Senate Pushes FISA Overhaul to the Wire

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January 24, 2008

Senate Pushes FISA Overhaul to the Wire

"On a strong 60-36 vote, senators rejected an amendment that would have killed the immunity provision and strengthened the powers of a secret court to oversee the surveillance of phone calls and e-mails that involve people inside the United States.

"Further action on the legislation was delayed until Monday, pushing Congress closer to a Feb. 1 deadline for enacting a new law. If a new law is not signed by the president by then, some eavesdropping practices that are now legal would be prohibited.

"The Bush administration is insisting that any new law also protect from potentially crippling civil lawsuits those telecommunications companies that helped the government eavesdrop on Americans after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, R-Nev., blamed Republicans for the delay, saying they were trying to block a series of amendments majority Democrats sought to offer."

"'It appears the president and Republicans want failure. They don't want a bill,' Reid said."

(Link)

Other reactions:

Threat Level: "Even if the Senate passes the Intel committee bill on Tuesday, it will need to work out a compromise with the House, before sending the bill to the president for signature. The House version, known as the Restore Act, doesn't include immunity for telecoms and severely constrains when the government can spy in America without warrants -- essentially blocking bulk collection activities allowed in the Protect American Act and the Senate Intel bill."
Glenn Greenwald: "Supposedly, the obstructionism angered Reid and other Democrats and now Reid will not only support Dodd's filibuster but urge his caucus to do so as well."