WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., has barred The Courier-Journal's political reporter from his weekly conference calls with Kentucky reporters.
Despite a request to be included in Tuesday's regular conference call, political reporter Joseph Gerth was not called by Bunning's office. Gerth had been participating in the conference calls since taking over the political beat in 2007.
When Gerth inquired about the omission, he said Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard told him the senator did not want him on the call.
Asked why, Reynard replied in a statement: "Senator Bunning holds these weekly conference calls with reporters to keep the citizens of Kentucky up to date on the legislative work he is doing for them here in Washington. It is clear that Joe Gerth has a political agenda, and we see no need to include a biased reporter like him on the call when Courier-Journal reporter Jim Carroll already participates each week."
Courier-Journal Managing Editor Ben Post said the newspaper objects to Bunning's decision.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090617/NEWS01/906170418/1008/Bunning+bars+C-J+reporter+from+calls