A bill to protect journalists from having to reveal their sources in some federal courts stalled in the Senate on Wednesday, the latest victim of a partisan fight over what to do about gas prices.

Republicans blocked the measure, saying the Senate should act instead on an energy bill that would promote more domestic oil and gas production.

Democrats wanted to put aside the energy measure to debate and pass the media bill, which would shield reporters from being forced by federal prosecutors to reveal their sources, except in certain circumstances.