Home 2016 Election Assembly Candidate Dave Miller Proposes First Electronic Legislative Debate/Hearing/Voting Process

Assembly Candidate Dave Miller Proposes First Electronic Legislative Debate/Hearing/Voting Process

by ECT

Dave Miller, 11th Assembly District Candidate, from Fairfield, today proposed a sweeping outline to make California, the nation’s first Electronic Legislature.   “Using Advanced Technologies that are based right here in the Bay Area, the State of California can become the Nation’s first Electronic Legislature.” Miller said in his Statement.

“If you and I can Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Marco Polo, and Periscope, why can’t we stay in our home district offices, and work from there, using Social Media platforms and other assorted technologies that are available to everyday America?”

An Assemblyman or Senator could stay in his home district office, and conduct both debate, and vote, using biometric technology, with his thumbprint, and would only need to visit Sacramento for special occasions, such as Constitutionally required events, like the Governor’s annual State of the State Message, and swearing in ceremonies of new Sessions of the Legislature.

The Savings to California Taxpayers would be incalculable at this time.  A State Legislator working from his District office would allow him/her to conduct MORE business in his/her district, and would also allow him/her to participate both in committee debate from the home district office.  It would also save the State Millions in State Capitol Staffing, as all the staffing requirements would be directed towards the home district, not the Capitol.

This system would also allow for more public input from average citizens who desire to be heard on various issues before hearings and committees, but cannot afford to commute to Sacramento to be heard on important legislation.

It would also be harder for a Legislator to ignore the pleas of their constituency, who are right outside their district office doors, vs. a group of people who have been “fenced off from the world” on the State Capitol Grounds.  Presently, State Legislators can conveniently bypass Protestors on the State Capitol grounds, by leaving any number of exits.

Working from the Home District Office, provides the Legislator some insulation from the influence of Lobbyists from around the state, on issues of all varieties, allowing him/her to be a more “free thinking” Legislator.

But, most importantly, the best benefit from an Electronic Legislature is that a Legislator can come  home to his family every night, except those nights where the actual floor sessions go into the wee hours of the Morning.   It saves the Taxpayers of the State of California countless Millions on per diem costs for Legislators staying in Sacramento, when you could be in the home district office, working from home.   I would even say, for those nights when the floor session is going late, a portable laptop-like system could even be set up at home, so you can vote from home

For more information about Dave Miller, you can visit him online at www.electdavemiller.com. Dave Miller is running against Democrat Jim Frazier this November.

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6 comments

Old Pittsburg/Antioch Hwy Border Jul 16, 2016 - 6:50 am

Smart proactive action. It will never get out of committee. No one wants to work directly with constituents when the goal is to gain more power working the rooms in D.C.

Jake G Jul 16, 2016 - 11:07 am

What a goofball idea. I can picture it now. Our elected leaders calling in while playing golf or baking cookies. Good in theory, but its neither practical or realistic. If the person I vote is casting votes from a remote location, I am not in favor of that. Sorry Mr. Miller, but this is just a poor idea.

Dave Jul 16, 2016 - 11:41 am

While I agree, your more corrupt elements of this Legislature would seek to come up with ways to circumvent this process, the biometric thumbprint equipment would only be located in the district office….forcing the legislator to physically be in the office during floor sessions. Perhaps all you’ve just convinced me is that the laptop is indeed a poor idea. Daily schedules of Legislators are always subject to FOIA requests. I believe it has merit as it relates to public involvement.

My father, who retired as the Director of Worldwide Tele communications for a fortune 500 multinational corporation, before passing away, would be the first man to sign on to this concept.

Dave Jul 16, 2016 - 12:08 pm

Jake: I hung up Golf many years ago, and if you saw the Confetti Cake I tried to bake last week, with my 6 y/o, you’d know its not that I don’t bake, its that I CAN’T bake either.

My overall point/theme is pretty simple. Average citizens could come to the local Assembly office and provide testimony (to the State Capitol) on a range of topics, regardless of whether they were for the measure, or opposed to it, and not have to spend hundreds of personal dollars doing it. Legislators would be unable to vote on Legislation before the entire body, if they weren’t sitting in front of their stations (in their office) and vote using their biometric thumbprint reader equipment, which is why(and I agree with your premise in hindsight) that laptops would be a horrible idea.

I feel quite certain I can find co-sponsors, but would rather put this before the electorate, via a referendum, to gauge its popularity first.

My father, who retired as Director of Telecommunications from a Fortune 500 multi national corporation in the 1980’s, would be the first person to tell you, had he been alive today, that this would indeed work (at the very least) on a pilot program level, and allow for greater public involvement in the government process.

A Real True Thought Jul 16, 2016 - 9:27 pm

Yeah right, they will have one of their staff members use a preformed response to our concerns.

Hackers already trash their equipment, so when a vote goes bad let’s blame a hacker. Thus, the voting would be worthless.

Save money, not we need new equipment, better security software, more staffing to run it – especially after they lose their stuff with classified material to cover their butts, staff to answer our questions, and the crap continues and we pay for their mistakes and some.

BAD IDEA – I’LL NEVER VOTE FOR IT!!!

Dave Jul 19, 2016 - 7:41 am

According to what I know about the Computers at Chamber workstations in both houses in Sacramento, they are both as antiquated and yes, corruptible as some of the men and women who currently sit at those stations. I say, lets not blame a hacker….Lets enjoy ‘free thinking’ legislators, who can be as free as they want to be, of Lobbyist groups, and other special interests, while at the same time, allowing citizens to play a much larger role in how their Legislator votes on bills in Sacramento.

This equipment upgrade, done in the local district offices, could be provided by the same companies you and I purchase our Computer equipment from. My experience in biometric technologies, and the contacts I’ve gained over my years in this field, make this all but a forgone conclusion.

IT WILL HAPPEN SOMEWHERE, SOMEDAY. Why shouldn’t it be the largest state in the Continental United States?

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