With only two weeks before the Interim Recess, the California State Legislature is attempting to cram hundreds of bills through before September 14. Citizens have witnessed some pretty underhanded tactics and maneuvering from our elected representatives to secure the outcome they desire for their bills.
The legislature has suspended the rules to hear a bill Without Reference to File, gutted and amended bills, and waited for activists to leave the chambers before bringing a bill to vote on the floor. But this takes the cake: They are now yelling at the press for stopping legislators in the halls for media interviews.
Hannah Wiley, an LA Times reporter covering state politics and policy, tweeted the below statement on X, formerly Twitter. Travis Gilmore, a journalist covering finance, politics, the California Legislature, and breaking news for The Epoch Times, responded to her outcry by contributing his concern over the current situation:
If sergeants are being told we can't talk to lawmakers in the hallway, this is very concerning. Access is already too limited.
— Travis Gillmore (@TravisWGillmore) September 6, 2023
They aren’t alone. Yesterday the press took their complaints en masse to X to speak out against the clear violations of their First Amendment rights. Some of the voices being raised against this assault include:
Laura Mahoney, a Sacramento reporter for @BLaw @tax, covers policy news in California & the statehouse:
Do members no longer have agency to decide who they want to talk to? Are lobbyists also blocked from talking to members in the hall? I've been instructed that convos with members have to be in the hall outside the chamber, not on the back of the floor. Because construction?
— Laura Mahoney (@schwahoney) September 6, 2023
Rachel Bluth, a California healthcare reporter for POLITICO:
I was told I couldn't use the bathroom closest to the chamber because it's "members only" during session now. But feel free to use the first and third floor facilities.
— Rachel Bluth (@RachelHBluth) September 6, 2023
Fenit Nirppil, a public health reporter The Washington Post:
Wonder if the sergeants are also yelling at lobbyists who approach lawmakers in the halls
— Fenit Nirappil (@FenitN) September 6, 2023
Ryan Harris, a news reporter/anchor at Northwest Newsradio 1000/FM 97.7:
That is unacceptable. I used to do them by the phone booths. Shouldn't be a problem. I get that they want to control the message, but they ran for jobs that are subject to public scrutiny and press questions, so they need to take questions somewhere.
— Ryan Harris Northwest News Radio (@RyanHarrisNWN) September 7, 2023
Jason Fordney, editor, California Energy Markets, co-host, "Energy West" Podcast, consultant, privacy advocate:
Hmm... apparently journalists can't talk to a public official in a public building? This needs to be resisted.
— Jason Fordney (@FordneyEnergy) September 6, 2023
Brad Smith, a communications professional with experience in public and private sectors, aerospace, science, health, and engineering, writer/editor:
Ask their supervisor who wrote that policy; follow the trail of authority; publicize their names. Ask the person who ran against BauerKahan last election their opinion, and lead your next story with it, and have the LAT provide the story on the wire to all the East Bay media.
— Brad Smith (@BradSmithCVN68) September 7, 2023
Tim Rosales, Pres/CEO-The Rosales Agency:
I was a Chief of Staff in the Assembly in the early 2000’s, I remember we’d take any interview from a Capitol Press Corps journalist with our boss anywhere we could get one. https://t.co/GREJymFMcq
— Tim Rosales (@TimRosales) September 7, 2023
Jeremy White, Senior California politics+policy reporter for POLITICO:
Time was you could grab members for interviews in the hallway outside of chambers -- this is evidently no longer the case, and it notably diminishes journalists' opportunities to talk to your elected representatives https://t.co/605iFAuyEI
— Jeremy B. "such shall be the order" White (@JeremyBWhite) September 6, 2023
During our Lobby Day, CHP informed us that in May or June of 2024, they were not going to be issuing permits for anyone to have space at the Capitol to exercise their First Amendment rights. However, they were actively working with the legislature at the time to try to secure a small space of lawn behind the Capitol. Were they successful? I don’t know.
In light of these recent developments, it appears as though the CA State Legislature is using the construction of the Capitol building as an excuse to remove our First Amendment rights. And with only two weeks left before Interim Recess, they seem to be pushing a test run with the press.
But perhaps the most telling Tweet of them all was this:
The California Capitol Correspondents Assn. has repeatedly asked the Legislature/gov's office for help identifying a space to work from, as other statehouses have, so we can do our jobs efficiently and safely. https://t.co/A98Qwo8zLt
— Hannah Wiley (@hannahcwiley) September 6, 2023
Lara Korte, Half of California Playbook, @POLITICO says it best:
Telling the press they can't ask questions of members in the halls of government is abhorrent. #caleg https://t.co/TQTxsPhs97
— Lara Korte (@lara_korte) September 6, 2023
We couldn’t agree more. Convention of States may be using Article V to call a convention to propose amendments to limit the abuse of the federal government, but we are so much more than that. We are about a return to self-governance, where the people are actively involved in exercising their power at all levels of government.
Sen Tom Coburn once said, “Have you forgotten? What you tolerate you empower.”
California, enough is enough! The time is now to get involved, make your voice heard, and remind them they only govern by the consent of We the People and we no longer consent. Take action now by signing the petition below and checking out our many volunteer positions. We will teach you how to get involved and be a leader for change in your community.
