Submit your comments on this article | ||
Home Front: WoT | ||
Warrantless Wiretapping Deal Struck | ||
2008-06-20 | ||
The House will debate the bill on Friday, potentially ending a months-long standoff about the rules for government wiretapping inside the United States. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said the new bill "balances the needs of our intelligence community with Americans' civil liberties, and provides critical new oversight and accountability requirements." The issue of legal protection for telecommunications companies that participated in "warrantless wiretapping" has been the single largest sticking point. The Senate passed a bill that immunized them from lawsuits. The House bill was silent on the matter. The White House threatened to veto any bill that did not shield the companies, which tapped lines at the behest of the president and attorney general — but without permission from a special court "Warrantless wiretapping" went on for almost six years until it was revealed by the New York Times. Some 40 lawsuits have been filed against the companies by people and groups who think they were illegally eavesdropped on by the government. The compromise bill would have a federal district court determine whether the telecommunications companies received signed orders authorized by the president asking them to place wiretaps to detect or prevent a terrorist attack. If so, the lawsuits would be dismissed. But not all Democrats are falling in line. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont said he does not support the immunity deal because it prevents a court from reviewing the legality of the warrantless wiretapping program.
The compromise bill also requires several inspectors general to investigate the wiretapping program to determine its extent and legality. The report is due in a year The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendment bill also would: • Require FISA court permission to wiretap Americans who are overseas | ||
Posted by:Steve White |
#3 That's a reflection not of W's non-lame-duck status, but of the rightness and public support of his position. The Donks are afraid to face voters after doing what their nutroot base wants. That shows the Pelosi tools are not in the majority of American opinion (despite their repeated and frantic assertions), and not convinced of the righteousness of their MoveOn-supported position. If they were, they'd go to the mat on this and suffer (or enjoy) the voter's evaluation....pussies |
Posted by: Frank G 2008-06-20 18:50 |
#2 I would tap mosques and islamic centers. |
Posted by: Pliny Chinemble6531 2008-06-20 16:51 |
#1 Libs don't seem to have any Staying Power lately. |
Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-06-20 11:06 |