PHOENIX -- Pressured by members of his own party, House Speaker David Gowan this morning rescinded his ban on reporters on the floor who have not first undergone extensive background checks.
But not full access.
In a brief statement, House Republican publicist Stephanie Grisham said the badges that had been given to regular Capitol beat reporters that opened certain doors are not being reactivated. That had provided easier access for reporters to go to lawmakers' offices, including that of the speaker.
Instead, there will be a sign-in process available only when the House is on the floor.
Gowan's reversal comes less than a week after he claimed that House members had demanded he tighten up security procedures. That followed a disturbance in the public gallery.
But it turns out the letter from GOP legislators that Gowan said led to the policy change never actually mentioned concerns about reporters on the floor. Instead, it simply asked Gowan to spend money in the House budget "for the purpose of improving the physical security of the Arizona House of Representatives building.''
"The speaker stands by his security plan,'' Grisham said this morning. But she acknowledged there had been pressure on her boss to reverse his stance, saying he "has a responsibility to his members and public who expressed concern.''
Grisham said she did not know if Gowan would be available to provide further explanation of his change of heart.
Aside from restoring floor access, the move also means that, at least for the time being, any plans to target any specific reporter are sidelined.
Gowan had demanded not only that reporters consent to examinations of criminal and civil records but also provide information about driver's license and prior addresses. More significant, his policy said anyone convicted of certain specific crimes would never be allowed access.
That included not only serious felonies but also the crime of trespass -- the Class 2 misdemeanor which would have disqualified Hank Stephenson, the Arizona Capitol Times reporter who discovered that Gowan had used $12,000 in state resources for travel for both personal purposes and in his congressional campaign.
Gowan refunded the money and insisted it was an error by a staffer.
