Date: Thu, 4 Aug 1994 10:03:08 -0700 Subject: GovAccess.043: ACT.ALERT! ACT.ALERT! Two CRUCIAL ITEMS ~Aug.8th Aug.04, 1994 [I *think* I have *finally* purged the GovAccess list of those who do not wish to continue to receive these postings. If not, flame me one more time.] &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Fact: California legislators consider 10 to 15 letters and faxes to be a *strong* showing of support for a bill (in a state of 31-million population!). One of the worst things about democracy is that citizens must occasionally *act* to inform their representatives of their desires. :-) These are two such instances. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& CRUCIAL VOTE ON MONDAY: PRECEDENT-SETTING EXECUTIVE-BRANCH ONLINE ACCESS Last year, AB 1624 opened California's legislative-branch info to free public access, online - a model now being pursued in perhaps a dozen other state legislatures. Now, we're afer the executive-branch. On Monday, Aug. 8, California's Assembly Bill 2451 (AB 2451) by Assemblyman Tom Bates will face a crucial vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 2451 passed the California Assembly unanimously (to my amazement), but some inside sources say it may have trouble in the Senate. *Faxed support letters are needed immediately!* <===!! And ... letters arriving on Monday will probably be useless! This bill would require that already-computerized state information, that is already public information under the California Public Records Act, be made available to the public via the Internet, without charges by the state. (Implementation is contingent on fetching-back some loot from the federal government to cover costs, but fed "information infrastructure" grants are already splattering around.) Online access to state-agency public records would greatly aid business, help local government to be more efficient, and permit a better-informed citizenship. Letters should be *short*, polite and to the point. (And, if there is state agency or regulatory information that could be helpful in your business or work, it's especially valuable to mention it.) Even if you've written a letter before, supporting this bill, PLEASE WRITE AGAIN (these new players need to know you're still interested -- and watching!). Our new targets: Senate Appropriations Committee (and their fax numbers) Bob Presley, Chairman (D-Riverside) 916-445-9781 (voice only; no fax?!) Bob Beverly, Vice Chairman (R-Redondo Beach) 310-540-2192 Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) 916-445-9263 David Kelley (R-San Diego) 916-327-2187 Bill Leonard (R-Upland) 916-327-2272 Alfred Alquist (D-San Jose) 916-323-8386 Ralph Dills (D-Gardena) 916-323-6056 Leroy Greene (D-Sacramento) 916-327-6341 Patrick Johnston (D-Stockton) 916-327-4213 Henry Mello (D-Gilroy) 916-448-0175 Art Torres (D-LA) 916-444-0581 Diane Watson (D-LA) 916-327-2599 Also, be sure to fax a copy of your letter to bill-author Bates' office at 916-445-6434. (His aide is Rachel Richman, rrichman@igc.apc.org, but the emerging reality is that emailed support letters are proving *NOT* to be very persuasive when shown to fence-sitting committee members - "They all look alike." The mummies in the legislature still need to see things that *look* like letters or faxed-letters! ) If you care enough ... send the very best! :-) And email this to all your friends und associates. Pronto! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& STILL TRYING TO GET CAMPAIGN-FINANCE DISCLOSURES ONLINE (Senate Bill 758) Another crucial precedent-setter - if we can get it passed (and this election-year is the time to do it!) - is Senator Tom Hayden's SB 758. It would require candidates and campaign committees receiving significant loot to file their public disclosures in computerized form (cheap! fast!), and would make the info freely available via the Internet. It's stuck in the Assembly Elections Committee, but can be reconsidered *IF* the committee Chairwoiman permits it - *soon*! There are some powerful insiders working on it, so it has a reasonable chance - *if* there's evidence of public interest. A fax to her as soon as possible can help pry SB 758 out of her committee, so it could still be passed in this session. Short, polite faxes advocating reconsideration of SB 758 (with a few reasons why it's important that citizens have *modern* access to these public disclosures) are needed, NOW!, to: Chairwoman Diane Martinez, fax/916-324-1393 (D-East Los Angeles) with a copy to bill-author Tom Hayden, fax/916-324-4823. And tell your friends! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ERRATA: TWO GovAccess.041's On June 11th, I exuded #041 concerning the Peninsula CivicNet Symposium. On June 29th, I sent another #041, having nothing to do with civic networking; entirely-concerned with California's computerized campaign-finance disclosures. Please consider it GovAccess.042. Hot dang! I neu I'd mak a misteak somedae. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& "If a Nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. ... If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed." -- Thomas Jefferson [from Chris Casey, Sen. Ted Kennedy's staff] Mo' as it Is. --jim Jim Warren, columnist for MicroTimes, Government Technology, BoardWatch, etc. 345 Swett Rd., Woodside CA 94062; voice/415-851-7075; fax/415-851-2814 >> To join or drop the GovAccess list, email to jwarren@well.com . << >> Permission herewith granted for unlimited reposting and recirculation. <<