The Lords Giveth, and They Taketh Away

For a brief moment, I thought the Legislature unlocked the doors to their real-time database, LRS. Throughout the budget process, the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission (LBDC) updated the public's website in time with the fee-based subscription service. This was a monumental advancement and demonstration of the LBDC's capability to deliver the Public's information to the Public. This open window, this deliverance of information to the Public was quickly closed and shut off. Incomprehensible arrogance.

To their credit, the Legislature did make available LRS' database during the budget process, so that the public had access to all versions of the budget bills as well as the ability (if one knew the bill numbers) to view legislation introduced that day. The Legislature, however, deserves no accolades or congatulatory commentary on this provision. It is there inherent responsibility to inform the Public of their business. Business has gone back to the usual pay-to-know profitability tactics employed by the Legislature, and their grey-lined public-funded, privately used entity, LRS.

Just so we're clear here, the Legislature approved of, and the Governor signed S6801, the Legislature and Judiciary Budget. Within the budget is a line item for the Computer Services Fund. That fund subsidizes the private LRS, while your tax dollars contributed $1.5 mil. That does nothing to note the appropriation for LBDC, whose charge it is to maintain the database.

The NYS Legislature is defrauding the public of their ability and right to know the People's business. The brief space in which they allowed unfettered access is a penny tossed at an invaluable effort. By holding this information from the public, the Legislature mocks the tenants of Democracy.