A law that would allow journalists to keep confidential the names of their sources except under certain circumstances stalled in the U.S. Senate last week, the casualty of political gamesmanship over energy policy.

A federal media shield law overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House some time ago and was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee 15-4. But Senate Republicans blocked its consideration.

The bill, called the Free Flow of Information Act, didn’t get the 60 votes needed in the Senate mainly because Republican senators blocked its debate in a partisan fight with Democrats over energy and gas prices.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley said he supports the legislation but would not vote for it until legislation dealing with the nation’s energy policy is passed.

“The Free Flow of Information Act is a good bill that I support,” Grassley said in a statement. “And, while I voted to pass the bill out of the Judiciary Committee, I believe that the Congress must address our nation’s energy crisis before proceeding to other legislation.”

Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, who voted with the majority of his party, said he was disappointed that the law became a victim of politics.

“I believe it is crucial we do all we can to maintain a free flow of information to the public,” Harkin said in a statement. “I am disappointed the Republicans blocked consideration of this important legislation, especially with the recent trend of prosecutors attempting to compel testimony from reporters, and threatening jail. Without a shield law there is a real threat that whistleblowers and other confidential sources will be chilled in coming forward with information that is in the national interest.”