No tweeting allowed

By MARC KOVAC

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

COLUMBUS — Leaders of the Ohio House and Senate say they will enforce rules against sending electronic messages during floor sessions after a lawmaker posted comments on the popular social networking site Twitter during the governor’s State of the State address.

Democratic House Speaker Armond Budish, from the Cleveland area, and Senate President Bill Harris, from Ashland, said it was inappropriate for their members to Tweet, talk on cell phones or otherwise use electronic communications devices while the Legislature was in session.

They addressed the issue during a daylong forum in Columbus on Thursday sponsored by The Associated Press.

“We will take steps in the House to strengthen our rules,” Budish said, noting the ban on such activities is already in place.

“Tweeting or whatever else people are doing in their seats other than participating in the legislative discussion is not in accord with the decorum of the institution.”

He added, “We will make sure in the house that that does not occur.”

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