October 2009  

We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the facts

Legislative Alert:  Federal Shield Law & Pelosi's Shut Up Rule

Posted by CotoBlogzz  09-15-2009 11:30 AM

The CotoBuzz Journal is calling on all who value freedom of speech to  fight against a federal shield law intended  to restrict the free flow of information.

Appropriately, on Constitution Day,  Thursday, Sept. 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee will discuss, S. 448 - the Free Flow of Information Act. The bill would create a federal shield law that would grant protections to journalists who refuse to reveal confidential sources, even when compelled by a subpoena and the threat of penal action.  Currently, journalists and their sources are only protected by privilege statutes or administrative rules in certain states. There is no federal shield law protecting journalists and their sources.

The problem is Speaker Pelosi’s Shut Up Rule which may be included in S. 448 which in essence, limits the protection to the established media, while those outside of it, or even opposed to the sorry state of mainstream media, may be persecuted. The Shut Up Rule puts restrictions on how journalism is defined:   In essence, if journalism is a hobby, a public service, a passion a freelancer without a boss or a blogger, then the government reserves the right to force you to tell them where you got any information you publish

Now is the time to act. The nation's independent and community journalists need your voice. The CotoBuzz Journal encourages the public at large  to contact their senators and let them know how important it is for S. 448  to a free press, as long as it does not contain Speaker Pelosi’s Shut Up Rule.

Every reader’s support is important, and we particularly encourage those represented by senators on the Judiciary Committee to contact that senator before he or she meets Sept. 17 to discuss and finalize S. 448. The following is a list of Senate Judiciary Committee members

Judiciary Committee Members

• Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Ranking Member

• Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)

• Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

• Edward Kaufman (D-Del.)

• Richard Durbin (D-Ill.)

• Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)

• Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.)

• Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

• Al Franken (D-Minn.)

• Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)

• Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)

• Arlen Specter (D-Pa.)

• Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

• Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

• John Cornyn (R-Texas)

• Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)

• Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman

• Herb Kohl (D-Wis.)

• Russell Feingold (D-Wis.)

Thank you for your continued support of community journalism and the right vital piece of legislation. For other legislators, click here

RSS Feeds		Buzzzzz
Get RSS Buttons

	Comments.

Shut Down The Red County Mr. Graves! - Pelosi’s Shut Up Rule

First we hear of local governance enacting  Shut Up Rules, allegedly for efficiency purposes.  Then  OC Supervisor Pat Bates declaring that the CCW issue is dead, followed by Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens statements that she does not agree that her restrictive CCW policies infringe on Second Amendment Rights.   Of course, last week we got treated to a  recently released Orange County Grand Jury report esigned to stifle public discourse anent the CCW and the Second Amendment.

Select Blogzz & click icon

RedCounty NewzzVinezz FeedBurner CotoBlogzz CotoBlogzz Y!360Blogzz

Archived Issues

Advertising rates/info

CotoBuzz Classified

General Information

CotoBuzz Merchandise

ADVERTISEMENT