Will Texas get its own version of C-SPAN?
State Rep. Joaquin Castro (R-San Antonio) is proposing that Texas has its own version of C-SPAN in a letter sent to Texas cable and satellite providers. In a posting at the Burnt Orange Report the details of the proposal are outlined. Currently this option is only available to residents of Austin. Americans have the ability to follow the federal goverrnment through C-SPAN. Local municipalities can follow their city government also. Castro feels broadcasts of the Texas legislature should be available to all Texas residents. “Watchful public eyes make for a more accountable government,” Castro said.
In the letter Castro states that about 28 states currently make their broadcasts available through cable channels including FL, NY, CA, and MN. The Florida Channel was one of the first such broadcast channels that came online and provides broadcasts to 46 cable networks throughout Florida. The broadcast provides gavel to gavel coverage of both the Senate and the House. When the legislature is not in session the channel carries coverage of other state agencies such as the Governor, the Supreme Court and public hearings.
97 House members signed the resolution which represents bi-partisan support for the resolution and action. Castro feels that it will help provide better transparency of government. He and I spoke about it during an event last week. One of the comments he made was that so often voters will vote for a candidate based on a particular position not realizing the legislator actually took a different position on the floor of the House. He said it’s time the voters of Texas know what their legislators are doing in Austin.
C-SPAN, founded in 1979, receives no federal funding and obtains revenue from the cable and satellite providers that broadcast the channel. A similar funding model for Texas is being proposed by Castro should the Texas legislature address the issue. Regarding the cost of the network, the sessions are broadcast online at the Texas Legislature Online. However not all Texans have high speed Internet and cable or satellite is the only choice.
