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House Rejects Democratic Terrorist Surveillance Spy Bill
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress and the White House struggled Friday over expanding authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists in a high-stakes showdown over national security. The House rejected a Democratic proposal opposed by President Bush that would give him that authority for only four months. The largely party-line vote in favor of the bill was 218-207.
Not completely party-line then, as a few Blue Dogs had to have crossed over.
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, prepared to concede to a bill supported by the White House limiting that authority to six months. It also would allow the director of national intelligence and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to carry out the expanded eavesdropping for four months before a court signs off on it.

The House vote left the bill's fate in doubt. ``I hope that there are no attacks before we are able to effectively update this important act,'' said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.

Bush earlier Friday coupled his demand for legislation with a threat to veto any bill that his intelligence director deemed unable ``to prevent an attack on the country.'' ``We've worked hard and in good faith with the Democrats to find a solution, but we are not going to put our national security at risk,'' Bush said after meeting with counterterror and homeland security officials at FBI headquarters. ``Time is short.''

Presidents have authority to call Congress back in session from a recess, but the last time it was used was in 1948, by Harry Truman.
Oh, that would crinkle the Dhimmis' panties. Have Bush put them on the spot like that? Heh.

Posted by: Steve White 2007-08-04
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=195274