Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, October 17, 2007
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The U.S. House has overwhelmingly approved the “free flow of information act”, also known as the “media shield law”, co-sponsored by Indiana Republican Congressman Mike Pence. The vote was 398-21.
The shield law would prevent prosecutors from forcing a reporter by subpoena or other court order to testify about information contained in a news story and/ or the source of that information. It would set national standards for subpoenas issue to reporters by an entity or employee of the federal government.
Pence says it strikes a reasonable balance between the public's right to know and the fair administration of justice.
Republican Steve Buyer was the only Indiana congressman who voted against the measure.
Pence is confident it will get senate approval and will be sent to the president in 2008. The White House is threatening to veto the bill, claiming it would hurt national security by making it too difficult to prosecute leaks of classified information.
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