The House of Representatives approved a bill allowing reporters to protect sources last year, only to have the measure wither in the Senate, which failed to bring it to the floor despite widespread and bipartisan support there as well. The reporters shield, had it passed, would likely have had a close encounter with George W. Bush’s veto pen, however – the administration made no secret of its hostility to the measure. With Barack Obama now in office and expected to support it, it has been reintroduced by Mike Pence (R-IN) and Rick Boucher (D-VA).
RBR/TVBR observation: We figured this would get through just as soon as there was a change in administration, and that was whether or not the new exec turned out to be Obama or McCain. We will be astonished if this is not the law of the land before the year is out.
