Garrett seeks to put media back on Senate floor

Published 4:58 pm Thursday, January 21, 2016

State Sen. Tom Garrett (R-Buckingham) has introduced a resolution in the Virginia Senate that would allow the media access to the Senate floor.

Last week, the Senate, led by Majority Leader Tommy Norment, voted to prohibit the media from the floor of the Senate, moving reporters to the gallery upstairs.

The resolution, if passed, would allow representatives of the news media “in such numbers as may be seated in accommodations provided for them at the press tables … Representatives of the news media who cannot be accommodated with seats at press tables on the floor may also be entitled to seats in a reserved section of the gallery,” the proposed resolution reads.

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According to a press release from Garrett’s office, the Republican “reiterated his commitment towards ensuring a transparent, accessible and journalist-friendly atmosphere within Virginia’s Senate.”

“Our caucus arrived at a consensus allowing our leadership time to sit down with the capitol press corps,” Garrett said.

“I stand committed to assuring that those I am privileged to serve that I will continue to fight, even when the fight is hard, to ensure transparency and appropriate access for the press corps.”