State Sen. Marc Keahey said every registered voter and school in his district will have a standing, daily appointment with his office every day of the year.
Keahey’s announcement is in response to a proposal by Republican legislative leaders to restrict access to the state Capitol in the wake of an attack on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was shot during a meet the voters event outside a grocery store.
“It is ironic that on the heels of a special session dedicated to openness and transparency in government that the Legislature may choose to barricade itself behind locked metal doors while we are going about the people’s business,” Keahey said. “Further, such restrictions send the message that the legislative offices somehow belong to legislators and not to the people. It think this is fundamentally wrong.”
Visitors to the state house currently have to go through metal detectors before gaining access to the building.
“None of my constituents is to be denied access to my office area while we are in session,” Keahey said.