Blogging On

Blogs are gaining ground in the legislative arena, although it remains difficult for lobbying firms to determine how much influence they have and whether they are a new tool for drumming up interest in particular issues or a passing fad. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) recently generated more than 500 comments when he posted his position on a bill to expand broadband coverage in rural areas on the blogs Open Left and RedState, and the comments will be reviewed by his aides as part of the bill-drafting process. "The reality is that most people feel that unless you can hire an expensive lobbyist, you can't get to the table to write a bill," says Durbin. "This is a 'small d' democratic approach [to legislation], and I think it is a valuable approach that we ought to try more and more." More than a dozen members of Congress have entered the blogging arena, reports National Journal's Beltway Blogroll. Some believe blogs can foster relationships among government officials, companies and opinion leaders, as well as generate media attention. This story appeared in a recent issue of Public Affairs News Monitor. Click here to read the entire issue. Article came from the National Journal (10/06/07) Vol. 39, No. 40, P. 24; Vaida, Bara.