House going to secret session for FISA

[Algorem]

Source: Washington Times

House going to secret session for FISA

This just came in from Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner, Ohio Republican:


Folks - I wanted to make sure all of heard that it is our understanding that Majority Leader Hoyer has agreed to our request that the House go into a secret session today. We will discuss the importance of permanently extending the Protect America Act, the flaws in the Democrats' new FISA legislation, and why immediate passage of the bipartisan, Senate-passed FISA bill is the best solution to protect the American people and our Armed Forces around the world. I believe this will be the first secret session in the House since 1983.


Mr. Boehner said in his press conference today that the session is needed "to have a candid discussion about the urgent need to give our intelligence officials all the tools they need to protect the American people."


"Sometimes we have these conversations in public settings, other times we have them in more classified briefings," Mr. Boehner said...




Read more: http://video1.washingtontimes.com/fishwrap/2008/03/house_going_to_secret_session.html

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002687674

Republicans Seek Secret House Session on Surveillance

House Republicans planned to seek a rare closed session Thursday to debate a Democratic leadership-backed rewrite of electronic surveillance law.

President Bush meanwhile said he would veto the bill, which is not expected to advance in the Senate.

Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio said the House needs to have an “open and honest debate about some of the important details about this program, that don’t need to be heard in public.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., said she was still evaluating the request and expressed concern that it might be the latest in a series of Republican procedural moves to delay consideration of the bill...


http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gop-seeks-closed-session-on-fisa-2008-03-13.html

House GOP: Hoyer agrees to closed FISA session

By Susan Crabtree and Walter Alarkon
Posted: 03/13/08 01:00 PM

House Republicans said Thursday that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has agreed to a GOP request for a secret House session to discuss the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA).

House Republicans had been seeking the closed session to delay a vote on a new Democratic FISA overhaul, unveiled Tuesday, and discuss its national security implications. A Democratic leadership aide, however, said Hoyer is discussing a closed session, but has yet to agree to one.

The last closed House session was held in 1983. Only three have ever been held.

Republicans plan to discuss behind closed doors why the new Democratic FISA bill is flawed, said Michael Steel, a spokesman for Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). It would not grant retroactive immunity to the telecommunications firms that participated in the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program, which the Senate bill does...

[villager]

1. So the cave-in begins...

n/t

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

2. Here it comes, the House caving as usual.

Gee, I can't wait to see how my DINO congressman votes. :sarcasm:

[Ian David]

3. Is The Boener going to cry again? Is that why it needs to be a closed session? n/t

[rucky]

5. He'll be handing out checks from the telecom lobby. n/t

[dflprincess]

14. Or he'll be letting Pelosi, etal know what the wire taps have revealed about them

and what will be made public if they don't "get their minds right".

[AndyA]

4. Well I hope the Dems take this opportunity to really lay it all out on the line.

And I hope they make it clear they know this bill is NOT to protect the telecommunications companies, but it's to COVER BUSH'S SORRY ASS FOR BREAKING THE LAW.

That said, they should just start impeachment proceedings after they get it all out in the open.

Fuck the Republicans. They're nothing but war mongering, lying, cheating, stealing, murdering, hypocrites. And yes, I'm being nice!

[global1]

6. This Is Nothing But A Ploy By The Repugs To Garner Support Of .....

the American people. They will say it is sooooo critical to our national security that we had to go into secret session to tell the Dems why. MSM will be all over this and spin it in the *Co's favor. This is a political stunt. I repeat this is a political stunt.

I hope Pelosi doesn't fall for this.

[BadgerKid]

15. ...the remaining, what?, 20% of supporters?

global1: I hope Pelosi doesn't fall for this.

Why, indeed, it would be totally out character for her to cave. :eyes:

[bobthedrummer]

7. "Public contact Congressional resources" a very handy cross-post for citizens

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2999839#3003026

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Yes, secrets must be kept from the public. Don't want John Q. to know his phone is

tapped, his email inspected, and his license tag recorded everywhere he goes. Guess this is to protect the House reps. from having their opinions heard.

[Parche]

9. We Should Rename It

Protect The Homeland Act :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

:hi:

[Phred42]

10. TIME ONCE AGAIN to call your Reps!

Is this where the Reich-wing shows the Dems that are holding out - exactly what the BUSH has on them and their families after syping on them since 2000

[aggiesal]

11. If the communications companies get retroactive immunity, ...

then the terrorist will have won, because we will not longer have
the 6th amendment.

Which is exactly what the terrorist want; To continue to reduce
our civil liberties.

HELLO?

[dusmcj]

12. this needs to work

accountable oversight by the legislative branch of classified executive branch activities, with no excuses that "no one cleared for the material was in town that afternoon" is the only way we will ever get out of the privacy vs. security impasse. Other more modern societies have had functioning legal frameworks for implementing data privacy and the protection of other inherent rights for decades now. Accountability of government to the people they serve, and legal structures to implement that accountability effectively are needed. Let them go into closed session; I want an unclassified digest or at least assessment of what was discussed, from the lawmakers who were there.

[MissMillie]

13. If it's so bloody urgent

then stop demanding immunity for law-breakers.

It's really that simple Mr. Boehner

[Fireweed247]

16. Whatever happened to We the People??

Who the hell do they think they are!


"There are, however, four members who will not be allowed to attend the secret session, having refused to sign the oath of confidentiality. They are all Democrats: Rep. George Miller of California, Rep. Jim McDermott, of Washington Rep. Peter Stark of California, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, of Ohio."

[spanone]

17. fuck you boehner

[pleah]

18. Some OPEN GOVERNMENT!

Sheesh!:eyes:

[nykym]

19. Once again

The telecoms don't want or need immunity they already have indemnity which means if they are sued and loose they don't pay the Government pays. The only reason for immunity is to protect the administration from the fact that the spying started in Feb 01 NOT after 9-11.

[suffragette]

20. hmmm, not liking this

Since1830, the House has met behind closed doors only three times: in 1979, 1980, and
1983. Table 2 identifies the secret House sessions beginning in 1825.


Table 2. Closed House Sessions Since 1812
Date Reason for the Session
December 27, 1825 To receive a confidential message from the President regarding
relations with Indian tribesa

May 27, 1830 To receive a confidential message from the President on a bill
regulating trade between the U.S. and Great Britain

June 20, 1979 Panama Canal Act of 1979; implementing legislation

February 25, 1980 Cuban and other Communist-bloc countries involvement in
Nicaragua

July 19, 1983 U.S. support for paramilitary operations in Nicaragua


From http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RS20145.pdf

[Hugabear]

21. Completely unacceptable

I would love to see all secret sessions banned. Who knows what shady deals go on behind those closed doors. Bring it all out into the sunshine.