Washington, DC - NY Lawmakers Oppose Move To Pull The NY Times Capitol Press Passes

Washington, DC - A half-dozen New York Democratic House members are opposing a move to yank the Capitol Hill press credentials from reporters who work for The New York Times.
Congressman Maurice Hinchey of Ulster County says pulling the credentials for the newspaper's employees would, quote -- "damage and degrade" some of the founding principles of the United States.

Some Republican lawmakers want to punish The NY Times for recent news stories regarding government programs that monitor telephone calls and financial records in an effort to track suspected terrorists.
Hinchey and five other members of New York's congressional delegation have written to House Speaker Dennis Hastert urging him to reject the request to rescind the newspaper's press passes.
Hinchey said The New York Times and other news organizations report on surveillance programs to hold the Bush administration accountable for its policies.

Signing the letter to Hastert in addition to Hinchey were Joseph Crowley, Carolyn Maloney, Major Owens, Jose Serrano and Anthony Weiner.