Michigan lawmakers are reaching out to constituents with podcasts, blogs and electronic surveys. Some are limited to constituents, but here are two outreach efforts available to anyone:
Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, can be downloaded from: .
S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills: .
WASHINGTON -- That jogger you see may not be listening to Dixie Chicks on her iPod but instead to U.S. Rep.
John Dingell talking about the stakes of global warming or raising fuel mileage standards on cars.
The Dearborn Democrat, who grew up listening to FDR's fireside chats, is using podcasts -- digital recordings that can be downloaded and listened to later on an iPod or similar player -- as a new way to reach his busy constituents.
"It's really been successful," says Dingell press aide Adam R.
Benson, adding that Dingell got his own iPod this past summer and loves listening to classical tunes on it. "People come up to him all the time and tell him how they enjoy his podcasts."
Benson isn't exaggerating the popularity of "Dingellcasts," as they're called: They are the No.
1 click by visitors who arrived at the congressman's Web site.
Other Michigan lawmakers are also experimenting with new technologies to reach constituents.
And the communication isn't always one-way.
U.S. Rep.
Dave Camp, R-Midland, for example, occasionally sends the 50,000 constituents who've signed up to be on his monthly e-mail list a survey on a hot-button issue. His recent e-survey with 10 questions about Iraq got 1,400 responses in just 24 hours. Camp later sends results to folks on the e-mail list: For example, in the Iraq survey, most Camp district respondents -- by 53 percent to 42 percent -- said the United States made the right decision to use military force in Iraq.
"The surveys by far get the greatest response," says press spokesman Sage Eastman. "People really enjoy having the ability to tell their representative how they feel on a specific issue. The surveys aren't scientific, but they give the congressman a good sense of how people in the district feel.
"
U.S. Rep.
Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, recently launched a blog where he can give his thoughts on everything from Iraq to autos, and he plans to add podcasts.
Meanwhile, U.S.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, offers such things as links to the lowest gas prices in the district and to job resources, as well as video clips of his appearances on the House floor and TV shows discussing such high-stakes national issues.
But even with all the experimentation, the Michigan delegation has a long way to go to catch up with more tech-savvy colleagues in Congress who are excelling in transforming their Web sites to better serve constituents.
The nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation, which analyzes the quality of congressional Web sites, recently gave out its gold, silver and bronze mouse awards to the 85 best sites. Of Michigan's 17 members of Congress, the only winner this year was Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, who got a silver mouse.
"While RSS feeds and podcasts are cutting edge, it was possible to win and not have any flashy technologies," says Tim Hysom, project director for the mouse awards. "The winners are offices that did the primary responsibilities of a member of Congress very well online. For example, having on their Web sites such things as their voting records and rationales for key votes, as well as ways a constituent can get help for problems like a missing Social Security check or information on things like how to go about getting a flag that flew over the U.
S. Capitol."
Copyright 2007 The Detroit News.
All rights reserved.
News RSS