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from: Progress Ohio

Netroots First News: HOUSE IMPEDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO TESTIFY ON CABLE BILL
By Dave Harding - Jun 1st, 2007 at 2:16 pm EDT

Rules show bias toward public input on public utility issues

A contentious bill that would weaken long-standing consumer protections and limit local oversight of cable TV providers just got more contentious when the Chair of the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee created rules that impede public testimony on the bill.

At issue are rules created by House Chairman Rep. John P. Hagan and Vice Chair Josh Mandel. They require written testimony at least 24 hours in advance of the committee hearing and 45 copies of that testimony. While committee chairs have the discretion to set some boundaries, this is an unusual and burdensome standard – especially in light of citizen interest in Senate Bill 117.

The usual process for testifying on a bill is to go to the hearing room and sign a witness slip prior to testifying. Under this new standard, those who fail to submit their testimony in advance – and in writing – could be denied their right to weigh in on this important legislation.

“Creating copying requirements for Ohioans to testify is burdensome and costly. Ohio’s General Assembly has recognized this repeatedly in setting cost and access standards for public records,” said Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director of ProgressOhio.org. “Clearly, Rep. Hagan and Rep. Mandel are creating a burdensome process to limit public input on this legislation.”

The controversial bill would allow utility giant AT & T to compete as a statewide franchise and it would limit public-access government channels.

According to their website, the head of the Ohio Cable and Telecommunications Association advocating for the bill is Jonathan McGee, Majority Chief of Staff of the Ohio House of Representatives in 2004. The website bio says Mr. McGee helped develop and manage the Ohio House Speaker’s legislative agenda, including setting state budget priorities, managing the staff and budget of the House and working to build consensus on a variety of legislative issues. From 2001 to 2004, he served as Majority Chief Legal Counsel for the House.

“The cozy nature of Mr. McGee’s background with the House majority caucus, coupled with the public’s interest in this bill, cry out for an open opportunity for public testimony on this bill regardless where you stand on its passage,” said Rothenberg. “It’s hypocritical and yet another barrier to an increasingly isolated government that wants to ‘grease the skids’ for a politically connected company.’’