[Specter] Senator leads drive for federal media shield law

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 9/21/6 | Zachary Coile

[SmithL]

An influential Republican senator said Wednesday that it's time for Congress to approve a law that would protect journalists from having to choose between jail time and revealing their confidential sources in court cases.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chastised a top Justice Department official who testified that a proposed bill to shield journalists from revealing their sources was a "solution in search of a problem."

"I disagree with you," Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former prosecutor, told Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty. "My view is that it's something that must be addressed legislatively."

Despite opposition by the Bush administration, Specter said he has asked Republican leaders for a vote in the Senate this year on the proposed federal shield law he is co-sponsoring, most likely during a planned lame-duck session after the Nov. 7 elections. The House is moving more slowly on its version of a media shield law.

The debate before Specter's committee came a day before federal prosecutors are scheduled to ask U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in San Francisco to jail Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada for 18 months for refusing to name the sources of grand jury testimony the reporters used in their stories on illegal steroid use in professional sports.

[SmithL]

It is a solution in search of a problem.

[MNJohnnie]

Never going to fly. Unlike A.S.S, most people love seeing Junk Journalists go to jail.

[Ron in Acreage]

This is nothing more than a Treason By Liberals Protection Act.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

it seems like a FISA Court warrant subsequent to many articles in print daily would be lawful and sufficient.....

[tobyhill]

I see a 2nd Bush veto if this gets to his desk in any way, shape or form.

[Mad Dawg]

This is nothing more than a Treason By Liberals Protection Act.

Yeah, that. And there ain't nobody more fittin' than Scottish Law Spectre to try to give those traitors cover.

[nonliberal]

I see a 2nd Bush veto if this gets to his desk in any way, shape or form.

I don't. He will "compromise" with Specter first.

[bybybill]

Wouldn`t it be nice to have a job (and that`s all it is, a job) that lets you have special legal rights?

[tobyhill]

I don't see it on this one. The President is pretty POed at the media after the Slimes ran a story even as he asked them personally not to.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Sphincter strike again!


Thank you, people of Pennsylvania.

[sgtbono2002]

Thank You Mr Bush. The President sure placed a stain in the drawers of Republicans when he backed this turd.

[Mr. Jazzy]

The crap and obstinacy that Sphinter has offered Bush since Sphincters re-election is, I believe, thanks enough for the President.

[samtheman]

There's no form of treason you can imagine that doesn't tickle the fancy and delight the senses of RINOs and Democrats everywhere.

[Logical me]

Dang, that Spector is getting nuttier by the day. What is this brainless dunce thinking. Nobody, when under the investigation by the Justice Department should have the right to not disclose their source. It should be required by law. It would give the JD the right to confront the accuracy of the revelation and eliminate this "sources says" the right to lie.