The Tolbert Report

It has been an interesting few days for the Tolbert Report. Only days after David Kinkade broke the news that I was the leading candidate for the executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas based solely on my flip camming ability, Democrat Majority Leader Representative Steve Harrelson names a bill in my honor. All that is left is Speaker Robbie Wills presenting me the Ray Smith Award and my work here is complete.

Rep. Harrelson filed HB1611 this afternoon, which he refers to on his blog as “The Jason Tolbert Transparency Act of 2009.” The Act will open up the House Committee meetings to being broadcast on the internet so that for anyone with a computer to see. This is the standard practice in most state legislature now and it is really a major step to making the legislative process much more transparent. Most of the real debate on bills takes place within the committees. In these meetings, sponsors present their bill and take questions for committee members on it, committee members will discuss and debate the measures merit, and members of the public have the opportunity to openly advocate for or against the bill. Some people find these meetings mundane but I believe they are our representative democracy in action. These meetings, this open public debate among representatives we elect is what makes our government the best on earth.

So you ask, why did Rep. Harrelson attach my name to this? Two reasons. First, it is an issue I have chewed his ear off about every chance I get. Harrelson’s blog “Under the Dome” is one of the best political blogs in the state. In spite of being from different parties, Rep. Harrelson and I agree that the legislative process works best when it is open and that technology helps enable this like never before.

Second, I may be one of the reasons that some state legislators are now open to the idea. Many legislators are sick of seeing my flip cam pulled out in their committee meeting and in their face during interviews in the halls of the state capital. They know if they broadcast on the internet they can get rid me and more importantly my flip cam.  (Note – Actually most all of the legislators have been really great about me and flip cam showing up at the capital.)

Thank you Rep. Harrelson for filing this bill. I hope it will not only be passed but implemented fully.  I can’t wait until I can watch the legislative debates from the comfort of my laptop.

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UPDATE – The Jason Tolbert Transparency Act (JTTA) is on the CYN Poll for tomorrow’s story.  So go vote it up! 

Result - We lost to “Weather Woman” Carol Allen and her powerful lobby of the Clinton School’s Skip Rutherford. Why Skip Rutherford is trying to keep Arkansas legislative sessions offline is a question Clinton conspiracy theorists will be debating in chat rooms for days to come. 

The Arkansas Project rubs salt in the wound.