Posted on 07/14/2017 9:21:37 AM PDT by jazusamo
Democratic congressman Jim Himes (D-Conn.) introduced a bill on Thursday requiring the White House to provide at least two on-camera press briefings per week.
The bill, called the "Free Press Act," requires the White House to provide for at least two press briefings each week and requires that those briefings be video recorded," according to a press release.
“President Trump has displayed an overtly hostile attitude toward the press since the early days of the presidential campaign,” said Himes. “Aggressiveness toward reporters was a hallmark of many Trump rallies, where it was common for members of the media to be threatened and intimidated.
"This simple bill achieves two important goals," Himes continued. "First, it ensures that the press briefings will continue on a regular schedule. Second, it guarantees the American people have access to the proceedings first hand."
“A free and independent press is essential to the survival of a functioning democracy,” he added. “The media’s role is to ask the tough questions on behalf of the American public and work to hold our leaders accountable. I hope this bill helps push back on the efforts of this, or any, administration to suppress this necessary reporting.”
White House press briefings have been occurring less in recent weeks after being an almost-daily occurrence in the first few months of the administration.
On-camera briefings are particularly less frequent, with the last one occurring on June 27.
Former White House press secretaries Ari Fleischer, who served under President George W. Bush, and Mike McCurry, who served under President Bill Clinton, both advocate abandoning on-camera press briefings due to the theatrics that come with it, stating it's "better for the public."
The Hill has reached out to the White House Press Office for comment.
How about a bill requiring all members of Congress to carry a live microphone 24/7, hooked to the internet and open for access by constituents?
Unconstitutional.
Being Hines is a dumb ass dimoKKKRAT he does not know about separation of powers. As stated he should stick to the Congress side. This thing is not going anywhere.
Such a “law” would be a blatant unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers.
A free press does not need a camera. In fact, according to the Left’s interpretation of the Second Amendment, the Constitution does not even address the freedom of electronic media since the Founders could not have possibly imagined the power of electronic media.
These televised press confs were cutting into Trish Regan’s FBN show at 2pm.
I have to have me some Trish in the afternoon!!
I remember when Dubya was president, Democrats proposed a bill to initiate the draft for women. Tried to embarrass Bush out of pursuing a war strategy. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Went nowhere, PC be damned.
Fine. CSPAN. Camera always on the spokesperson. NEVER on the questioners.
.
Separation of powers rules the day on this crap!
.
Democrats forcing videos to be made, sounds like ISIS hostage videos.
What a joke. Wonder how much CNN and the Compost lobbyists are paying this retard to introduce this bill?
Didn’t Clinton go almost a year without a press briefing?
I demand that every Democrat politician be given two IQ tests a week to make sure they haven’t been replaced with a shrub.
Better still, do that with an executive order.
We’d be better off with the shrub.
Exactly.
Perhaps the content of said press conferences should focus on how dumb the rule is, followed by the president’s breakfast and full reading of any legislation he is promoting. Of camera an unofficial press conference done as the president sees fit would be simultaneously taking place. CNN and AP can go to the “official” one instead.
IF this passes, Trump should kick out all the press except the Cartoon Network. Since they have the highest credibility.
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