Model Legislature enters online world with new Web site
By Pat Mack/Daily News Correspondent

The Winona Model Legislature is celebrating its 50th anniversary with its own Web site. "It's an old event that is becoming more and more useful with technology," said Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, who organizes the legislative simulation. The two-day event is held in December at Winona State University. It gives area students a taste of the legislative process. One of the graduates of the program said putting the Model Legislature online makes sense.

 "The Internet is the ideal medium for students to exchange ideas," Steve Clift said. Clift is the founder of the Minnesota e-democracy Web site. The site was created in 1994 and is billed as the "world's first election-oriented" Web site. The site features an interactive forum where people can discuss issues and includes a discussion group in the Twin Cities and Winona. One of his first chances to learn first-hand about the political process came from the Model Legislature program. "It's a great experience," Clift said. "It gave a real cross-section of students in the Winona region a sense of what it is like to author a bill and debate legislation. It's a very unique experience."

Read the rest of the story at the Winona Daily News Online . . .

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