Constitutional Law

Ariz. Senate president limits news-media access to chamber floor

By By The Associated Press

PHOENX — Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce is restricting the news media?s access to senators, saying that fellow lawmakers have complained about being bothered by reporters and camera crews.

Under one restriction, reporters may not leave the two press tables in the front of the chamber to approach individual senators before or after floor sessions without invitations from the lawmakers involved.

Pearce also said any on-camera television interviews before or after floor sessions must be done outside the Senate chamber.

The restrictions were announced to reporters and other news personnel by the Senate sergeant-at-arms immediately before yesterday?s floor session.

Pearce later defended the order when another senator questioned him about it during the floor session.

Pearce said several senators whom he didn?t identify had complained that they could not work at their desks on the floor while being surrounded and bothered by news personnel at their desks.

?This floor belongs to members,? Pearce said. ?It?s just a matter of respect. It?s a matter of decorum. It?s a matter of being able to conduct the people?s business in the proper atmosphere.?

Democratic Sen. Steve Gallardo of Phoenix said the restrictions are ?stopping the conversation? between lawmakers and media personnel.

?It?s never been a problem having the media on the floor,? Gallardo said.

Any perception of a problem has surfaced only ?since the majority leader ... is a topic of conversation,? Gallardo added, referring to controversy surrounding an alleged domestic violence incident involving Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard, R-Peoria.

Bundgaard later said several Republican members complained about media presence on the Senate floor during a closed caucus earlier yesterday, but he said he wasn?t one of them.

Senate Minority Leader David Schapira, D-Tempe, later approached one of the press tables and told reporters that they now have standing invitations to approach any Democratic senators on the Senate floor.

After the floor session, Republican Sen. Michele Reagan of Scottsdale said she was among senators who raised concerns about media access to the Senate floor.

Reagan said she complained that she didn?t like how a television camera person climbed over furniture to tape her being asked about Bundgaard?s situation as she tried to do some work. Reagan said she didn?t make any request of Pearce.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on March 08, 2011 (boomark / email).