Channel 12 Reporter Booted from State House Floor

By Stephen Lemons Tue., Feb. 21 2012 at 11:22 PM

GOPer and State House Speaker Andy Tobin's turning into a regular Russell Pearce clone these days.

Earlier in the year, there was his support of new restrictions on freedom of speech at the Arizona Capitol, and today, according to Channel 12 reporter Melissa Blasius, Tobin's officious flack Rey Torres booted her and photojournalist Ed Ayala from the state House floor.

Torres told Blasius he had implemented a new policy at the beginning of this session requiring journos to scan state-issued identity cards before entering the House chamber. Thing is, neither he nor security staff at the House had bothered to inform Blasius during her frequent visits.

In the video above, Blasius asks to see the wording of the new policy. Torres tells Blasius that there's nothing in writing, and that he's been informing the media via word-of-mouth.

Moreover, to obtain one of these new House-approved badges, a news hound has to register with the Arizona Department of Administration, which then passes the info on to Torres & Co. for approval.

Tags:

Andy Tobin, Channel 12, Melissa Blasius, Russell Pearce

Albert

Another Idiot who doesn't understand or comprehend the CONSTITUTION. Seriously!!! The First Amendment protects all free speech.. there are no exceptions given to the government... that goes for the congress and the supreme court. If they don't like it, just try to change the Constitution and see what the "People" say about that. A Constitutional Amendment is the only thing that is supposed to change or weaken a Constitutional Protection or Liberty. Also, the 14th Amendment also prohibits ALL government form PASSING or ENFORCING any law or rule that infringes or violates a Constitutional Immunity or Privilege.
First Amendment- *******Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;********* or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.14th Amendment- Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.******** No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;******** nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.I'm getting tired of pointing out these two Amendments..... They apply to both federal and state government.....