Free flow of information to the public

Three high-profile provisions of the USA Patriot Act are about to expire. That should be a chance for Congress to give serious consideration to curtailing some of the excessive powers it granted to the executive branch during the Bush years.

Legislation that would force AM and FM radio stations to pay fees to performers and record labels whose songs they broadcast has been added to the Senate Judiciary Committee's mark up agenda for Thursday.

Hopes for an effective law that would protect the public's access to essential news from inside government have been dealt a severe setback by the Obama administration.

The Obama administration has told lawmakers that it opposes legislation that could protect reporters from being imprisoned if they refuse to disclose confidential sources who leak material about national security.