Constituents across Kentucky should expect an easier time getting their concerns to lawmakers beginning next year, when a new paperless messaging system is scheduled to take effect.
Marcia Seiler, acting director of the Legislative Research Commission, says she pushed for a switch to a new electronic format for the General Assembly’s constituent messaging service, which traditionally transcribes constituent concerns onto pieces of colored paper known as “green slips.”
She's replacing that system with an instant electronic messaging service that will connect constituents and legislators immediately.
“I had heard from various staff and legislators, and in viewing the process, seen that we needed to modernize and make this mode of communication between citizens and legislators more modern, more efficient," said Seiler.
She says that the switch will save the state time and money in dealing with tens of thousands of constituent messages each legislative session.
“Cut down on paper costs, cut down on staff time for printing and cutting and delivering paper to divide them," said Seiler. "This is gonna, I think, be a good program for everybody, most importantly for the legislator and their constituents because they’re going to get these messages immediately.”
Seiler says she has not conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the new system, but is confident that the savings will be substantial.
But critics say what the new system promises in efficiency will leave plenty to be desired in transparency: The messages are considered private legislative communications, so there’s still no way to see just how responsive the General Assembly is to Kentuckians’ concerns.
The new system is supposed to take effect by January of next year.