Officials to enforce rules on electronic devices

Sen. Cafaro encouraged ‘mature’ use of electronic communications devices.

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.”

The issue arose during Strickland’s speech earlier in the week, when Republican Sen. Shannon Jones, from southwestern Ohio, posted messages, called Tweets, on Twitter — many of which disparaged the governor’s proposals.

Budish said existing rules in the House and Senate prohibit such activities to limit interaction between lawmakers and lobbyists during bill deliberations and to ensure senators and representatives are paying attention to the business at hand.

House Minority Leader Bill Batchelder, a Republican from Medina, agreed.

“There isn’t any reason for anyone to be doing that kind of thing if they’re listening to the debate. ... I think it’s an insult to the traditions of legislative bodies.”

But Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, a Democrat from Hubbard, defended some use of electronic communications devices, such as the Blackberry she occasionally uses on the floor.

Such devices can be useful for lawmakers looking up statistics and other facts related to legislation being debated.

And she said lawmakers often bring other files and news clips to the floor to review during proceedings.

“We’re adults, and we need to use discretion,” Cafaro said, adding later, “We need to act like mature adults, utilize technology appropriately and for good use, not necessarily for distraction and to promote whatever you want to promote on Twitter in real time.”