Recently Congressmen Mike Pence (R-IN) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) introduced, in the House of Representatives, H.R. 581, “Free Flow of Information Act.” Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) introduced an identical bill in the United States Senate (S. 340). This legislation advances the public’s right to information by protecting reporters from being compelled to reveal their sources of information in federal court. Thirty-two states already have legislation protecting reporters from divulging confidential information.
This legislation is especially timely given the New York Times reporter Judith Miller being sent to prison yesterday July 6th, 2005 for not revealing information given to her anonymously by someone in the White House resulting in the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Read more in the online version of The Economist.
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