On Tuesday, the Radio Television Digital News Association objected to what could be an upcoming move by the U.S. Senate Rules Committee that would make it more difficult for broadcast and other reporters to question senators about public policy in the U.S. Capitol.
RTNDA Executive Director Mike Cavender said, “This is another attempt at obscuring transparency in Washington. At a time when senators are already doing too much business behind closed doors, such as on the health care overhaul, further limiting access to senators in the hallways of Congress represents just one more effort to keep the public’s business private. It’s totally unacceptable!”
There are reports that consideration may be given to ending the years-long practice of allowing reporters to use video and audio recording equipment to interview senators in Capitol hallways. But earlier today, reporters who cover the U.S. Senate were told that new rules had been enacted to no longer allow reporters to interview Senators in the hallways of the U.S. Capitol at all. Senate officials were concerned that, “Collectively, the press following senators have become large and aggressive. We are concerned someone may get hurt.
“The initially reported rules change would have required reporters to obtain permission, in advance, from the senator or senators they wished to interview, as well as permission from the Senate Rules Committee and Sergeant at Arms, in order to use video and audio equipment while asking questions in Capitol hallways. The rules, according to the Senate Radio & Television Correspondents Gallery, say, in part, ‘Videotaping and audio recording are permitted in the public areas of the House and Senate office buildings.'”
Later in the day, Rules Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby issued a statement saying that no rules change had occurred. But the existing rules, while not currently enforced, do require advance permission for interviewing senators outside of designated areas. Should the Senate choose to enforce those rules, access to lawmakers would be considerably restricted.
RTDNA also noticed several members of the Senate protested quickly when it appeared the rules had been changed. Notable among them were Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN.), ranking member of the Rules Committee, who tweeted, “This is no time for limiting press access in the U.S. Senate,” and Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), who tweeted, “This is a bad idea.”
