House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (IN) published an op/ed today in the The Washington Times. Read an excerpt of "Protecting Confidential Sources" here:
In this great nation, it falls on each generation of Americans to preserve, protect and defend our freedoms. We are at a critical juncture with the freedom of the press in America, and the Congress has before it the opportunity to ensure this freedom for generations to come by sending the Free Flow of Information Act to the president for his signature.
As a conservative committed to limited government, I believe the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent press. A free press ensures the flow of information to the public, and let me say, during a time when the role of government in our lives and in our enterprises seems to grow larger every day, ensuring the vitality of a free and independent press is more important than ever.
My conviction in this regard led me, more than four years ago, to author the Free Flow of Information Act with Rep. Rick Boucher, Virginia Democrat. The bill, also known as a federal media shield, provides a qualified privilege of confidentiality to journalists, which enables them to bring forward information to the public that might otherwise never see the light of day. However, there should be no confusion: This bill is not about protecting journalists; this bill is about protecting the public's right to know.