With New York Times reporter Judy Miller sitting in jail for refusing to name her source in the Valerie Plame leak probe, Time mag’s Matt Cooper testifying yesterday before a grand jury and Democrats calling for Cooper source Karl Rove to be fired — it all adds up to renewed interest from some lawmakers in a federal shield law.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is tentatively scheduled to hold a hearing on two bills Wednesday that would give journalists the privilege to keep secret the names of confidential sources: One measure is by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and another is authored by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), with a House version by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.).

It’s not known yet if Cooper will be on the witness list.

These bills are too late to do anything to help Miller but could help the growing problem of reporters being threatened with federal contempt charges.

So far, House and Senate GOP leaders have not sent a clear signal on what, if anything, in the way of federal shield laws they would support and have given no indication that Miller’s July 6 jailing puts the issue on a faster track.

The political context may have changed some in Congress since Newsweek scooped archrival Time with a story (based on an e-mail Cooper wrote to his editor) fingering Rove as a Cooper source. That may make Republicans on the Hill more jittery because Rove is now part of the highly politicized discussion. Democrats’ calling for Rove’s firing may make for a tougher political climate.

It’s been a fairly bipartisan discussion so far, said Lucy Dalglish, the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

It’s not an easy issue for some lawmakers one might guess would have signed on early to a federal shield law. For example, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), a former prosecutor, is undecided, said spokesman David Carle. Robust support from members of the House and Senate judiciary panels would be critical to getting a federal shield law passed.

It’s hard to see how the United States is promoting democracy and a free press around the world with Miller sitting in jail.

Hastert intel. Today, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) crosses the Potomac and travels to CIA headquarters to meet with CIA employees. He plans to lunch with CIA chief Porter Goss, a former House member. On Tuesday, Hastert was briefed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on his revamped agenda and restructuring plans unveiled yesterday.

The Speaker stumped in Minnesota over the July 4 break for GOPer Rep. Mark Kennedy and John Kline. On Friday, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, the former House member, headlines a funder for Hastert’s congressional committee in Sandwich, Ill., in Hastert’s district.

Hoyer whips. Over the recess, Hoyer flew to South Dakota and Chicago for funders and some press stops.

Visiting the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board, Hoyer said Democrats “have followed exactly the right strategy” is holding their powder over Social Security — rebuffing calls to come up with a signature plan — because in doing so the Dems have not provided any targets for Republicans.

He also said that frayed relations between House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) and ranking Dem Rep. Charles Rangel (N.Y.) do not help. “Bill Thomas has yet to talk to Charlie Rangel about solving Social Security,” he said.

Sweet is the Washington bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it