Originally published March 2 2005
Legislator to push for laptop computers for lawmakers
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A legislator wants to introduce laptop computers to lawmakers of the state after experiencing their benefits in middle school classrooms. Many agreed that the Legislature is awash in paper and a shift to laptops would provide some relief. The use of e-mail and the internet would dramatically reduce spending on paper as well as the time spent sifting through all the paper documents.
A legislator who has had a first-hand look at the benefits of laptop computers in middle school classrooms wants to put them on the desks of lawmakers.
Rep. Stephen Bowen, R-Rockport, himself an eight-grade teacher, has introduced a bill that calls for the state to provide legislators with computers, word processing software, Internet access and e-mail.
Others agreed that the Legislature is awash in paper and a shift to laptops would provide some relief.
Some lawmakers already have laptops at their desks, taking advantage of the wireless Internet capability already in place at the Statehouse.
"I use mine all the time in Appropriations to e-mail questions to staff and get prompt answers."
The state pays $275,000 in printing costs for the first year of a two-year session and $133,000 for the second, shorter session, according to David Boulter, executive director of the Legislative Council.
Copies of documents made for the public come out of those totals, so not all of the money could be earmarked for legislative laptops, he said.
Bowen said use of e-mail and the Internet could dramatically reduce spending on paper.
A. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the computers should remain at the Legislature for use only during the day.
He said they would be state property reserved for future lawmakers' use.
Bowen said the state's buying power would reduce the cost initially and save on printing over the long run.
While some new legislators may need to be trained, Bowen said it would be no different than preparing teachers when the state put laptops into the middle schools.
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