Beginning of article  The House has unanimously passed a bill
that would protect journalists from facing prison for not
revealing confidential sources.  The measure passed Friday on a
96-0 vote, with two lawmakers excused, and now heads to the
Senate, which is considering its own measure.  The bill would
grant reporters absolute privilege for protecting confidential
sources - the same exemption from testifying in court that is
granted to spouses, attorneys, clergy and police officers.  "It
is really important in a democratic society that we have a free
press, that we as citizens know what is going on in our society,
that the people in power who have an interest in keeping
information from us shouldn't be allowed to bury that
information," said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler,
D-Hoquiam, who sponsored the measure.  Currently, Washington has
no shield law, but its courts have ruled in favor of qualified
privilege based on the First Amendment and on common law.
Washington's proposed law would provide a more