CHEYENNE — An effort to limit press photography at the Wyoming Legislature has been scrapped, for now.
On Thursday the Select Committee on Legislative Facilities, Technology and Process voted unanimously to recommend not enacting a policy that would prohibit photo and video journalists from entering the halls that run next to the House and Senate floors. Such a policy would drastically reduce the quality and content of video and photos taken by members of the media during the legislative session.
The proposal had originally passed at the committee’s meeting in September but was brought back up on Thursday after a large outcry from the public.
Legislative leaders had originally pushed forward the idea as a way to ensure privacy for lawmakers and prevent overcrowding of the halls that run directly parallel to the Senate and House chambers.
House Speaker Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, told Cowboy State Daily earlier this month the hallways serve as a valuable space for lawmakers to conduct private conversations about legislation being considered and is a place the press doesn’t belong.
Changed Stance
There wasn’t much support for this sentiment at Thursday’s meeting as it was clear that lawmakers’ views on the topic had already changed before discussion had even started.
“I think by trying to move photographers off the floor, we’ve cut into that realism and connection,” Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, said. “We’ve isolated ourselves from the press.”
If enacted, the restriction would be part of a long-term trend curtailing media access at the Legislature. According to Cowboy State Daily columnist Joan Barron, a longtime reporter at the Capitol, the press used to have access to the same breakrooms as legislators, as well as a seat at a table located on the floor of the House and Senate. Now, those privileges are gone.
Sen. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, who voted in support of the policy at the September meeting, suggested what he saw as a compromise by having Legislative staff provide photos to the media.
“I think that’s mainly what they (media) wanted was some pictures of the legislators on the floor doing work,” Laursen said.
Laursen also suggested the possibility of allowing photography for just a few days during the legislative session and when guests of honor such as members of the Wyoming congressional delegation come to speak.
Case said Laursen’s suggestions miss the point. Having the state take photos of the Legislature, he warned, could turn into more of a public relations-type effort than a journalistic endeavor.
“I think some of the most dramatic photos that come out for our people is the non-special times, late night when someone’s still there catching that image,” Case said. “That’s news, the drama of the Legislature.”
Ain’t Broke, Why Fix It?
Rep. Dan Zwonizter, R-Cheyenne, mentioned how about 50 to 60 people receive media credentials for the Legislature each year, but Deputy Administrator of Operations Anthony Sara pointed out that a much smaller number actually use the hallways for photography. Legislative Service Office Director Matt Obrecht also said only one photographer is generally allowed to use the hallways at a time.
“We don’t have people piled on top of each other taking photos at those doors,” Sara said.
To this point, Zwonitzer questioned, “if it ain’t broke, why are we fixing it?”
There was however an official complaint filed involving a member of the press and a legislator that took place in one of these hallways last session.
Matthew Copeland, an editor at WyoFile, was the only member of the public to speak on the issue. He harkened back to freedom of the press being established in the U.S. Constitution.
“Any restriction to press access in the Capitol is a restriction to the people’s access to the government that represents them,” he said.
Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, who originally supported the recommendation, said the substantive purpose of the policy change was far outweighed by the public’s concern on the issue.
The recommendation to not restrict access will next go to the Management Council, which will consider it at its last meeting of the year Nov. 7-8.
The committee also voted to remove a legislative rule prohibiting media credentials from being issued to people solely for the purpose of writing a personal online blog.
Zwonitzer said this rule originally came about as a result of a particular blogger about six or seven years ago, but has since become outdated. By removing the rule, anyone associated with a blog will essentially be treated as a member of the media.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
