Press Credentials For Bloggers?

This is it: Until the Texas Legislature adjourns in June, I won’t be able to leave my computer for any reason. Why? I go off to take care of some non-bloggy related business and State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) makes a proposal to amend the House rules to allow bloggers to have press credentials.

I should have been here liveblogging. *Snif*

First off, Rep. Rodriguez deserves a massive “THANK YOU” from every blogger of the left, right and center.

Although the amendment was ultimately pulled, it sparked some interesting debate.

Of course, sites like Quorum Report and Capitol Insider technically count as “blogs” since they are in electronic format, and I understand that Rep. Rodriguez mentioned that on the floor (which I wasn’t able to liveblog).

Of course, the amendment ended up getting pulled, but I do feel positive about blogs’ future on the floor of the House, even though the House Research Organization should send Rep. Fred Hill a memo on what constitutes a “unique hit.”
Of course, the Statesman (on its own blog, mind you) took the occasion to try to give bloggers a smack down (after some trashy complaining about the smoking habits of Rep. Terri Hodge (D-Dallas)):

Pro-blog Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, said bloggers deserve to sit tight by the House members like professional observers (though Rodriguez gave no proof the bloggers will show up rather than sticking by their TV sets and Web connections). And at least for the moment, he yanked down his proposal.

If only the Statesman bloggers knew…

Anyway, Rep. Rodriguez’s press release is below the fold. I’ve got some catching up on this issue to do before I do much more writing.

AUSTIN– Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) will propose an amendment to the house rules today that will give established Bloggers access to the House floor.

“With the rise of citizen journalism, it no longer makes sense to limit access to House business solely to the traditional press outlets,” said Representative Rodriguez.

Political blogs are some of the limited media that focus solely on reporting the happenings at the Capital and many of these Bloggers regularly break stories that show up in the traditional media.

Bloggers, as defined by this revised rule, produce original reporting and informed comment worthy of credentials. This amendment will allow increasingly popular non-traditional media, the privileges necessary to more effectively inform citizens on governmental issues.

“This kind of measure would encourage citizen participation in government and help demystify the system for the general public,” said Rodriguez.