Keep your ‘Eye’ on state government

One way to keep informed about Wisconsin government, new in the last few years, is the WisconsinEye Network. WisconsinEye is a private, nonprofit public affairs broadcaster that focuses on state affairs. The network is nonpartisan and provides its audience with coverage of committee hearings, legislative floor proceedings, and other special events and activities taking place at our state capitol in Madison.

There are so many critical issues that we in the state Legislature will face in the 2009-10 session. Jobs and the economy, health care, schools, and transportation-these issues are central to the health of Wisconsin and will be addressed at the state level. Staying informed and getting involved is more important than ever before, and WisconsinEye is a great way to keep tabs on the proceedings.

The first major prime-time event of the session was Governor Jim Doyle’s State of the State Address to the whole Legislature Jan. 28. You can watch it archived on WisconsinEye (wisconsineye.com). Watching the address will enable you to see and hear for yourself what the governor’s vision for Wisconsin’s future is.

Now that the governor has announced his priorities, the legislative session will begin in earnest. WisconsinEye will air committee meetings, public hearings, roundtable discussions, interviews with public officials, and many other programs dedicated to state government. It will also offer programs about local businesses, tourist attractions, and places of historical significance.

For those interested, WisconsinEye also will be a convenient place for residents of the 20th Assembly District to watch me, in my new capacity as chairperson of the Assembly Labor Committee. You don’t have to watch every event live: most of the broadcasts are archived and repeated.

You’ll find WisconsinEye on Time Warner Channel 163. You can watch it online at wisconsineye.com.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns about WisconsinEye or other state and legislative matters.

Chris Sinicki is the state representative for Wisconsin’s 20th state Assembly District, which includes southern Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy, the airport, and other parts of the south side. She can be reached at (888) 534-0020 or rep.sinicki@legis.wi.gov.