Iowa Legislature Refuses To Grant Blogger Press Credentials

The Iowa Legislature has refused press credentials to Laura Belin, who criticizes its policies on her blog, Bleeding Heartland. The AP notes that both Houses of the Legislature, which is controlled by the Republicans, justified the refusal by saying either that she is a non-traditional journalist or not a member of the press. Press rights groups are questioning the legislature’s actions and defending Belin’s right to press credentials based on the grant of credentials to similarly-situated members of the media.