State Senate to stream live audio of floor sessions, committee meetings

CHARLESTON -- As part of the Legislature's continuing efforts to provide citizens with greater access to its proceedings, West Virginia Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin has announced that the Senate will begin streaming live audio of floor sessions and committee meetings this Fall.

"Over the last few years, the Senate has been working to reach a balance between Senate traditions and decorum and ensuring the strongest possible connection with our constituents," Tomblin, D-Logan, said. "We believe that by providing online audio of floor and committee actions, West Virginians around the state will have unprecedented access to -- and interest in -- critical discussions in Charleston that have an impact statewide."

An internal testing phase for the Senate's live streaming audio is tentatively planned for the September interim meetings (Sept. 15-17), with fully operational online audio to be launched publicly in conjunction with the October interims (Oct. 11-13) on the Legislature's website at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/live.cfm.

Users will have access to live feeds in three areas: the Senate chamber, Senate Finance Committee room and Senate Judiciary Committee room.