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House to open web dialogues
on higher education, obesity
State representatives will
take another step toward improving citizen participation with two
web-based dialogues from July 23 to July 25. Washington residents are
invited to join legislators and experts in the "Web Dialogues" to
address obesity issues in the first dialogue and higher education access
in the second dialogue.
"Online democracy has exploded in recent years and the Legislature
should jump in and be a part of this new and exciting method of
communicating ideas with citizens," said House Speaker Frank Chopp,
Seattle. "Web dialogues will encourage more people outside of Olympia to
take part in key conversations with legislators, experts and each
other."
"These online dialogues are another positive step toward a more
transparent government and greater public participation in the
decision-making process," said
House Republican Leader Rep. Richard DeBolt. "This is an
opportunity to bring citizens into the legislative debate in a way
that’s convenient and allows for an open discussion of critical issues
such as health care, taxes and education."
Two House committees will host the two web dialogues from July 23
through July 25. Each day will focus on a different topic and will
involve a panel of experts. Registered individuals may participate at
their convenience and will receive daily summaries each morning.
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The Health Care and
Wellness Committee’s web dialogue will identify ideas to reduce
obesity. Poor diet, lack of physical activity, and obesity are
leading causes of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart
disease, which continue to increase every year. The treatment of
chronic diseases is a major component of the rising cost of health
care. The obesity web dialogue address is:
http://www.webdialogues.net/wahousehcw/obesity
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The Higher Education
Committee will use the second dialogue to examine ideas on what
communities, parents, colleges, universities, and the state can do
to educate more students to higher levels. Topics will cover
financial aid, improving access, and methods to educate students.
The access web dialogue address is:
http://www.webdialogues.net/wahousehe/access
The committee chairs and
ranking members will use the results of the dialogues in policy
planning. They also intend to keep web dialogue participants involved in
the legislative process throughout the fall and into the 2008 session.
In 2005, the Washington House of Representatives developed a strategic
plan to guide its work over the long term. Overwhelmingly, the biggest
concern that legislators wanted to address was citizens’ confidence in
the legislative process. Legislators thought citizens felt alienated
from a process dominated by lobbyists and insiders. They set as their
number one goal "to increase public participation, understanding and
transparency of the legislative process."
Last year, the House connected a hearing room to a high-speed
telecommunications network that allowed citizens from outside Olympia to
go to a neighboring school or community college and testify at hearings
in Olympia.
House members and staff are working with WestEd, a nonprofit
organization that provides web-based dialogues to inform and engage
citizens in public policy issues, after hearing about the resource last
summer. The two pilot dialogues with WestEd are being created to gain a
better knowledge and understanding of electronic democracy and to
improve the methods in which the House brings citizens into the
Legislative process.
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More
Information:
For interviews:
Speaker Frank Chopp: (360) 786-7920
Rep. Richard DeBolt: (360) 786-7896
Staff contacts:
Lisa Fenton, House Republican
Communications Director: (360) 786-7728
Larry Clark, House Democratic
Caucus: (360) 786-7214
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