This is to announce that there will be a public forum on the State of the Legislature on Wednesday, May 7 at the Multipurpose Center in Susupe, in the Annex, beginning at 6pm.  

This forum is the first of what will be a series of quarterly forums over the next two years.  The objectives of the State of the Legislature public forums are to provide the community with information on activities within the Legislature on an on-going basis, including bills introduced, voting records, and attendance records of members of the House and Senate; to share insights on the legislative process and how it can be improved; and to promote dialogue in the community on the issues of the day and proposed solutions.  Comments, insights, and suggestions will be solicited from forum participants, documented, publicized through various media, and transmitted to elected officials.  As with the public forums held last year, these State of the Legislature forums will be guided by ground rules.  These ground rules include:

• Everyone has the right to speak.
• Put the Commonwealth first. 
• Come to the forums as a member of the community, nothing more and nothing less. 
• Be honest and direct.
• Be respectful and professional, and stick to the issues.
• Assume nothing, question everything.
• Respect time limits.
• Expect, and welcome, criticism.

The following topics are proposed for discussion at this first public forum: 

1. Solving the Commonwealth’s energy crisis;
2. Improving transparency in the Legislature;
3. Downsizing the Legislature. 

Other topics may be added if time is available.   

The forum is free and open to the public.  For more information, I can be reached at 664-8931 or 483-3935, or by email at tinasablan@gmail.com .