SALT LAKE CITY -- Sen. Lyle Hillyard doesn't have a computer in his office and rarely uses the Internet beyond e-mailing his children. Yet Hillyard, 66, has become one of the Legislature's most frequent bloggers, posting thoughts on tax policy -- some with audio -- and even a few essays on the seasons and his beloved garden.

He's among a small group of bloggers changing how lawmakers communicate with the public.

"I think what I really want to create is an image out there that we're human beings. Although we have some awesome responsibilities, we each bring with it our own personal background and life experiences," said Hillyard, R-Logan.

Senate Republicans created a Web log last fall, www.senatesite.com , that members could contribute to. Most didn't.

But steadily, Hillyard's posts became more frequent. Others soon joined in.

The blog provided lawmakers with an unfettered way to communicate to the public -- and their political opposition -- the reasoning behind their decisions. Sometimes it included supporting documentation in PDF form. Other times, the blog simply announced there was ice cream available in the Senate freezer.

Regardless, by the time the 2006 legislative session was over, the Senate Site became a must read for lawmakers, lobbyists and journalists. The site now gets up to 4,000 hits a day.

"The blog's nice because it's a non-pretentious way to share information. It's not self-important. It's not like dragging a podium out to a marble hallway," said Ric Cantrell, who manages the Senate Site blog and has given presentations to leaders in other states on effective blogging.

But ultimately, the Web log's goal isn't to inform political insiders what's happening at the Capitol, he said.

"A citizen in Vernal, Utah, can hear his or her representative in their own voice -- in their own words. That's unprecedented," Cantrell said. "Nowhere in the history of civilization have citizens been able to read a document along with an elected official minutes after a meeting is over and then weigh in with their comments."

Feedback from the public is expected. But sometimes blog posts result in retaliatory blogs from House members.

Last week, the Senate issued a statement on its blog stating its objection to removing the state sales tax on food.

Two days later, Rep. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove, responded on his own blog, www.underthedome.org .

"I told you the posturing "games" have already begun and just in time for the Holidays!" wrote Frank, who likened the Senate statement to a strategic sword fight.

It was a rare public airing of differences between members of the same party and illustrates how blogs are transforming legislative debates.

"These conversations have always taken place. Perhaps they're moving to a more public venue, and I don't think that's unhealthy. At the same time, there's a danger if blogging takes the place of face-to-face communication," Cantrell said.

Utah Democrats, who are rarely quoted by news outlets because Republicans hold a supermajority in the Legislature, are also increasingly posting to their Web log.

"I think it's a very active forum for both members of the Legislature, in particular House Democrats, and for the public to have an opportunity for a lot of interaction," said House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City.

House Republicans have their own blog, but rarely use it to issue statements. Instead, members like Frank, Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-Provo, and Rep. John Dougall, R-American Fork, frequently update their own blogs.

Often, they'll provide insights into the political process. Dougall has blogged about Gov. Jon Huntsman personally lobbying lawmakers before a special session.

But on the same day he also blogged about how to identify and ignore "media whores" in politics, sports and entertainment. It was another example of a lawmaker's personality being put on display. Frank has chronicled his quest to lose weight between posts on environmentalists and reducing class sizes.

Hillyard recently posted about how quiet the political environment is this week along with a note about Christmas cards.

"It's kind of fun to sit down and write them out," said Hillyard, who writes each Sunday. "I think it's turned out to be more and more successful."

On the Net:

Senate Site: www.senatesite.com

House Republicans: www.theutahhouse.com

House Democrats: utahhousedemocrats.com

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C3.