When it comes to sunshine, Arizona has plenty – so much so, that more of that sunshine is being shed on the inner workings of Arizona government than in most other states.
We all understand that we have a right to know what our Government is up to. This is National Sunshine Week, which provides us with an important opportunity to learn about improved Government transparency and its importance to us all.
Arizona is one of the few states that require legislative committee agendas to be distributed at least 5 days prior to committee hearings – all of which are posted online. Many states require little or no notice and very few post online. Additionally, all committee agendas, bills, and amendments are available on our website http://www.azleg.gov. Legislative press releases are also posted here.
This year, the Arizona Legislature was recognized a top performer in a national study by Granicus regarding government webcasts. Out of 518 government agencies in 2008, we ranked 4th in the most archived webcasts created, and 7th in the most live webcast viewers. Through our online archive of streaming video, we have made it possible for constituents to participate in the legislative process from home. These webcasts are available on our website and can also be viewed on cable TV through Arizona Capitol Television (ACTV) on Cox Channel 123. Senate Republicans also have a twiter account at http://twitter.com/AZsenateGOP
Constituents play an important role in the legislative process and transparency in government helps the public stay informed and involved in legislative decisions. With Arizona on the brink of bankruptcy, openness within our budget and policy making process is critical to an accurate understanding of the decision making process.
Important decisions about the future of Arizona are being made every day and it is my hope that these tools will help Arizonans shed just a little more light on what is happening at the Legislature. As we move into the 2010 budget decisions, I hope we will all will take advantage of these tools and maintain involvement in our political process.
