For decades, journalists who normally cover Arizona’s House of Representatives have had access to the House floor via an electronic key card even when the House isn’t in session. Here, reporters get to know their state’s lawmakers from both parties and interview them regarding important legislation. Even desks are set up their so reporters could do their jobs.
Leadership is now enforcing new rules that bar journalists from the floor unless they go through intensive background checks into their legal history. Any journalist who faced a felony within the last 10 years or misdemeanor in the last five years is barred. Those who refuse to undergo the check are dismissed to the gallery.
Among them were reporters from the Associated Press, Arizona Republic and Arizona Capitol Times. They lost access to the floor and covered the last House session from the gallery.
Proponents of the new rules claim they are security measures enacted after a man was arrested for shouting in the gallery last week during protests over long lines at the Arizona primary.
"I have not restricted your access to come in,” said Arizona House Speaker David Gowan. “We need to be able to know who comes on our floor. My policy is for non-employees. You saw what happened up in the gallery. It has everything to do with the security of my members here. In fact, my members are asking for more security."
Even though these laws make Arizona stand out in terms of what statehouses do to restrict access, the regulations come during a time when it’s becoming harder for reporters to cover state government.
An AP investigation of open-government policies last month revealed that several state legislatures allow closed-door caucus meetings where a majority of lawmakers discuss policy positions prior to public debates. Some statehouses ban taking photo or shooting video during legislative proceedings.
"We find this targeted request for information inappropriate," said Brian Carovillano, AP vice president of U.S. News. "These reporters are known to lawmakers.”
