdahoReporter

Are you pleased with the level of transparency in the Idaho Legislature?



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.