In California, Nevada and Virginia, lawmakers use laptops to research information, view bills, amendments and engrossments, and send e-mails to their staff and notes to colleagues right from the floor. After all, this is a decision-making process, and I can t think of anything more important than good information. But in other places Alaska, Kansas and New Jersey, for example supplying laptops to lawmakers is still just an idea. In California, lawmakers get laptops, which they can use on the floor during sessions. However, they can t receive e-mail from the public during debate a policy that Gilles said keeps lawmakers from getting distracted.
Some states allow constituent e-mails during floor sessions, others don t.
Richard Masek, acting director of the Ohio Legislative Information System Office, said the office doesn t allow the public, including lobbyists, to interact with legislators during a floor session, so the sending of e-mails should not be allowed either. During a recent floor debate on a particular bill, one legislator received an e-mail message that was then conveyed to the entire House and became a subject of debate, he said. It s moving us toward participatory democracy. Whatever the policy, computers have become a staple in most legislatures as a communication tool. Five years ago, it was 10 percent e-mail and 90 percent paper.