Blocking the Sunshine in California

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The Associated Press reports that the California Assembly has tried to invoke a long-neglected rule requiring news media outlets to request permission from the Assembly Speaker's office before recording legislative sessions.


The rule affects print and broadcast journalists and legislators themselves, all of whom must get the nod from the Assembly Speaker's office before using audio or video recorders to capture legislative debate. Assembly Speaker John Perez has delayed enforcing the rule as news media outlets began to question it.

It's never a good idea in a free society to empower government officials to restrict coverage of their governance.