Legislative Bickering, With YouTube Links

Upset about a Republican rule that allows subcommittees to dispose of legislation without a hearing before the full panel, Democrats are recording Republicans and posting what they think are embarrassing scenes for all to see on the Internet.

Last week, Democrats were clearly prepared when a subcommittee turned back efforts to raise the state's minimum wage. Moments later, Democrats posted YouTube links to a grainy video of the subcommittee vote on their new blog, http://www.assemblyaccess.com.

The sound is sometimes inaudible, but the images recall the bad old times when lawmakers sat around in smoke-filled rooms, making decisions without public comment. That's exactly the message Democrats wanted to send.

Hours later, they videotaped the full committee as its members refused, on a party-line vote, to bring the minimum-wage issue up for consideration. "GOP kills minimum wage revival attempt," said the headline on the blog.

The poke in the eye got an immediate response.

"Unfortunately, they are ratcheting it up, and we are going to have our groups respond," Griffith told The Washington Post. "Both sides can play that game."

They probably will. Look for Republicans with cellphone cameras at committee hearings soon. And if there's not a Republican blog by the end of the session, it's a safe bet there will be one next year.

House Appropriations Chairman Vincent F. Callahan Jr. (R-Fairfax) said the recordings are "indicative of a culture of viciousness that is infecting these halls."

He might be right.