Partial Member List

Weijia Jiang, President

Justin Sink, Vice President

Jacqui Heinrigh, Treasurer

Brian Bennet, Secretary

Sara Cook, Secretary

Andrew Harnik, Board Member

Trevor Hunnicutt, Board Member

Courtney Subramanian, Board Member

Karen Travers, Board Member

Steve Thomma, Executive Director

Address

White House Correspondents’ Association

600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Ste 610

Washington, DC 20037

Good Day To You Ms. Jiang,

Here is a suggestion that could make a significant difference in the preservation of democracy. 

Summary:

The White House Press Corps has the authority to select some number of members to attend all briefings, and has the authority to require the White House to answer selected questions.  These questions cannot be denied by the White House.

Before going any further, please stop and think about the effects this might have.  The effects on the President, the White House, all members of the cabinet, and more.  How important might it be to be able to require our representatives to answer important questions.

Some Suggested Details.

1. The members of the White House Correspondents’ Association has the authority to select <some number> of members who will be allowed to attend all White House briefings.  The White House, meaning any official of the Executive Branch, does not have authority to prevent those selected members from attending any briefing.  Refer to these reporters as the Press Corps Selected Members, PCSM.

2. The PCSM members have the authority to select up to <some number> of specific questions to ask of the White House and members of the executive branch.  They have the authority to require that an appropriate member of the White house shall answer those questions.

3. If the White House representatives do not answer the question to the satisfaction of the PCSM, they are allowed no more than five business days to determine their response and answer the question.

4. The PCSM members have the authority to require that the questions be answered.  The members of the Executive Branch are required by law to answer the specified questions.

5. When questions have been asked and deferred, those questions shall be answered as the first order of business at the next press briefing.  They shall not be deferred a second time.  No other briefings may be conducted until the deferred questions have been answered.

Discussion:

I believe that you, the members of the Press Corps, should have the “authority” to represent not only the news media, but the entire U.S. public.  You should have the authority to ask questions and demand answer.  Yes, to demand answer to questions and get those answers.

A reasonably current example:

Situation:  The White House, meaning Trump, declared that Lisa Cook committed mortgage fraud and he wants to fire her.

Question: What evidence led to the suspicion that she committed the stated fraud?

Result:  The White House, meaning Trump and the DOJ, will have a difficult time continuing to pursue this completely politically motivated attack.

Implementation:

This would have to be passed as a law by Congress.  The first step is that I wrote this letter to you and will write multiple letters and postcards to members of Congress.  The second step might be for you, members of the press corps, to reword this suggestion, make it better, then you go the members of Congress and ask them to pass legislation.  You can also present the idea to the public and maybe get some widespread support.

If you think this might be a good idea, please respond with your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Your name