June 10th, 2009
Brandon Caselman | An insurance agent who lost his license over his million-dollar “advice.”11 comments
June 3rd, 2009
Karla Keller | Worse than parking tickets: Drinking and driving.28 comments
May 27th, 2009
Ken Allen, Dan Clay, Tom Chamberlain | Look for the union label.20 comments
May 20th, 2009
Ed Kraus | Oy vey. Slapping down an open hand.3 comments
May 6th, 2009
Bakke Properties | Who’s the real vermin?6 comments
April 29th, 2009
Laurie Monnes Anderson | Wrong time to kill a watchdog.5 comments
April 22nd, 2009
Mayor Sam Adams | One deal too many.26 comments
April 15th, 2009
Portland Revenue Bureau | A wheel pain for local business.0 comments
April 8th, 2009
12 Lanes | We like these signs of dissent.6 comments
April 1st, 2009
Rev. E. William Beauchamp | Censorship isn’t a Christian value.10 comments
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[August 6th, 2008]
Easy call on the Rogue this week—the 43 Republicans in the U.S. Senate whose votes last week stalled the Federal Media Shield Law. That bill would give journalists the right not to reveal their sources in federal court (except in the interest of national security).
Oregon and almost every other state have state versions of the proposed federal legislation. But Clint Brewer, president of the national Society for Professional Journalists, says a federal bill is needed (“Shields Up,” WW, May 9, 2007) because it “is the final step in protecting confidential sources in federal cases and the public’s right to know.”
The bill got 51 votes, putting it short of the 60 needed to end a Republican-led filibuster. Republicans voting no (for a complete list, go to spj.org/shieldlaw-stall.asp) say they wanted to save time before Congress’ August recess for discussion on another bill that would increase domestic oil and gas production by expanding drilling.
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But that’s B.S. beyond the specious argument that our energy crunch can be solved with another derrick. A similar version of the proposed federal media shield passed 391-28 in October with bipartisan support in the House.
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) says he voted for the bill last week because “Congress should extend this important shield to the federal courts.” (Oregon’s other senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, also voted for the measure.)
It is unlikely that federal shield legislation will be revived this session because of the busy fall calendar before the election, says Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).
Before you accuse us of self-interested navel gazing, know that the federal shield proposal also won support from 42 state attorneys general, including Oregon’s Hardy Myers. They say the shield is essential to protect reporters who are increasingly being asked to hand over sources to federal prosecutors.
The Rogue Desk couldn’t agree more.
RECENT COMMENTS ON “Senate Republicans”
This story deserves WAY more than this article can possibly give it. Kudos to you, though, WW, for space filling with substance!
I say that when Pelosi decides to come back from her vacation and do some real work like take a vote on offshore drilling, then the Republicans will pass this. But they had their priorites in the righ...











