| Yesterday Governor Corzine signed a bill that would make the complete voting records of all our Legislators available online. You may think this measure -- sponsored by Sen. Loretta Weinberg -- is overdue and it is. But still, it's been very satisfying to see this become law. The bill had unanimous support in the Statehouse and the Governor was keen to sign on the dotted line (along with a slew of good government legislation.)
If you've ever tried to track a bill online you know that the current archiving system is positively Byzantine. For the average citizen who doesn't frequent the legislature's website, it's damn near impossible to find anything. Likewise even for internet-savvy politics geeks like us, it's a tough chore to check the status (or history) of a bill.
It's not any easier for the politicians and their staff which might explain the universal appeal of this legislation. I remember one day at the statehouse when I popped into Reed Gusciora's office to ask him about a bill he had sponsored a few sessions prior.
In a scene reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, it took over twenty minutes for Asm. Gusciora, his chief of staff and myself to track down what I was looking for. All with a high-speed connection, no less. "Previously, voting records were available through the Legislature's website, but many residents found the searches to be limited and time-consuming. This law will make it easier for New Jerseyans to find the information they need," Senator Weinberg said. "This new law puts New Jersey one step closer to attaining total transparency in government."
Hopefully this new online archive will be available soon. I sent a late night note to the Senate Democrats to get an ETA and as soon as I get word, I'll update. (If anyone out there in Blue Jersey land cares to enlighten me in the meantime, the floor is yours) |
