Issue Position: Increasing Access and Transparency to Government

Issue Position

The words and actions of the legislature should be accessible to all North Dakotans, so that elected officials can be held accountable for what they say and what they do. I support the audio recording of all legislative committee hearings and floor sessions with the recordings being available for free on the Legislature's web page.

Most North Dakotans have family, school and work commitments that limit their ability to travel to Bismarck to participate in committee hearings. With readings, live public comment and committee discussion being scheduled less than a week before a bill is heard in committee, it is challenging for most North Dakotans to arrange to be in Bismarck to speak to the specific issues important to them. The winter weather that occurs throughout the legislative session can be unpredictable and dangerous at times to travel through. I support exploring the use of and expansion of our current technology infrastructure so that North Dakotans can participate in committee hearings remotely, from their community, through North Dakota STAGEnet.

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