Saturday, October 12, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, January 27, 2011
House GOP Caucus introducing transparency bills
By News Release @ 10:46 PM :: 8127 Views :: Maui County, Education K-12, Energy, Environment

REP. THIELEN DRAFTS LEGISLATION PROMOTING HOUSE TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION  

News Release from Office of Rep. Thielen

Representative Cynthia Thielen (50th District: Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) has drafted three resolutions which encourage timely public review of legislation as it is considered in the House of Representatives.  The resolutions will be introduced by the Republican Caucus this session.

"The State House of Representatives needs to address the lack of transparency and public participation in the legislative process by using the technology we have at our disposal today by immediately communicating to the public through video, webcasting and audio transmission," said Representative Thielen.

She noted that, "A more transparent government begins with public engagement which enhances government's effectiveness and improves the quality of its decisions.  It is important that elected officials are able to hear from their constituents in a timely manner before a piece of legislation comes up for a vote."

There are three resolutions which will be considered, including one which requests that the House of Representatives broadcast more legislative proceedings, such as committee hearings, and post them on the Capitol website.

The second resolution proposes an extension of the time for public notice of committee hearings from 48 to 72 hours.  Weekend hours will be excluded and a waiver in the hearing notice requirement would require a vote by the full House of Representatives.

The third resolution urges the Legislature to post all amendments to bills and resolutions online immediately in instances when hard copies of the amendments or amended legislation are distributed at committee hearings. This allows the public an opportunity to make comments on the proposed amended bill at the hearing.

"Our hope is that legislation such as this will encourage better communication between the public and their elected officials in regards to individual pieces of legislation.   Giving people adequate time to review and comment on proposed bills and legislation will improve the quality of legislation and enhance trust in government," said Thielen, noting that legislation is often amended without citizen input and comment.

***

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii