Although many bills have already been passed, any bill labeled “exempt” can be held until the last minute. That’s when the legislature puts in an extra shift so it can grind out all the bills under the cover of darkness.
How can Nevada taxpayers keep track of what’s going on in Carson City so they can have some input? One great source of information is the official Web site for the legislature, www.leg.state.nv.us. It would be well worth your time to spend a few minutes investigating its online resources to see what’s happening at the legislature and send feedback to your representatives before it is too late.
You can find your representatives’ information on the site under the heading “Who’s My Legislator?” Once you know who to write or call, go to “Assembly” and “Senate” on the left side of the main page, and you can pull up information about your senator or assemblyman, including a hyperlink to their email address.
There are several ways to find out which bills are currently being considered. Under “Session Info” on the main page, you can choose “2007 Session” and then “Bill Info” for a complete list of all bills, sorted in several different ways. If you want to be informed when a particular bill is coming up before a committee or when it will be voted on, you can also sign up for “Personalized Bill Tracking” on the main page. For a fee of $50, this function allows you to track up to 25 Bill Draft Requests or bills and receive two daily emails: one is a list of all legislation passed that day, and the second is a status report of each bill on your list. More expensive options allow you to track more bills and have announcements sent to more than one email account.
What if the bill you’re tracking will be discussed in a committee meeting today? You can find a “Calendar of Meetings” on the main page, or go directly to “Live Meetings-Listen or View.” This function allows you to receive live streaming video or audio of the meeting through Windows Media Player. You can follow along with the discussion, and if you want to send a comment to your representative or to a committee member, you can open another window on your computer and send an email. Many lawmakers have their laptops on during meetings.
Your email might say, “Ask the Senator what this is going to cost the average homeowner?” Or, “This might work for people in large cities, but how will it affect rural communities?” This is your chance to affect the legislative process. It’s the next best thing to being there in person.
The main page of the Web site also has a function called “Share Your Opinion/Opinion Poll.” This gives you an opportunity to choose a bill and give a quick “For” or “Against.” Entering your address will make sure your opinion goes to the correct legislator. It only takes a minute.
The Web site also contains a wealth of miscellaneous information. Its “FYI-New and Notable Information” section contains links to the governor’s official budget, the 2007 Nevada Education Data Book, a list of ombudsmen and advocates for special causes, a list of public information officers at major state agencies and a complete Legislative Manual, among other things.
The session will be over in a few weeks, but there’s still time this month to participate in the political process to let your voice be heard. Log on to www.leg.state.nv.us today and see how it can help you take an active part. Your involvement in the process is critical, so let your voice be heard.
