Shield Law: Mr. Smith Came to Washington

Society of Professional Journalists President Kevin Smith was in the nation's capital last week to push legislators to allow a final vote on a federal shield law in this Congress.

In letters delivered to key senators, according to SPJ, he says that after concessions and compromises on the definition of journalist and national security carve-outs, the bill (Senate bill 448, the Free Flow of information Act) now has the backing of "the White House, the U.S. Attorney General, the House and we know the majority of the Senate. It is ready to go to the Senate floor." If so, it will have to be in a lame duck session after the election.