CONGRESS WATCH : C-Span’s Shackles

C-Span, the public affairs cable service that provides television coverage of Congress, has asked the House and Senate for permission to operate its own cameras in congressional chambers. In broadcasting the historic opening of the 104th Congress on Wednesday, C-Span coverage, as always, originated from cameras operated by government employees bound by a rule that only the person speaking can be pictured.

Opening up the new Congress to unfettered TV coverage would serve the public interest, giving C-Span viewers a fuller, more balanced view of congressional doings. Access has expanded somewhat this week but still is far short of what C-Span wants.

The Republican majorities are allowing television cameras into most committee meetings and the daily press briefings of the House Speaker and the Senate majority leader. Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who made room on Wednesday for various talk-radio hosts to broadcast from the Hill, has decided to appoint a bipartisan task force to take up the C-Span issue. Nice gesture, but this simple matter hardly requires extended study. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) said Wednesday it’s a Rules Committee decision and it “should happen as quickly as it can.”

C-Span viewers got a glimpse of spontaneous coverage when government cameras were allowed some freedom of movement on Wednesday during the first two hours of coverage. What a difference in being able to see the reactions and more of the activities that occur in chambers. Free C-Span cameras!