No Shield (Again)

[Commentary] Another year has passed with no federal shield law to protect journalists and their sources from overreaching prosecutors. The bill, which seemed at one time this year to be headed toward the president's desk after decades of near- and not-so-near misses, will almost certainly have to wait until next year. It is in part a victim of the current tussle over health care, which is occupying a lot of time and attention. But it is also a victim of Republican stalling and White House waffling. It is time for the Senate to join the House and pass a shield law. And while they are at it, they can follow the House's lead and pass the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act.