Senate Panel OKs Measure Defining a Journalist

breitbart.com ^ | 9/12/13 | ap

[ColdOne]

The vote was 13-5 for a compromise defining a "covered journalist" as an employee, independent contractor or agent of an entity that disseminates news or information. The individual would have been employed for one year within the last 20 or three months within the last five years.

It would apply to student journalists or someone with a considerable amount of freelance work in the last five years. A federal judge also would have the discretion to declare an individual a "covered journalist," who would be granted the privileges of the law.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Absurd.

[demshateGod]

This is not America. A revolution happened.

[rigelkentaurus]

no - absolutely no justification for special privileges.

[Uncle Miltie]

Sir,

Will you please deputize every poster on Free Republic as an “Agent” so that we qualify as “Journalists” according to the Feds?

Thank you very much.

[Red Badger]

Unconstitutional.

[justlurking]

This is a blatant attempt to curry favor with the media by making them a protected class.

It's bull****.

[Steely Tom]

A federal judge also would have the discretion to declare an individual a "covered journalist," who would be granted the privileges of the law.

This clause guarantees that thia law will be turned against ordinary people in a matter of weeks. Just like "hate crime" laws.

[jeffc]

Free speech is free speech. This is an attempt to further suppress that. The voracious appetite the federal government has for controlling everything again rears its ugly head.

[Lazamataz]

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS OUTLAWING ALL BUT STATE-SUPPORTED OPINION.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Unconstitutional.

Unless it can be construed as a tax...

[DBrow]

This means that a “covered journalist” with solid evidence of government corruption or murder does not have to say anything.

Plus it will be used to silence any online dissent since only certain people will have the right to freedom of the press.

[jimfree]

Just this side of licensure. Will they license speakers and assemblers and redressers next?

[Sacajaweau]

Just drives it under the table...dumb

[null and void]

I am an agent of FreeRepublic, have posted virtually every day since June 23, 2001.

[Revolting cat!]

Internet (or, indirectly, its inventor Albert) made them do it!

[oldbrowser]

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., complained that the definition of a journalist was too broad. Pushing back, Feinstein said the intent was to set up a test to determine a bona fide journalist.

It's right there in the constitution:
The government shall make no law infringing on the (bona fide) press ,(as determined by the government). /sarc.

[Dogbert41]

You’d think they’d be focused on their Constitutional duties, like getting a budget passed? Naw. How many years has it been?

[GraceG]

A federal judge also would have the discretion to declare an individual a “covered journalist,” who would be granted the privileges of the law.

Since when is our system a system of “Napoleonic Law”

[PATRIOT1876]

*Unconstitutional.

Unless it can be construed as a tax... *

Perhaps Conservatives will be counted as 3/5 of a journalist by the Left.