News 12 at 6 o'clock, December 14, 2009

AUGUSTA---It is being called unconstitutional. The city of Augusta attempting to control where media can and cannot interview your elected officials. It all comes as the law department fights to keep federal dollars coming to Augusta.

"Trying to put that type of restriction on the press is blatantly unconstitutional," said David Hudson who is general counsel for the Georgia Press Association.

Augusta's legal department drafted a resolution that requires news stations conduct interviews in a media room...not in hallways...not even in the commission chambers.

"If it hadn't been put in writing as a proposed resolution," said Hudson. "I would have said it's almost comical to be spending time trying to do something that is so blatantly unlawful."

The move comes as federal funding for the Airport, transit, roads and bridges, you name it hangs in the balance over a much bigger issue.

"There's a lot at stake here," acknowledged Yvonne Gentry who is director of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise or DBE.

Gentry is now coming under fire for allegedly violating a federal court order.

"We did not," said Gentry. "We being myself...did not have a clear understanding of the enjoinment."

A judge enjoined or demanded the county remove all documents or DBE language giving preference to minority and women owned businesses.

"The language was removed," said Gentry. "The day we received the enjoinment the language was removed."

The language was not removed from federal documents.

"It's very serious," said Gentry. "We should have gotten a better clarification when the enjoinment happened."

Now the legal fight begins as the legal department currently works to control media interviews.

"It's up to the commission," said Chiquita Johnson who is county attorney. "What they elect to do if anything and how they elect to do it."

"The public has a right to know what's going on," said Hudson. "Anything that puts up a roadblock, that makes it more difficult for the public to know, the commissioners and the county employees [should] say no. We're not going to do that."

This city has since completed a study that showed there was discrimination. They have not yet acted on the findings. That study costs taxpayers $500,000.