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DEL.ICIO.USIt must be Sunshine Week! House GOP leaders decide they want to bar reporters from chamber floor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They haven’t cast the floor vote to put it into effect yet, but members of the state House are about to adopt new rules barring all reporters from their chamber while the place is in session.
The new restrictions would put reporters in much the same class as lobbyists, who depend on adolescent pages to carry requests for interviews to legislators. Naturally, the House will take up the new rules during a week celebrating the virtues of open government.
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen said an end to access for journalists was necessary for good decorum in the chamber. Rumors that plaid sports jackets formed the basis for this opinion were unfounded.
Outside of the chamber, a Republican bird told us that certain high-ranking House leaders were concerned that reporters who wandered onto the floor were eaves-dropping on high-level strategy sessions. Or reading lips.
We only have two points. The first is this: Directional mikes.
Secondly, we predict that House members will see a great deal of the following phrase in the next few weeks: “Efforts to contact state Rep. Joe Somebody (R-Wherever) were unsuccessful. But state Sen. Somebody Else (R-State Your City Here) said…..”
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By Sam
March 20, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
Good government is only grown in the fresh air of sunshine; viewable by all. There’s only one thing I can think of that grows best in the dark; mushrooms, and we know what they grow best in. Perhaps that is soon to be true of the Gold Dome.
By Tony
March 20, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
Strategy sessions? The GOP controls all of state government. What are they afraid of? People actually finding out what rediculous bills are next up? Sounds like now that a single party has control that the Legislature has turned into the Poliburo. God forbid the people actually find out what is going on so they can stop it before these things are passed.
Sounds like the House wants to ensure they can shove legislation through unimpeded by the people who elected them.
By Keith Lynch
March 20, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of Georgia. I would like to extend my apology to the citizens of the state for the commitments that I have made towards their lack of support concerning the unsolved death of my wife, Mrs. Gina B. Lynch, and the illegal removal and adoption of my children, Darnell, Ashley, and Brittany by the Department of Family and Children Services. Everyone knows that Family Services has a great record concerning the protection of children. Even though I’m not at fault in the disappearance or death of my wife whom anyone knows how she died. I have not seen my babies in over six years. I also would like to say that I’m sorry to have gotten on so many of your nerves in posting my tragedy and injustice in the blogs of crime and punishment seeking too expose the truth concerning the mistreatment that not only I but others have experienced at the hands of law enforcement and our public officials whom we’ve voted to protect our liberties. I believed if I was to write a book concerning my nightmare and introduce official evidence and documents, which would prove my claims it would be enough in given support in correcting a grave in justice, but I was wrong. If anyone can assist me in making my family whole please visit my website @ www.kllundypublishingllc.com and e-mail me with your proposal.