Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Nixon vs. Cell Phones

NIXON TRIES TO BAN REPORTER CELL PHONES, THEN RECONSIDERS
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon gets off to a rocky start with the media by attempting to collect their cell phones before his first news conference.
Nixon scheduled a news conference on his first full day in office Tuesday to announce several economic development actions. Before allowing the media in, Nixon's staff said reporters needed
to leave their cell phones outside his office.
Nixon spokesman Scott Holste claimed the cell phone ban was for security reasons, although cell phones have been allowed by previous governors.
After the media threatened to boycott Nixon's news conference, Nixon's office reversed course and allowed reporters to carry in their phones.
Nixon communications director Jack Cardetti said later that the cell phone ban will stand for other non-media meetings with the governor.
ALSO: THE LESS-FUN STORY THAT SHOULDA, WOULDA, COULDA BEEN THE LEDE:
On his first full day in office, Gov. Jay Nixon signed an executive order creating task forces to attract automotive industry jobs and coordinate the use of money from a potential federal economic stimulus package. Nixon also directed the Deparment of Economic Development to develop a $2 million dollar small-business loan program.

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