Dallas paper: Congressman is retaliating over news coverage

By The Associated Press

10.07.02

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Editor's note: The Associated Press reported on Oct. 8 that Dick Armey denied claims that he tried to retaliate against The Dallas Morning News for its coverage of his son's failed congressional bid. An Armey spokesman told the newspaper for its Oct. 8 editions that the congressman was concerned about the concentration of media ownership. The proposed Armey amendment was cut from a final version of the military-appropriations bill because congressional rules prevented its inclusion.

DALLAS — The parent company of The Dallas Morning News has accused House Majority Leader Dick Armey of trying to retaliate against the newspaper for its coverage of his son's failed congressional bid.

Reporting in today's editions, the newspaper said the Texas Republican tried to have language inserted into a $10 billion military-appropriations bill to force Belo Corp. to divest itself of one of its three Dallas media properties, the News, the Denton Record-Chronicle or WFAA-TV.

Knight Ridder News Service reported today that while Armey's provision is not currently in the bill, House and Senate conferees could add it when they meet early this week to finalize the bill.

Belo owns the News, three other daily newspapers and 19 television stations across the country. The provision did not mention Belo by name.

Belo executives said Armey was retaliating for the newspaper's coverage of his son, Scott Armey, a former Denton County judge who lost an April runoff for the seat of his father, who is retiring.

Dick Armey did not return calls for comment by the Associated Press last night. The Morning News said Armey did not respond to requests for comment.

Leading up to the election, articles published in the News and the Denton Record-Chronicle, looked at Scott Armey's record as judge, including his votes for contracts benefiting political associates.

At the time, the elder Armey, accused the Dallas newspaper of "vicious unprofessionalism." The newspaper denied the accusation.