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To access links, see Steven Clift's blog: http://dowire.org/notes/?p=280 Post: Nebraska Governor candidate calls for "e-democracy" initiative, Minnesota State Legislature Wins Online Democracy Award An article in the Nebraska StatePaper.com contains something I've been looking for for a long time - a political campaign promise to implement e-democracy efforts if elected. I suppose it doesn't help that Democrat David Hahn is 50% points down in the polls to incumbent Republican Dave Heineman, but his statements are a start. Some day I'd like to see candidate/parties asked a number of e-democracy related voter guide questions ... like should the law require that all public meeting notices be posted on the Internet? I wonder if Brian ran into my proposals for online legislative hearing rooms online? The clip: Nebraskans everywhere should be able to participate more in state government, he said. Hahn said he would establish "an e-democracy program? that would involve high-speed Internet connections "including ... our state�s people-owned public utilities to provide virtual hearing, meeting and committee rooms where every Nebraskan, including those in western Nebraska and those with disabilities who find it difficult if not impossible to travel, can participate in the operation of government, testify to legislative committees and involve themselves in state government, by being there through the power of the Internet.? Speaking of active government support for e-democracy, my friends in the Minnesota State Legislature won a well deserved award for the continous improvements on their websites. While many government agencies and parliaments introduce new features every few of years after X, Y, and Z consultant recommendations or mega-plan, the Minnesota legislature uses homegrow staff talent to update their democracy services every year. Minnesota State Legislature Wins Online Democracy Award Minnesota State Legislature Wins Online Democracy Award News Release Sep 13, 2006 The Minnesota State Legislature's Web site received the Online Democracy Award for "outstanding achievement in using design, content and technology to bring democracy closer to the citizens of Minnesota." The selection committee noted the site's user-friendly navigation, its high searchability, its inclusion of new tools and technologies such as RSS feeds, and its impressive youth page. The Online Democracy Award was created by the National Conference of State Legislature's Legislative Information and Communication Staff Section (LINCS) and the National Association of Legislative Information Technology (NALIT). The NCSL Online Democracy Award was created in 2005 to recognize a state legislative Web site that stands out for making democracy user-friendly. The award seeks to honor the best use of the Web by a state legislature, legislative chamber or partisan legislative caucus. *** Democracies Online Newswire - http://DoWire.Org *** To comment/for links: http://dowire.org/notes/?p=280 To network: http://groups.dowire.org Submit posts: http://dowire.org/submit Member profile for Steven: http://groups.dowire.org/main/contacts/stevenclift ----------------------------------------- Group home for Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail: http://groups.dowire.org/main/groups/newswire Replies go to members of Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail with all posts on this topic here: http://groups.dowire.org/topic/133949 For digest version or to leave Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail, email [email protected] with "digest on" or "unsubscribe" in the *subject*. Newswire - Steven Clift's blog posts by e-mail is hosted by Democracies Online - http://dowire.org.
