A former and a current legislative leader spoke out Monday against proposals to limit reporters' access to the Legislature.

The comments of state Sen. Roy Brown, R-Billings, who is running for governor, and House Minority Caucus Leader Dan Villa, D-Anaconda, came on the eve of the Montana Legislative Council meeting today to consider whether to deny reporters floor privilege to cover the House and Senate. Both lawmakers contacted the State Bureau to express their opposition to attempts to restrict reporters' access to the Legislature.

Another topic is whether the Legislative Council wants to try to close caucuses, the partisan meetings of representatives or senators from one party to plot strategy. Court decisions in 1997 and 1998 opened previously closed-door caucuses to the public and reporters.

The discussion is set to begin at 10 a.m. in Room 102 of the Capitol.

"I don't agree with any restrictions on the media in covering the Legislature," Brown said. "It think it's pure folly. There shouldn't be any restrictions. It should be wide open."

Brown, who was the top House Republican floor leader for two sessions, said trying to limit reporters' access to the Legislature is unnecessary and "sends a bad message."

Villa said he strongly supports having a Legislature open to reporters.

"The problem and the acrimony of the 2007 session were caused by not enough public insight into the process," Villa said. "We had a budget totally rewritten in the dark, and we were expected to know what was going on with it out of the blue. It wasn't fair to the public and to the other legislators."

"I want Montanans to know where I stand and where my colleagues stand on issues in the caucus," Villa added.

The Legislative Council, a bipartisan panel made up of six senators and six representatives, is expected to take up these issues and possibly make recommendations to the full House and Senate.

Serving on the Legislative Council are: Reps. Debby Barrett, R-Dillon; Bob Bergren, D-Havre; Margie Campbell, D-Poplar; Dennis Himmelberger, R-Billings; Dave McAlpin, D-Missoula; Scott Sales, R-Bozeman; and Sens. Greg Barkus, D-Billings; Vicki Cocchiarella, D-Missoula; Mike Cooney, D-Helena; Kelly Gebhardt, R-Roundup; Dan Harrington, D-Butte; Corey Stapleton, R-Billings.