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Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998

Tracking legislation can be tricky business

For those outside of Austin, challenge ranges from fighting silence to sorting mass of records

By AMY STRAHAN
Scripps Howard Austin Bureau

   AUSTIN - Texas lawmakers already have filed hundreds of bills for the legislative session that begins Jan. 12, but finding information about them can be tricky for many citizens.
   "Without Internet access or a fax machine, it's a lot harder to track legislation because the Legislature moves so quickly," said James Scott, a spokesman for Public Citizen, a consumer rights group active in Texas politics.
   The Texas Legislative Council maintains an online search engine to help Texans track bills and see committee schedules at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
   But residents without Internet access must use more traditional means of finding out what's happening in Austin.
   "They've done a pretty good job with the Capitol Web site, but at the end of the session, when you've got 5,000 bills, it gets increasingly difficult to do things that way," said Kathy Mitchell, research manager for Consumers Union Southwest Regional office, a nonprofit group that tracks consumer issues in the Legislature.
   Curious citizens who don't have Internet access can stay informed the old-fashioned way - through newsletters and mailing lists.
   "To some extent, it's about hooking into a local network that has ties in Austin," Mitchell said.
   Local PTA's, school boards and grassroots organizations are often members of larger statewide groups that keep an ear to the ground at the Capitol for proposals of special interest.
   "It becomes really critical near the end of the session because it would be very difficult for an individual to plow through thousands of bills to find key things that are really going to affect their lives," Mitchell said.
   Of course, citizens also can head straight to the source for the latest news about proposals affecting their districts.
   "I would recommend calling a member's office or district office so they can be included in all of the mailing lists," said state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine.
   The vast majority of lawmakers keep newsletters and other information available at their district offices with updates on major issues in the Legislature and the details of pre-filed legislation affecting their areas.
   If your lawmaker hasn't sponsored a bill relating to your topic, he or she can often help constituents find groups following the issue.
   "The best way is to adopt a person who is in Austin and check with them on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. Otherwise, it can be far too broad - it's huge," said state Rep.-elect David Farabee, D-Wichita Falls.
   Though some organizations require a modest membership fee to provide updates about the legislative session, others mail information free.
   Here are a few watchdog groups that track legislation. If none deal with your specific area of interest, chances are they have an idea who does.

Public Citizen of Texas, a consumer rights group, (512) 477-1155

Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office, a consumer rights group, (512)477-4331

League of Women Voters, a nonprofit watchdog and advocacy group, (512) 472-1100

American Association of Retired Persons, (512) 480-9797

Sierra Club, an environmental watchdog organization, (512) 476-6962

American Civil Liberties Union, (512) 441-0077.
   Scripps Howard Austin Bureau reporter Amy Strahan can be reached at (512) 478-9644.

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  © 1998 Corpus Christi Caller Times, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.