Webcast Fail in Santa Fe

The following post is my own opinion, and not that of KOB-TV, nor of its management and owner.

As you Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, text, email, chat and videoconference...ask yourself this: Does your lawmaker understand you? Or does your representative believe a "series of tubes" makes up the internet?

Up in Santa Fe it appears we have a case where a handful of elected officials are out-of-touch with some of their constituents who own these things called "computers."

At issue: a thing called "The Internet" and a very, very strange word called "webcasting."

Or perhaps I'm wrong, and they clearly understand the internet and are threatened by its potential to shine the light on their activities even more.

Over the past couple of weeks, video webcasting has become an issue at the Capitol. Steve Terrell, The New Mexico Independent, and Heath Haussamen have done a great job covering the issue.

To sum it up, most of the lawmakers want video webcasting of the session. In fact, they voted last year to buy cameras to broadcast this year's session on the net. But a handful of lawmakers took down the cameras, citing budget concerns.

Why is webcasting important? Here are some of the reasons why:

It's 2009
New Mexicans have computers (and they're represented by the legislature)
Open Government
Accessibility for people who can't travel to Santa Fe
The session IS PUBLIC

As Terrell reported, New Mexico continues to be one of only five states in the country that continues not to webcast its legislative sessions.

Today, Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones took it upon herself to webcast her own meeting when some lawmakers called on her to turn off the internet feed. She refused and put it on streaming video anyway.


House Speaker Ben Lujan didn't want the net broadcast, and criticized Arnold-Jones, according to this quote from the New Mexico Independent:

“You have been here long enough to know that we have rules,” Lujan said. “It’s just unfortunate and a little surprising that you didn’t have the courtesy to even allow or even visit with the chairman of the committee or with myself or your leadership.”

With all due respect Mr. Speaker, but it appears Rep. Arnold-Jones was more concerned about her constituents and the public rather than "her leadership" or with what you thought. Kudos to her.

Put up the cameras lawmakers. It's time to watch those who don't like to be watched.
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jeremyjojola.com