Michigan republican wants journalists to be state-licensed

http://toledoblade.com/article/20100528/COLUMNIST17/5280318/0/NEWS13

LANSING, Mich. - Nobody, including the press, is very happy with the press these days. So state Sen. Bruce Patterson, a man of luxuriant mustaches and florid expressions, came up with an idea: Regulate' em.

Set up a board to check reporters' credentials, license them as if they were manicurists or lawyers, and charge them a registration fee. Then issue those who pass muster and pay the state the designation of "Michigan Registered Reporter."

And he introduced a bill (SB 1323) this month to do just that.
Now if you think that sounds like something you might have expected in communist Bulgaria, you're right. It was enough to give a severe case of apoplexy to any reporter who has heard of the senator's proposal. Nothing horrifies journalists more than the idea of a state-regulated media.
And they are right about that, too.

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WTF

but requiring media credentials for venue access is common.... and a whole different matter.

An ironic result for Mr. Patterson, I'm sure.

:shrug:

What the fuck is with these asshole Republicans?????

The First Amendment is crystal clear about such issues.

:wtf:

Nothing horrifies me more than a state-regulated media. Fox Noise is the perfect example of what that would look like..

:wtf:

but maybe that would kill off the essential part of 'being republican' . :think:

Making the relationship even more incestuous than it already is hardly seems like a good idea..

It is pretty obvious that most politicians have read neither.