[StBernard] There's an app for that

[Westley Annis]

There's an app for that
http://thepoliticaldesk.com/?p=1423


Of course there is, right? And by that, we mean the Louisiana Legislature.
If you have an iPhone or other handheld device, there are at least three new
apps worth checking out to help you better navigate the political process.

PAR GUIDE

The Public Affairs Research Council's "Guide to the 2012 Louisiana
Legislature" is now an app. Lawmakers' bios, committee assignments, contact
info and photos are a big part of it. But the app also gives some limited
income information from personal financial disclosure reports. It's a great
addition. The app, which is underwritten by AT&T, likewise covers statewide
elected officials and Louisiana's congressional delegation.

It's $2.99 and can be purchased in the Apple Store here. There's a very
small handful of lawmakers' pictures that are missing, and information on
the subject areas each committee oversees would have been nice. But for the
price, and compared to PAR's standard paper guide (yet one more thing to
carry around), it's a good bet for downloading. Plus, you can feel good
about supporting a well-respected advocacy group.

LGS GUIDE

If you want more bells and whistles, then you'll want Louisiana Government
Studies's 2012 app. How much more detailed could it be? About $24.99 worth.
It's basically the online version of LGS' "Grass-Roots Guide," which is
published every four years. The app, however, allows for the updating of
content as needed.

Each profile includes a photo, multiple phone numbers, email addresses,
legislative assistants, and district office addresses, just like the PAR
app. But that's where the comparisons stop. The LGS app includes in-depth
biographies and demographic breakdowns of legislative districts. Plus,
there's historic election information, legislative outlooks and voting
records.

You can actually get the 2011 version for free, but it has a few minor bugs
that have already been fixed in time for the premium 2012 model. Also, you
will still need a decent WiFi signal to enjoy all of the app's perks at
blazing speeds. To be certain, it's the Big Boy app of the session.

OPEN STATES

Finally, there's a new mobile app from the Sunlight Foundation that's
supposed to "bring the inner-workings of the state Legislature to your
phone." It's called Open States and provides up-to-date information on the
legislative process. All the usual stuff. We were a little worried about
this one because it's being marketed to 50 different states. Some of the
content, though, made us forget this isn't an app localized specifically for
Louisiana.

But here's the best news of all about Open States: it's free. This app
really has a lot to offer. You can pull up any lawmaker and see their
largest contributions starting with 2010. Some voting records are available,
too. You can search bills by subject and even create your own watch list.

District maps, news updates and a GPS locator that identifies your rep and
senator are all included. For an app like this to be successful, constant
updates will be needed. Nonetheless, it's an impressive opening salvo.