The National Press Club has rapped a move by the Senate Rules Committee that restricts press access to Senators.
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It zeroed in on yesterday's decision to limit interviews with Senators to only those who had permission from a lawyer from the Rules Committee.
The move, according to the NPC, effectively makes a political appointee a "gatekeeper" for journalists trying to access public officials.
“Reporters are the representatives of the public. They should not have to ask permission to ask a question of the public’s elected representatives,” said a statement from Barbara Cochran, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute.
The NPC said it's aware of the challenges balancing security and access to the Capitol.
Along with supporters, the NPC plans a summit of newsmakers and journalists to develop a plan to tackle the issue of access and security.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), chair of the Rules Committee, said the restriction policy was a "miscommunication."
He said the rules of access have not changed.
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