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ITD scheduled for presentations to joint
transportation committees, JFAC

ITD Director Dave Ekern and department administrators will meet with legislators this month and in early February to discuss accomplishments of the past year and outline funding priorities for Fiscal Year 2007.

They will give a joint presentation to the House and Senate transportation committees at the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 26. They will make a similar presentation to the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee two weeks later, at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 9.

Live video from the Idaho House and Senate has become a permanent fixture on the Internet. Idaho Public Television began offering video feeds from both chambers last year and recently announced plans to continue the feature permanently, according to Peter Morrill, general manager.

“Our goal is to make the government process accessible to citizens across Idaho and across the nation,” Morrill said during a newspaper interview.

Fixed video cameras have been permanently installed in the House and Senate chambers at a cost of $15,000-20,000. About 31,000 Internet “hits" were recorded last year of which an estimated 85 percent were from within Idaho and 40 percent were viewed from state computers.

High-speed Internet connections (including cable and DSL) are the best carriers, although dial-up access to the Internet also is possible.

Legislative sessions have been available via audio feeds on the Internet since 1999. In addition to House and Senate coverage, audio broadcasts of JFAC proceedings also are available.

For live access to House, Senate and JFAC deliberations go to the public television Web site at: http://idahoptv.org/idreports/LegislatureLive.cfm (Coverage of JFAC hearings began Tuesday, Jan. 10. It is available in audio only) A link to download Windows Media Player free is provided at the public television site.

The Idaho Legislature’s Web site is: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/