Report: FISA vote may be delayed until July

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: The Raw Story

While the Democratic-controlled House had no trouble shoving through a Bush administration-backed surveillance law overhaul late last week, opponents of the expansion of wiretapping authority are slowing down the measure in the Senate.

Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) along with several other progressive senators are leading an effort to strip a provision granting telecommunications companies retroactive legal immunity, and they have promised to filibuster any bill that contains the provision. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may put off a vote on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act update until after a Fourth of July recess next week.

The schedule for a FISA vote “is up in the air,” a source close to the majority leader tells Raw Story, and no decisions had been finalized Wednesday afternoon.

Senators debated the FISA bill throughout the day Wednesday, although negotiators had not brokered an agreement on how to proceed with votes on amendments. On the Senate floor, Feingold excoriated the compromise for not holding telecommunications companies accountable for their participation in the warrantless wiretapping program, despite the token court review advocates for the bill are touting as a compromise.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news08/2008/06/25/report-fisa-vote-may-be-delayed-to-july/

[Fovea]

1. Hey Harry Reid.

Telco immunity should NEVER be brought to a vote again!

[PassingFair]

2. Yahoo!!!!!

Or should I say Yeeeeaaarrrrggggghhhhh!

Some SPINE!!!

[Phred42]

3. It shouldn't have been brought up for a vote in the First place

This is Definitely one that can wait for the NEXT congress & President

[Nipper1959]

4. Feingold Rocks!!!!

I am sooooo glad that Russ is in the Senate!!!!!

[tbyg52]

5. Good. Let it sit.

They still have the power to *stop* things, and this is one that should be stopped.

[barbtries]

6. as long as they don't pass it into a law

i'm cool

[stillcool]

7. Let it sink!

[skyounkin]

8. Agreed!!!

[catrose]

9. Thank you Mr. Feingold!

[nc_gadfly]

10. this is really pissing me off

They should have kept the version of the bill the president vetoed, and instead of re-working it and coming to a 'compromise' (read: captitulation) they should have sent the damn thing back exactly as it was before. And when Bush vetoed it again, they should have sent it back. . .again. And they should have kept sending the damn thing back over and over until he either signed it or his term ended.

If/when this piece of crap legislation is signed into law, I suggest holding a vigil for the 4th Amendment.

[Veronica.Franco]

11. Nancy Pelosi looks like an even bigger fool now ...

Go RUSS! ....

[seriousstan]

12. FISA will be voted on tomorrow. The cloture vote passed 85 - 15.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. True...here's the updated info from Raw Story:

Spy, phone protection bill clears Senate hurdle

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Spy_phone_protection_bill_clears_Se_06252008.html

Thomas Ferraro
Reuters US Online Report Top News

Jun 25, 2008 18:18 EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A White House-backed spy bill to protect telecommunication companies from billions of dollars in possible privacy lawsuits passed a Senate test vote on Wednesday and headed toward final congressional approval.

On a vote of 80-15, mostly Republican supporters of the bipartisan measure, which would also implement the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. spy laws in decades, easily mustered the 60 needed to clear a Democratic procedural roadblock.

Overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives on Friday, the bill may win needed Senate concurrence before Congress begins a holiday break the end of this week.

President George W. Bush has promised to sign the measure, which would replace a temporary surveillance law that had expired in February.

In addition to providing a special court review of lawsuits against telecommunication companies, the bill would increase oversight of U.S. intelligence activities and bolster privacy protection -- but not as much as civil liberties groups and a number of lawmakers want.

"This bill is not a compromise. It is a capitulation," said Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat.

Feingold has offered an amendment to strip out protection for telecommunication companies. But both Democrats and Republicans predict the amendment will be rejected.

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. n addition to providing a special court review of lawsuits against telecommunication companies

Not true.
The bill as written simply tells the court to rubberstamp retroactive immunity.
No court review.
No continuation of the lawsuits.
No admission of guilt by Bush or Telecoms.

Which is the whole point of removing the immunity clause.

and damn few people will understand what really happened.

Thank god for DU.............

[Krashkopf]

18. Pathetic - Ironic

Lets hurry and trash the 4th Amendment, so we can get home to celebrate the 4th of July!

[bdamomma]

13. whatever we do, do not let us forget about this.

we are too hot on trails to let this go, this is what they are counting on they want us to forget. I hope the Senate will be in session what do they call it pro forma or what I call it babysitting then * won't get any ideas.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

16. Is there a link to the Bill?

My brain is warped this week and "the goggle" isn't working for me either.

I'd like to read the signing away.

[madfloridian]

17. They are using it to get the housing bill through without a veto.

Then bam....

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/06/25/about-reids-potential-delay/

"Effectively, Reid is saying that Bush can't get his supplemental or his FISA until Reid gets his housing bill.

Now call me crazy. But I don't think Reid's speech was really a promise that we'll have another delay on FISA and one more chance to try to defeat immunity. I read this as Reid using FISA--a bill he knows will eventually pass, but one that has great support for a filibuster--to get what he needs on housing. Bush can have his supplemental and FISA so long as the one Republican hold-out on housing flips, and so long as Bush agrees to the housing bill (goddamn, I hope that Reid has determined to hold up FISA and the supplemental until he gets Bush's signature on housing). It sounds like he has even secured agreement from Dodd (the author of the housing compromise) and Feingold not to filibuster if the Senate can push through the housing bill.

So I'm not holding out great hope that we'll get a reprieve on FISA. Rather, I'm guessing this means Reid is holding the supplemental and FISA hostage to get the housing bill passed."

[Ian David]

19. THIS story says the vote will be TOMORROW...

Fisa to be voted on tomorrow. Cloture vote passed 85 - 15
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3368484&mesg_id=3368484

[Name removed]

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