Just as journalists do more rewriting than writing (or should), so what reporters do a lot more advancing of stories than breaking them. That is to say, they find new information or a new angle, add additional testimony or pertinent background.
What brings that to mind is the totally unsurprising story in today’s Albuquerque Journal that Sen. Pete Domenici, Republican of New Mexico announced "he would not sponsor an amendment to address global warming as part of this year’s energy bill."
Background: The Bush Administration won’t admit global warming is a problem, despite near-unanimity among scientists.
Domenici has long pushed big subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, as well as the nuclear power industry. He opposed raising the CAFE limits on autos, too.
However, he is working closely with New Mexico’s other Senator, Democrat Jeff Bingaman, to get an energy bill through Congress. Bingaman has written an amendment that would address global warming by setting a modest limit on greenhouse gas emissions. Domenici indicated earlier that he might co-sponsor it.
But last Friday, says the Los Angeles Times, "Vice-President Dick Cheney met privately with the Senator to outline the Bush Administration’s objections to a mandatory limit."
That seems to have turned Domenici around.
So to advance this story, reporters would try to find out exactly what Cheney said. What were the Administration’s objections? Was the conversation entirely technical or did political considerations come up?
If I were on the beat, I would ask Domenici, first, what he and the Veep talked about. Then, Cheney and then anybody else in the room or in the loop.
Let’s watch for that effort, shall we?