The Biden administration is apparently going to start charging members of the press for COVID tests to enter the White House.
Journalists will have no choice because you can’t enter the premises without one.
The Daily Caller reports:
Biden Press Office Seeks To Charge Reporters $170 For COVID-19 Tests Before Entering White House
President Joe Biden’s press team is seeking to charge reporters $170 for mandatory COVID-19 tests every day they enter the White House, The Washington Post reported Friday.
The White House is reportedly seeking to implement the unprecedented measure on Monday, arguing that the cost of testing dozens of journalists each day has “strained its budget.” The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has already raised objections to the change, and critics argue it could effectively ban smaller outlets from the campus, giving major outlets a monopoly on White House access.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the potential charges.
Wow.
Biden’s team wants to charge reporters $170 for a COVID test every time they come to the White Househttps://t.co/guSRllt8Ki
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) February 26, 2021
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Reporters are not happy about this.
I think part of “bringing truth and transparency back to the briefing room” is not making it prohibitively expensive for smaller outlets with tight budgets to go to the White House
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) February 26, 2021
“It would cost $1,360 a day to test an eight-person crew under the White House plan.” https://t.co/Vv4RqUjvn0
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) February 26, 2021
$170 per test for anyone entering the White House grounds, because "officials there contend that the cost of maintaining the testing regime for nearly a year has strained its budget."
Strained the White House's budget. https://t.co/IPHygU4zmx
— Jack Fitzpatrick ☘️ (@jackfitzdc) February 26, 2021
The price of admission? … White House and press are at odds over plan to charge reporters for coronavirus testing. Good piece from @farhip https://t.co/JbWOnhJiYK
— ☀️ Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) February 26, 2021
This is a violation of Free Speech. @POTUS should be ashamed. NO ONE should have to pay to cover the president. For any reason. Many smaller organizations can't afford this. No freelancer or independent will be able to pay this cost. https://t.co/zwiRwNRwPY
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) February 26, 2021
Can you even imagine the reaction if Trump had done this?
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