Bipartisan, and it has a clever name

I'm big on that vanishing part of politics and governance known as bipartisanship.

It's a rare thing these days, which is why I was encouraged to see a story on that very subject by McClatchy's legendary David Lightman, the newspaper chain's longtime chief Washington correspondent.

When the bipartisanship involves an issue of concern to those of us who type for a living, I'm even more interested.

"Will Congress protect journalists from government spying — why both parties agree on the issue," said the headline over Lightman's story in The Sacramento Bee.

"Reporters would gain important new protections under proposed congressional legislation with strong bipartisan support," the story begins.

"The Protect Reporters from Exploitive State Spying Act, or PRESS Act, would bar the federal government from requiring reporters to disclose sources."

Even if it involves Hunter Biden's laptop?

The name of the act does make me wonder how much taxpayer money was spent for congressional staffers to think up that acronym, but I guess every piece of legislation needs a handle people can hang their hat on.

"Also protected would be information from third parties such as phone companies, a provision aimed at making it harder to spy on journalists."

Preventing AT&T from divulging my phone records will mostly protect me from being publicly embarrassed by how many times I have called what is known around our home as DDDOD — Dad's Door Dash on Deadline.

"The bill came about after the Trump administration Justice Department secretly obtained information from reporters for The New York Times and The Washington Post."

So much for freedom of the press.

Apparently, the Trump Administration wasn't interested in phone records from Fox News, since so many of those calls were placed to the Oval Office to obtain the network's marching orders.

"Advocates for the measure want rules written into law, since that would make it more difficult for future administrations to repeat what Trump officials have done."

What, you think a silly new law will stop Donald Trump from doing whatever it is he wants to do?

But here's the best part.

"Representative Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, led an unusually politically diverse group of House members as sponsors and supporters of the bill."

The "R" stands for Republican, not Rocklin. Wonder if

Mr. Kiley will now get the Liz Cheney treatment for daring to reach across the aisle to do the right thing.

Protect journalists? Some former occupants of the White House think we should all be in jail.

"Kiley called the bill important 'for the protection of First Amendment freedoms.' He predicted its passage would 'secure a core constitutional right and make our government more representative and accountable.' "

Yes, yes and yes.

But why am I so surprised that members of both parties embraced this bill, no matter who presented it?

I've become accustomed to the fact that if Democrats say it's Monday, every Republican will instinctively claim it's Tuesday. If a Republican proposes something reasonable, every Democrat will feel duty-bound to oppose it, no matter its value. And vice versa.

"The bill was approved unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee, usually a partisan battleground where Kiley and other Republicans have fought Democrats all year."

Not this time.

"Representative Jerold Nadler, D-New York, the committee's top Democrat, called the legislation 'necessary and long overdue.' One of Kiley's chief co-sponsors was Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, who's led the fight to defend the Biden administration against a variety of Republican allegations."

Supporters of the bill in the Senate include Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon and Dick Durbin of Illinois, along with Republican Mike Lee of Utah, a strange bunch of bedfellows if there ever was one.

Maybe there's hope for this 234-year-old experiment in government by the people after all.

— Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net.

UC Merced grad student appointed as 2024-25 UC student regent

Enterprise staff

The University of California Board of Regents on July 19 appointed UC Merced graduate student Josiah Beharry to be the 2024-25 student Regent.

Beharry is the 50th student Regent, a position established in 1975. He will serve as the student Regent-designate for the coming year, able to participate in all deliberations, and will have voting privileges when his one-year term as a Regent begins in July 2024. Beharry’s appointment carries additional significance, as he is the first student from the

UC Merced campus to serve as student Regent.

Beharry is a doctoral student in Interdisciplinary Humanities at UC Merced, where he also earned his bachelor’s degree in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies with a minor in Writing, graduating magna cum laude.

Born in Trinidad, Beharry immigrated to the U.S. as a child and as a first-generation student, he brings a unique perspective to the role.

Drawing from his own experiences, he passionately supports students from underrepresented communities, acting as a peer leader and mentor and fostering a sense of belonging. Beharry has contributed to his community in multiple ways. At the UC Merced Bright Student Success Center, he helped develop the Gateway Scholars program, designed to equip high school students in Merced with the necessary tools for college readiness.

His advocacy extends to organizations such as the Central Valley Pride Center, where he serves as an advocate. He is a fellow with UCLA Dream Summer and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.

“I humbly embrace the