(Radio Iowa) – Senate Republican leaders have decided to deny media access to the floor of the Iowa Senate chamber where reporters have had work space for more than a century. Last year as a pandemic precaution, access to the House and Senate floors was limited to elected members of the legislature and a select number of staff. For the 2022 session, which starts Monday, House G-O-P leaders are allowing reporters and photographers who cover the legislature back into areas called “press benches” on the House floor. Senate Republican leaders are not.

A spokesman for Senate Republicans says the media plays an important role in the function of our republic, but he says the proliferation of non-traditional media and First Amendment concerns make it difficult for the Senate to define media access. Iowa Broadcast News Association leaders have issued a statement, calling on the Senate to reconsider media access. The Iowa Capitol Press Association says having real-time, in-person access to legislators helps reporters serve as the eyes and ears of the public and provide important information about legislative activities.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Iowa Senate will be one of a handful of legislative chambers in the country to deny members of the media floor access.