Apparently, the risers are being removed from the back of the hearing rooms at the capitol [QR]. They say it's because there needs to be more wheelchair access. I say - kiss my grits! They want us bloggers to stop posting from the back of those hearing rooms. You can't stop us! We're everywhere! We'll find a way to post from those hearings. . . oh yes, we will. (insert evil laugh here)
(full QR article below - in the permalink, people - it's long)
August 11, 2005 5:40 PM
HK: LEADERSHIP DECIDES TO REDUCE SEATING IN COMMITTEE HEARING ROOMS
Preservation Board decides to remove risers in the back
In an executive decision with no public comment, no posting and no notice, the State Preservation Board has decided to remove the risers in the back of the committee hearing rooms at the Capitol
The stated reason is to create easier access for people in wheelchairs. But in ten years, we have not heard a single complaint from groups representing the disabled.
Trust me. If there was a problem we would have heard.
The SPB claims that the risers were initially put in for TV news cameras. They say that it is being underutilized for that purpose.
Frankly, we are not sure what the real reason is, but we are not buying the wheelchair explanation nor would anyone who has spent any time in the committee rooms.
Nor are we buying the claim that the risers are underutilized by TV cameras. When there is a hot hearing, the cameras are on the risers and the radio people have their recorders plugged into sound jacks. The State Preservation Board never believed that there would be wall to wall TV coverage of committee hearings.
The risers in the back of the room now provide additional public seating for hundreds if not thousands of people over the course of a session. The Preservation Board has apparently decided empty space in the back of the hearing room is preferable to providing additional seating for hearings. They would prefer for folks to sit on the floor and not be able to see over the people in the permanent seating.
In addition, it makes plugs for computers less accessible to people keeping track of the hearings.
The State Preservation Board is composed of Governor Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Speaker Tom Craddick, Senator Chris Harris (R-Arlington) and Rep. Peggy Hamric (R-Houston) along with one public member.
It gets tiresome hearing about open government, an open process and more transparency when the Preservation Board run by the Big Three secretly decides to let fewer people sit reasonably comfortably in a hearing room. In addition, the hearing rooms will be less TV and radio friendly translating into even less TV and radio coverage. Citizen witnesses are already at the mercy of committee chairman who frequently push them to the tail end of the hearing late in the evening. So this is just one more way to try the patience of the folks trying to keep track of and participate in their government.
The lobby, advocates, public and press have enough trouble following and participating in the process. We will leave it to our readers to decide why the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker would want to make it more difficult to participate.
What's next? Take the hearings off the internet to save electricity?
ã Copyright August 11, 2005 by Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
During the last Session and two subsequent Specials, I have attended (and provided nearly word-for-word transcriptions of) 98 hearings. I'll wager I attended more hearings than any one member of the Preservation Board or any employee of the agency---and I'm telling you this is a totally bogus excuse for limiting access, media and otherwise, to the hearing rooms. Add this is the fact that attendees have to beg and plead to get an overflow room, even when there are plenty available and vacant. (Example: when Appropriations and/or Finance meets at the un-Godly hours of 7 and 8 am, the posted hearing room is usually packed to the gills, but no overflow rooms are provided). I'm all for wheelchairs having all the access they need, but the largest number of wheelchairs I saw in any meeting in 2005 was 6, and I'm certain there was no problem. All the talk about transparency and open government is bull, and I intend to raise hell (like that'll do any good)!
I do not know the reason for this idea, but I can assure you it is not to allow more access to anyone who has special needs. The last few sessions have been extremely painful to special need Texans and those same members do not want to see what they are doing.
I remember when the Extension was first opened the intent was to have those for media to film meetings (hence the audio jacks on the risers). But They were hardly EVER used for that purpose. I agree they make a handy seat when you are just popping into a meeting to see what's up or to find a wayward lobbyist. If this is truly to offer easier access to handicapped visitors, they could at least install another row of normal seats along the back wall and STILL have room for wheelchair visitors to park.
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Singer George Michael lends the piano on which John Lennon wrote Imagine to an anti-war exhibition...
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Record company EMI sign a deal with the estate of crooner Dean Martin to use the singer's likeness...
Veteran game show host Bob Barker is stepping down from hosting The Price is Right after 35 years...
The first stage of a £150m investment in regional museums is praised for boosting visitor numbers...
The Rolling Stones postpone a show in the US to allow singer Sir Mick Jagger time to rest his voice...
Record company EMI sign a deal with the estate of crooner Dean Martin to use the singer's likeness...
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TV host Oprah Winfrey gives audience members $1,000 (£526) each to donate to a charitable cause...
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London-born rapper Sway is to be honoured at the BET Hip-Hop awards in the US...
TV host Oprah Winfrey gives audience members $1,000 (£526) each to donate to a charitable cause...
The first stage of a £150m investment in regional museums is praised for boosting visitor numbers...
Classical singer Russell Watson postpones his forthcoming UK tour after undergoing brain surgery...
A musical about the witches from The Wizard of Oz breaks West End box office records, its producers say...
The Rolling Stones postpone a show in the US to allow singer Sir Mick Jagger time to rest his voice...
A musical about the witches from The Wizard of Oz breaks West End box office records, its producers say...
Veteran actor William Franklyn, known for voicing the 1960s Schweppes TV adverts, dies aged 81...
Veteran actor William Franklyn, known for voicing the 1960s Schweppes TV adverts, dies aged 81...
Record company EMI sign a deal with the estate of crooner Dean Martin to use the singer's likeness...
Pioneering screenwriter Nigel Kneale, best known for the Quatermass TV serials and films, dies aged 84...
Doctor Who takes three prizes at the National Television Awards in a repeat of its success last year...
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are leading the way at this years MTV Europe music awards with four nominations...
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Alec Baldwin asks for his voice to be removed from an "unfair" documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger...
Alec Baldwin asks for his voice to be removed from an "unfair" documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger...
Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen reportedly signs a $42.5m (£22m) film deal starring his character Bruno...
Veteran actor William Franklyn, known for voicing the 1960s Schweppes TV adverts, dies aged 81...
London-born rapper Sway is to be honoured at the BET Hip-Hop awards in the US...
Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen reportedly signs a $42.5m (£22m) film deal starring his character Bruno...
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The Rolling Stones postpone a show in the US to allow singer Sir Mick Jagger time to rest his voice...
The Rolling Stones postpone a show in the US to allow singer Sir Mick Jagger time to rest his voice...
Wonderful. Let's make it as inconvenient as possible.
But there is this: I was in a hearing room towards the end of the session where the riser has been removed. The seats were full, and there was nowhere to sit, except on the floor. Which in a skirt was just a little difficult. There were all these lobbyists standing around in the back, instead of sitting on the riser, looking tired. (It was a long hearing.) I was trying to access my email, but couldn't leave because I had signed a witness affirmation to testify. Of course, the only plugs are at the back of the room, which meant I found myself standing up and balancing the computer on one hand, typing with the other, while I kept my purse between my feet. Pretty soon, two opposing lobbyists took pity and came over to help. They groused, I typed while one held the computer, and we ended up reaching a compromise on the bill. The bill passed, but made the compromise was not to the sponsor's liking. (Apparently not in line with his ideology.) This may be a new unifying tool despite their efforts to limit participation. Probably not, but that one incident was priceless. Bast**ds.