VIDEO: Concord Monitor Reporters Kept Out of NH Speaker’s Office
O’Brien offers no comment on exclusivity at press availability on EBT card issues.
What was supposed to be a routine press availability about issues with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards turned into an exclusive media availability by Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, who banned the Concord Monitor’s Statehouse bureau reporters from the briefing.
The reporters, Annmarie Timmins and Matt Spolar, showed up at the speaker’s office along with other Statehouse reporters before the briefing. At the time, they had heard about the avail but had not received information about it.
Timmins asked the speaker’s secretary for a copy of the email notice that was sent around and was told that only certain members of the media were being invited.
Other media outlets nervously giggled and began talking about the situation, since it seemed unprecedented.
“I guess I’ll leave,” Timmins joked.
“It’s a great day for the beach,” another reporter noted, laughing.
Timmins requested a copy of the email, which was provided to her by Concord NH Patch, and she consulted with Spolar about the situation.
“Shannon (Bettencourt) will be out to talk to you shortly,” the secretary told Timmins after overhearing the interaction between journalists in the office.
A few minutes later, media outlets were allowed to file into the speaker’s office but Bettencourt, the speaker’s media liaison, held Timmins and Spolar at the door.
Timmins kept asking, “Why can’t we come in? The invite does not say invite only … the entire media corps is at this event,” while video recording the interaction with Bettencourt. However, Bettencourt ignored her.
“It wasn’t sent to your organization,” she stated at one point.
“I don’t know what it’s about,” Timmins said. “No one has ever told me … this speaker has never spoken to me so I don’t know the reasons. I’ve never been told.”
Bettencourt held firm and closed the door behind the two reporters.
At the end of the press conference, which featured O’Brien, a Democrat and three Republican state representatives, and Jackie Whiton, a clerk who was fired because she refused to sell cigarettes to a customer attempting to use an EBT card for the purchase, O’Brien was asked by Concord NH Patch if he had any comment on why the Monitor reporters were barred from the availability or when they would be allowed back.
“I don’t,” O’Brien stated.
Concord NH Patch reported on this incident earlier today: Newspaper Barred from Attending House Speaker's Press Conference.
MaryLou
1:49 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
This is not about "fraud". No "fraud" was committed or attempted by the person who wanted to buy a tobacco product with their EBT card for cash assistance. It is an allowable use of this card.
It is not however, allowed under the food stamps EBT card, which the young man was NOT attempting to use for the purchase.
Tony Schinella
2:00 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Hi MaryLou, thanks for the note. You're correct, to a point. The press avail was about EBT issues and the situation with the woman was not about fraud. But the issue of general misuse - i.e., fraud - of the EBT system in New Hampshire was discussed and will be a part of the investigation moving forward.
rick barasso
2:09 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Perhaps Ms. Horn would care to remind us about those freedoms again....
You know, like the one about FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!
Ok GOP sheep line up and come to the koolaid trough
rick barasso
2:10 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
O brien was aware of Bettencourts fraud, so why is he still in office?
MaryLou
2:10 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Thanks for the clarification Tony! I look forward to your continued reporting on this.
Jeff Butler
2:59 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I wonder if it occurred to any of the press to boycott the dictator's press conference in response to excluding the Monitor reporters. It would have sent a powerful message that "Payback's a _itch."
Tony Schinella
3:08 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
@Jeff: I think that was the message O'Brien was sending to the Concord Monitor. But, no, it didn't occur to me to boycott the press event. It did occur to me to start recording audio right away, which I did, and then, as it was actually happening, to turn the camera on. I was also the only one to ask the speaker for comment about the issue. If I had boycotted, I wouldn't have been able to have documented those things.
Rick Watrous
5:12 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
O'Brien is becoming increasingly thin-skinned and ham-fisted, hence his attempts to quell free speech in legislative emails (from representatives he doesn't like) and now this turning away of press that he doesn't like. First amendment rights are always the first to go when a leader feels threatened. This smacks of the desperate actions of a tyrant feeling his power slipping away...
Josh Graciano
5:34 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I think this goes to show what a joke our "leadership" is. No party has a monopoly on pettiness or poor judgement, but Speaker O'Brien and/or his minions have just made themselves look like fools. A press conference is designed to publicize one's point of view (facts, details- not so much), so keeping a major news reporter out is counterintuitive. Is the Evil Monitor going to lie about their reporters are told? Or is the fear that the facts provided won't result in the correct editorial position? I'm going to add something shocking, so consider yourself forewarned-
not everyone reads the Union Leader, Patch.com (see- shocking), or watches WMUR.
Madness I know, but sometimes you have to use a newspaper who doesn't kiss your constitutional seat.
rick barasso
6:20 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
I heard a rumor O'Brien is shaving off the beard, and replacing it with a mustach about the width of the bottom of his nose. In concert with his ideas of making big changes in the way things are done in the Granite State, he is considering a new way of saluting the flag. Rather than placing the right hand over the heart, one would extend the right hand with the fingers together and pointed towards the sky. I must admit, it is a sight to behold when done in unison with those that support his agenda. He is also looking to add a few more lines the the shape of the number four.
rick barasso
6:24 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Just when Texas and Florida thought they had the craziest Republican politician award wrapped up, along comes the NH legislature to give them a run for their money(pun intended).
ForThePeople
8:37 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Texas picks some real winners, don't they? George Bush - twice - and the absolute sultan of executions, Rick Perry.
Lee Richardson
8:11 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Thank you for reporting this, Tony. It would appear Mr. O'Brien is afraid of the Concord Monitor most likely for their factual reporting. I read the online addition of the Concord Monitor along with the Patch and other various news outlets. I for one am not happy with this latest shenanigan, Mr. O'Brien. The Concord Monitor is one place I get my news. If you won't let the Concord Monitor report what you're up to and especially to folks that live in this vicinity then you can kiss my vote goodbye...not that I'd ever vote for someone as incompetent as you.
John Miller
12:07 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
While I don't support denying access to the Concord Monitor reporters, I find it just plain wrong for EBT (taxpayers money) to be used to buy tobacco products or any other goods that are not neccessary. Perhaps the Concord Patch staff can initiate a blog about how other citizens feel about such waste of precious resources?
rick barasso
1:26 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
Are we giving the smoking poor extra money for cigs? If not why would anyone care what they spend their very meger ebt credits on?If you think about it, the more they smoke the less time they will be collecting ebt. Now governor Scott in Florida had a "great idea" drug testing welfare reciprients to save tax dollars. When all said and done, the program saved the tax payers NEGATIVE $45,000. In other words cost more tban it saved. The program has been canceled...