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Plugged In, Tuning Up: An Assessment of State Legislative Websites
State Responses and Updates
Wisconsin
The website is organized in 3 columns and 3 rows. The comments therefore refer to to the location of items on the front page by indicating the group in which a link appears by column and row, and then by the text associated with the link within that unit.
- The first block of information is column 1, row 1. It is titled "Who are my legislators". The first category in the report, "Legislator Information", appears to have missed the first link on the page. This link goes to a facility which allows a user to link to a legislator by typing an address into a form (or by map). The form returns the name and
contact information for the appropriate state senator and representative. It also provides links to their pages and a link to email them. The "who are my legislators" facility should meet the definition for "member contact
service".
- The report states that Wisconsin does not have a "Directory". In column 2 and 3 of row 1, the first items listed for the senate and assembly are lists of members of that house who link to their pages which contain directory information. If the title of the group is clicked ("senate" or "assembly") that will take you to a page for that house. On the left side of each of these pages there are links to directory information in several different formats. (the second, third and fourth links).
- Under "Legislative Tracking and Monitoring" you indicate that the site does not offer a session calendar, floor schedule and committee schedule. In the 2nd and 3rd columns on the 4th line, there is a link "calendars". That link leads to session and committee calendars. There is another link to the same information in Column 1, Row 2. The 5th line, "InSession (calendar and audio)" leads to the daily calendar for that house. Because the Wisconsin Legislature does not set its agenda more than several days in advance; we do not provide a "legislative calendar" as you define
it. Therefore, it does not make much sense to downgrade the site for not providing information which does not exist.
- Under "Legislative Administration", if you go to row 2 and 3 of column 1 and click on "senate" or "assembly", there are the majority and minority party leadership, the names of the caucus chairs and the name of the clerks and links to more information on those offices.
- In the second column, 3rd row, the fifth item is "Legislative Reference Bureau", which should count as "library and legislative research"
- The Wisconsin site does not have an "oversight body", which evaluates or monitors the
activities of legislators,
- Under "State Resources" the report indiciates that there is no link to the executive branch. In the lower
right corner of the page there is a link to "To the State of Wisconsin's Web Home Page".
- In the 1st column, second row, is a group headed "2001 Legislative Activity". If that link is followed, there is a box on the resulting page with budget information. If the link on the second line is selected, "bills and history/text and history," you get a box with the same information. This section was rewritten since the study was conducted, boxes with information for the 1999 budget were there at that time.
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