I had the honor of serving in the Iowa State Senate from 1979 to 1986. It was a time when Democrats and Republicans worked together to build a better Iowa.
In my first four years, I sat two desks away from the bench press. I had frequent conversations with James Flansburg, Dave Yepsen and Tom Witosky of the Des Moines Register, Ken Sullivan of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, and Roger Munns of the Associated Press.
As Chair of the Education Committee, our members felt it was important to have direct access to journalists who covered the Legislative Assembly. Understanding their tight deadlines, it was beneficial to have direct access to journalists during debates.
Therefore, I must express my sincere disappointment in the Republican leaders of the Iowa Senate who will no longer allow journalists to work on the press benches in the Senate chamber. As a former member, registered voter, and property owner in Iowa, I would simply ask for a detailed answer as to why this break in a century-old tradition is being implemented.
As a former high school government teacher, we taught that for a representative democracy to work, you need three things: 1) A well-educated population; 2) Access to public information; and, 3) Access to public policy makers.
I hope that the Republican leaders will reverse their decision to relocate the journalists to the balcony of the Senate. Iowans will be best served by maintaining the close relationships lawmakers and reporters have enjoyed over decades.
Joseph E. Brown, Sr.
clinton
