A Senate sponsor of a bill “to protect reporters’ sources says he’s reached a compromise with the Obama administration on balancing a public right to know with government’s concerns about national security,” the AP reports.
New York Democrat Charles Schumer says the bill would preserve strong protections for reporters who don’t want to reveal confidential sources in federal court and the government’s demands that the protection of citizens be given top priority.
The deal allows the government to sidestep the public interest balancing test in the event of classified leak cases where the government can show that disclosure is necessary to prevent or mitigate an act of terror. The Senate Judiciary Committee could take up the media shield bill next week.
According to the New York Times, the proposal “would also extend coverage to unpaid bloggers engaged in gathering and disseminating news information.”
The shield law would also “apply when the F.B.I. wants to subpoena third-party records, tracking phone calls and e-mail to find out who had been talking to a reporter.”
The bill, known as the Free Flow of Information Act (S. 448), is being led by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Arlen Specter (D-PA).
The bipartisan proposal is co-sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, as well as Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
(credit image – associated press)
Congress in Your Pocket
