by James Oliphant
Minutes ago, the House passed its version of the amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act.
The measure passed 213-197.
Because the bill differs substantially from the Senate version, the bills will have to be reconciled in a conference committee before a final version can be voted on and then sent to the president. That's not going to be an easy negotiation. And there may not be a negotiation at all if the Republicans have their way.
Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, knows this. Minutes ago, he released a statement saying:
I am very encouraged by House passage of a new FISA bill. The new House version adopts the basic structure of the Senate-passed bill, but contains added privacy protections. Now is the time for Republicans to come to the negotiating table so we can resolve the last few issues. The president should stop giving high-handed speeches in the Rose Garden and start working with Congress to finalize this important national security bill.
Similarly, the minority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, isn't giving any ground:
This House vote represents a ‘cover vote’ which the Democratic leadership believes will allow them to go on their Easter recess claiming to have passed a bill that protects America. But instead, they’ve done great harm to the effort to enact a responsible strengthening of our anti-terror laws during this session of the Congress. Democrats passed a bill which would drag patriotic private companies into court for answering their government’s call for help, created yet another commission to investigate the administration, and failed our intelligence professionals by denying them the tools they need to track and stop foreign terrorists before they act.
This latest House Democrats’ bill will not be signed into law. It’s irresponsible, and has set back every effort the Senate made on a bipartisan basis to enact responsible national security legislation this year. Senate Republicans remain committed to enacting legislation providing our intelligence professionals what they need to catch terrorists before the can harm us and we will not play along with a fake effort to do otherwise.
And here's what Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, has to say on the bill.
I’m pleased to say that we have a very good, well-structured bill in front of us. It is an important role of the federal government to look after the safety and the security of the American people. This bill does that. It is a bill that gives telecom companies the opportunity they have asked for to defend themselves in court. It provides for a Congressional commission that will look at how electronic surveillance has been conducted. It includes a reasonable expiration date to keep Congress involved in oversight. Most importantly, this legislation provides prior involvement of the court in all intercepts of communications of Americans.
So, in other words, it ain't over, 'til it's over. And it ain't over.
But things will be quiet in the near-term. Congress is off for a two-week spring break. Woo-hoo! Who wants a frozen daiquri?
Wait, what do you mean we don't get a spring break?
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Comments
Finally! I'm glad to see the Dems are sticking to their principles and are continuing to not let the Rethugs get away with protecting their partners in crime. aka AT&T.
Dems in Congress need to wait until Jan 09, that's when things can and will start to get done:
* remove 80% of the troops from Iraq and bring 50% of those home, the rest redeploy to Afghanistan to finish the job there
* pass a telecom bill without amnesty
* appoint an AG that cares about the rule of law
* install 2 or 3 SCOTUS justices that will uphold the rule of law
* pass meaningful CAFE standards, repeal NCLB, repeal the "Clean Skies" BS...
Just hold off on any legislative item that Bush would like to sign, every appointee. He can't make an under-the-law signing statement if there's nothing to sign.
W. needs to be put in the penalty box from here on out so he can't do anymore damage on the ice.
"Only" 311 days left before our national nightmare is OVER:
http://www.bushslastday.com/
Posted by: John Hussein E | March 14, 2008 3:12 PM
"REPUBLICANS SPEAK"
"COILPRO, COILPRO, COILPRO"
OUR STRONGEST SUIT AND TERRIFYING PEOPLE OVER TERROR CAN WIN VOTES FOR JOHN MCCAIN AND OUR PARTY.
YA'LL JUST DON'T GET IT.
THE BOEHNER AND I HAVE STOOD BEFORE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN SECRET BY ALL MEANS AND STIL NO IMMUNITY FROM THOSE "TRIAL LAWYERS"
SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL, VETO AFTER VETO, FILLIBUSTERS AFTER FILLIBUSTERS AND YA'LL STILL DON'T GET IT.
WE PASSED A BILL FINALLY AFTER 400 YEARS "THE PROTECT AMERICA ACT" AND YA'LL WANT TO THROW IN THE TOILET FOR THAT "CONSTITUTION" THAT FOREFATHERS STUFF.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS WIRETAP, THAT REQUIRES A "BUSH EXECUTIVE" COURT ORDER. THAT COMES FROM THE "SUPREME COURT" NOT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OR THE SENATE OR THE CONGRESS.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR THE WORDS WIRETAP, EAVESDROPPING, YOU BETTER THINK TWICE ABOUT WHO YOU ARE TALKING TOO OVER YOUR "SPRING BREAK" IN MY ECONOMY.
NO GO BUY SOME OF DICK CHENEYS "SECRET FERC" OIL AND GAS AND GET A TAN ON US.
MAKE SURE YOU UPDATE YOUR DRIVERS LICENSES ALONG THE WAY. WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO GET STOPPED AND QUESTIONED OR RENDERED IN ONE OF OUR DETENTION CAMPS ALONG THE WAY.
HAPPY TANNING AMERICA!
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 14, 2008 3:32 PM
What this accomplishes more than anything is turns the "obstructionist" label back where it belongs.
"Dems holding national security hostage for trial lawyers" never had quite the same ring of plausability as "Repubs holding national security hostage for telecom executives"
Posted by: Paul Dirks | March 14, 2008 4:46 PM
As a long time Republican, I can honestly say that on this day, I am very proud of our Democratic Congress. Thank you Congressmen, and Congresswomen for not allowing our Constitution to be stepped on by this Administration again. The security of our nation is still intact, and we have the capabilities to track down threats from the "BAD GUYS", the only thing different is that the telecommunication companies must abide by our Constitution, and our laws just as we all do. If information is unlawfully obtained, the law breakers must be held accountable, just as we American citizens are if we break the law. Kuddos to the Congress, and the Speaker of the House, Ms. Pelosi.
Posted by: Tess | March 14, 2008 4:50 PM
Thank you House for looking out for my due process of law while continuing to keep America safe. The House has always been closer to We The People than the Senate has ever been. I don't know how much good the 'House of Lords' and its 6-years-to-sit-pretty senators are doing for us right now. House, you need to gird your loins after Spring recess for when the senate tries to ram through their version of FISA during 'the compromise'. Even a median point between hugh BS illegalities and constitutional correctness may not be the best thing for Americans, and telecom customers. Often, when the bar is already set so low, a 50-50 "compromise" can't get you out of the BS range.
Posted by: Vivian | March 15, 2008 1:17 PM