Lawmakers Go Virtual

None by KCPW

Utah legislators will put their blackberry phones to good use this week holding an "online town hall meeting" as they tour Salt Lake and Davis Counties:

"The schedule was so tight, with so many communities we had to visit, we decided to try a virtual town hall meeting that runs for two full days," says Senate President John Valentine.

Valentine says lawmakers usually hold a town hall meeting when they visit rural communities. But Salt Lake and Davis County residents can more easily visit the State Capitol, so legislative leaders didn't think a town hall meeting would be necessary. They've since reconsidered and will field questions from constituents submitted either by phone or online at www.utahsitevisit.com.

Valentine says the responses should come quickly.

"We just tested it and it took about ten minutes from the time I wrote a question out, it went to a staff member and was assigned to me, I wrote a response and had it posted," says Valentine.

Legislative leaders will assign lawmakers to answer questions using their blackberry phones as they tour Salt Lake and Davis Counties Wednesday and Thursday.

More details about the legislature's virtual town hall meeting are online at www.utahsitevisit.com.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom and Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW