Comments on: Hundreds of amendments under consideration http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/ State Representative Ryan Dvorak - Indiana's 8th House District Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:38:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: Ryan Dvorak http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/#comment-78 Thu, 02 Feb 2006 04:57:04 +0000 http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/#comment-78 Thanks for the comments. I wish I was updating more frequently now, but close to 14 hours a day on the House floor every day has a way of vaccuming up time. We actually do have an in-house software system (called Legisoft) which can be used to access the bills and amendments. However, the paper is a good backup for when the system crashes (like it did yesterday). Also, all the documents in Legisoft are .pdfs - and only compatible with Adobe 5.0 at that. That's several years out of date, and can be quite slow at times. Sometimes it's just quicker to read the paper copy than it is to pull it up in the software. Also, under tight deadlines on busy days, we sometimes receive the paper copy before it appears in the system. When you have a few hundred amendments to analyze in a couple hours, speed is of the essence. Finally, some Members just don't use their computers. I agree it would be nice to have a more adaptable system that would produce redlines. That would be the Legislative Services Agency's perogative - but I'll ask them what the odds are of implementing it. Thanks for the comments. I wish I was updating more frequently now, but close to 14 hours a day on the House floor every day has a way of vaccuming up time.

We actually do have an in-house software system (called Legisoft) which can be used to access the bills and amendments. However, the paper is a good backup for when the system crashes (like it did yesterday). Also, all the documents in Legisoft are .pdfs - and only compatible with Adobe 5.0 at that. That’s several years out of date, and can be quite slow at times.

Sometimes it’s just quicker to read the paper copy than it is to pull it up in the software.

Also, under tight deadlines on busy days, we sometimes receive the paper copy before it appears in the system. When you have a few hundred amendments to analyze in a couple hours, speed is of the essence.

Finally, some Members just don’t use their computers.

I agree it would be nice to have a more adaptable system that would produce redlines. That would be the Legislative Services Agency’s perogative - but I’ll ask them what the odds are of implementing it.

]]> by: M. Oddi http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/#comment-77 Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:50:41 +0000 http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/#comment-77 Hi - I like your blog a lot. However, I was actually quite surprised to see that huge pile of paper. I thought you guys had switched over to computers and pitched all that paper years ago! Also, with all the capability that is available today, there is no reason why you should have to do, any more, the exercise Doug outlines in the first comment. Legislators should not only have immediate online acces to the proposed committee reports and amendments, but to drafts showing what they would do in context -- i.e. redlines. That is readily do-able and would make everyone's life easier! Hi - I like your blog a lot.

However, I was actually quite surprised to see that huge pile of paper. I thought you guys had switched over to computers and pitched all that paper years ago!

Also, with all the capability that is available today, there is no reason why you should have to do, any more, the exercise Doug outlines in the first comment.

Legislators should not only have immediate online acces to the proposed committee reports and amendments, but to drafts showing what they would do in context — i.e. redlines.

That is readily do-able and would make everyone’s life easier!

]]> by: Doug http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/#comment-76 Tue, 31 Jan 2006 11:54:10 +0000 http://ryandvorak.com/2006/01/31/82/#comment-76 It bears mentioning that in addition to the sheer volume you appear to be dealing with, reading amendments takes longer than reading ordinary proposals. The amendments usually take the form of "page 4, line 10, strike "x" and insert "y"." Meaning you have to pull the original version of the bill, go to page 4, find line 10 and see what the change does. You'll probably need to get or upgrade your eyewear prescription after session is over. It bears mentioning that in addition to the sheer volume you appear to be dealing with, reading amendments takes longer than reading ordinary proposals. The amendments usually take the form of “page 4, line 10, strike “x” and insert “y”.” Meaning you have to pull the original version of the bill, go to page 4, find line 10 and see what the change does.

You’ll probably need to get or upgrade your eyewear prescription after session is over.

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