Indianapolis, April 22 - Indiana congressman Mike Pence says he's pushing a bill that would protect reporters who refuse to identify their sources because freedom of the press is "under siege."
The conservative Republican spoke tonight at a gathering of public access advocates in downtown Indianapolis.
Pence says freedom of the press is vital to limiting the power of government. That's why he's sponsoring the Free Flow of Information Act.
Pence pointed to cases such as that of former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who was jailed for 85 days last year when she refused to tell federal prosecutors her source who leaked the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Under Pence's proposal, courts could not compel reporters to reveal their sources without meeting certain conditions. The bill includes an exception for cases involving an imminent threat to national security.
The two-day Freedom of Information Summit is sponsored by the Indiana Coalition for Open Government and the National Freedom of Information Coalition.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Pence says shield law needed to protect press freedom
WTHR.com is the news leader for Indianapolis and Central Indiana. Get the best news, weather, sports and traffic information from Channel 13.
