"The prospect of congressional approval of a federal 'media shield' law this year dimmed Wednesday when Senate Republicans blocked legislation that would protect journalists from being forced to reveal confidential sources. Supporters of the shield bill said it is possible - but unlikely - that the issue will be revived in September, after the Senate takes a planned monthlong recess starting this weekend. Otherwise, backers of the bill would be forced to begin again in January, when a new Congress convenes." [SFC]

This, when other bills in front of the Senate moving through votes in as little as six seconds.

Standing in the powder-blue Senate chambers, hovering over a wooden desk with busts of presidents Washington and Lincoln on each side, Senate President Therese Murray might as well have been an auctioneer.

"Allthoseinfavorsayaye, opposedno, theayeshaveit, amendmentadopted," she said, not even pausing to take a breath on matters that had already been determined in private. At one point late Tuesday afternoon, she steered the 40-member body to decide on 10 amendments in just one minute, one every six seconds. [Boston Globe]