C-SPAN has asked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to allow its cameras onto the House floor following its captivating coverage of the 15 votes it took for him to secure the job last week.
The networks cameras, which had been allowed during the speaker election, were removed from the chamber Monday after the House approved a new set of rules to begin the 118th Congress.
In a letter penned by co-CEO Susan Swain, the network said the theme of transparency included in the rules, as well as calls by the press, public and lawmakers, prompted it to resubmit its request for more access.
We do not propose replacing the existing House Recording System or its output, Swain wrote Tuesday. Instead, we request to install a few additional cameras in the House chamber.
C-SPAN does not control cameras in the House.
READ: C-SPAN letter to Speaker McCarthy requesting our cameras be allowed into the House Chamber. https://t.co/wvf1aHcG3r
MORE Letters Requesting Greater Transparency https://t.co/5ANsfjYLVz pic.twitter.com/5YM2eVQFrQ
C-SPAN does not control cameras in the House.
CSPAN (@cspan) January 10, 2023
READ: C-SPAN letter to Speaker McCarthy requesting our cameras be allowed into the House Chamber. https://t.co/wvf1aHcG3r
MORE Letters Requesting Greater Transparency https://t.co/5ANsfjYLVz pic.twitter.com/5YM2eVQFrQ
The current feed broadcasted by C-SPAN is controlled by the government.
C-SPAN, a nonprofit organization funded by satellite and cable TV networks, is only rarely allowed to use its own cameras for events like the speaker election and the State of the Union address.
Last weeks coverage captured a near-brawl when Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) appeared to lunge at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) after the latter voted present on the 14th round of votes for speaker.
C-SPAN appeared to gain more traction through its coverage of the vote, trending on Twitter and having its mobile app hit record downloads, Howard Mortman, a spokesperson for the network, told The New York Times .
Lawmakers from both parties appear to be supportive of the idea of allowing independently operated cameras into the chamber.
Last weeks @CSPAN coverage was worthy of an Oscar, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who is introducing a bill calling for coverage of the full House, tweeted Monday.
Last weeks @CSPAN coverage was worthy of an Oscar. Thats why Im introducing legislation requiring House cameras to continue to capture the full Chamber & not just what the Speaker wants.
Thx to @RepMaxwellFrost, @RepMarkTakano, @NydiaVelazquez, & @RepDonaldPayne for joining!
Last weeks @CSPAN coverage was worthy of an Oscar. Thats why Im introducing legislation requiring House cameras to continue to capture the full Chamber & not just what the Speaker wants.
Rep. Mark Pocan (@RepMarkPocan) January 9, 2023
Thx to @RepMaxwellFrost , @RepMarkTakano , @NydiaVelazquez , & @RepDonaldPayne for joining!
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a co-sponsor of Pocans legislation, said releasing the cameras from the speakers control would allow Americans to see democracy in action.
This is a small but important step towards transparency and accountability in our government, Frost wrote on Twitter.
Proud to be co-sponsoring @RepMarkPocans legislation to free the House cameras so our people can see democracy in action. This is a small but important step towards transparency and accountability in our government. #FreeCSPAN https://t.co/nhAdB8RWkp
Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@RepMaxwellFrost) January 9, 2023","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost","author_url":"https://twitter.com/RepMaxwellFrost","cache_age":86400,"description":"Proud to be co-sponsoring @RepMarkPocans legislation to free the House cameras so our people can see democracy in action. 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Of Representatives","slug":"house-of-representatives","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/house-of-representatives","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/house-of-representatives","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/house-of-representatives"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"U.S. House of Representatives","slug":"us-house-of-representatives","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/us-house-of-representatives"},{"name":"Kevin McCarthy","slug":"kevin-mccarthy","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/kevin-mccarthy","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/kevin-mccarthy","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/kevin-mccarthy"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Kevin McCarthy","slug":"kevin-mccarthy","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/kevin-mccarthy"},{"name":"c-span","slug":"c-span","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/c-span","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/c-span","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/c-span"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"C-Span","slug":"c-span","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/c-span"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">Proud to be co-sponsoring @RepMarkPocan s legislation to free the House cameras so our people can see democracy in action. This is a small but important step towards transparency and accountability in our government. #FreeCSPAN https://t.co/nhAdB8RWkp
Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@RepMaxwellFrost) January 9, 2023
Gaetz, who introduced an amendment that would allow C-SPAN cameras in the chamber , called the current pool feed antiquated and boomer-fied.
Our fellow Americans deserve to know when we are frustrated with one another, kind to one another, present, or absent, Gaetz told CNNs Jake Tapper .
And fellow Republican Rep. Chip Roy (Texas) said it was a good thing for people to be able to see the inner workings of the chamber with cameras rolling during the speaker vote.
Ben OConnell, the editorial operations director at C-SPAN, told HuffPost that the regular feed Americans see on C-SPAN is effectively the government covering the government.
But when journalists are allowed into the room, the public gets to see their members at work in a much more intimate way than then theyre able to see on that government-operated feed, OConnell said.
Support for the added cameras isnt universal. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), for one, argued it would be a bad idea.
There will be accusations of partisanship for showing certain members vs others, and honestly Congress is already too much of a performance, he wrote on Twitter.
I dont think this is a good idea. There will be accusations of partisanship for showing certain members vs others, and honestly Congress is already too much of a performance.
GOP lawmaker open to letting C-SPAN cameras run free - POLITICO https://t.co/UM53Jrgp01
I dont think this is a good idea. There will be accusations of partisanship for showing certain members vs others, and honestly Congress is already too much of a performance.
Adam Kinzinger #fella (@AdamKinzinger) January 8, 2023
GOP lawmaker open to letting C-SPAN cameras run free - POLITICO https://t.co/UM53Jrgp01
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This is not the first time C-SPAN has made this request. A section of C-SPANs website titled Letters Requesting Greater Transparency lists correspondence dating back to 1994 addressed to Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Asked if he thinks there is now momentum for House leadership to allow this change, OConnell replied: Im guardedly optimistic.
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