Pandemic may help spread access to Legislature

CHENEY – In what might be somewhat of an irony, keeping legislators out of Olympia during the recently started biennial legislative session could actually increase participation by the public.

With COVID-19 health protocol restrictions limiting lawmakers and others access to the normal governing process, several organizations have actually worked to create better access to sessions, hearings and the ability to provide remote testimony. And early indications show it might be working easier than anticipated.

In a recent email, Washington State Democratic Caucus Communications Director Aaron Wasser provided some links Washington residents can use to not only follow what’s happening in Olympia but also participate. The Legislature has provided expanded remote testimony capabilities this session so that people can testify on any bill from anywhere up to an hour prior to a committee hearing.

Two remote links are provided – one for each chamber. In the Senate, individuals can use https://app/leg/wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate. In the House, go to https://app/leg.wa/gov/CSIRemote/House.

People can also submit written testimony on any bill scheduled for a public hearing. People have long been able to submit written comment on a bill, but prior to this year, those comments were sent directly to the constituent’s own legislators. The new written testimony system saves comments where committee members and staff can access and read it, and where committee staff will later place it in the committee file and archive it where it will be maintained as part of the public record.

Written testimony can be submitted at the same links used to sign-in for public testimony above.

So far the process seems to be working, as evidenced from some critical of the Legislature in the past. One of those is Washington Policy Center Director of the Center for Government Reform Jason Mercier, who provided remote testimony recently on Senate Bill 5096 “9 % income tax on capital gains.”

In a post to his blog page, Mercier said more than 100 people signed up to provide video/phone testimony with another 524 signing in for the official record. Those providing testimony were given a unique link that took them to the Zoom waiting room where “we could see the active cameras for the hearing.”

After he was called to the speaking queue, Mercier said the view changed to a Zoom gallery showing those ready to testify. Participates need to remember to activate their computer cameras and unmute when it was their turn to speak. While speaking, a countdown clock was visible showing how much time each had left.

“I was so happy to see and hear the comments from those testifying about how much they appreciated the option for remote testimony,” Mercier said. “Legislative staff did a wonderful job setting this process up. It was incredibly easy to use.”

Wasser pointed out in his email that due to Covid-19 protocols, legislators won’t be meeting in person with constituents, but people are encouraged to schedule Zoom meetings with their senators and representatives. To find your legislator’s contact information and schedule a meeting: https://app.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/

And, like usual, every committee meeting, floor session, press conference and special event will be broadcast at TVW.org.

“There will of course be a few bumps along the way, and we are all looking forward to returning to in-person business as soon as possible,” Wasser said. “But we have worked hard over the interim to get to this point, and made some innovations to increase participation and transparency, especially in the area of universal remote testimony.

Mercier hopes the process will be something a bit more permanent.

“My hope is that this new robust remote testimony option for citizens will keep going strong long after COVID-19 is off the front pages,” he said.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].