Before getting too reactionary, read Wyden's comments. I still expect an interesting floor event! Read why.
Warrantless Spying Showdown Postponed to Monday -- UPDATED By Ryan Singel | Dec 14, 2007 |
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/12/warrantless-spy.htmlSenate Majority leader Harry Reid announced Friday that he will start debate Monday on bills that will let the nation's spies use American telecom facilities and services for warrantless wiretapping, choosing to start with the most expansive bill and then letting a second version be considered as an amendment. Congress is moving quickly on the legislation, since the Democrats are seeking to reverse some of the extensive surveillance powers it handed to the Administration this summer in rush legislation known as the Protect America Act.
Action could have started as soon as today, forcing a promised filibuster to happen over the weekend, but today Reid indicated on the Senate floor that he would wait until Monday:
In this instance on the FISA bill the controversial but important FISA bill, there are two committees that have jurisdiction. Intelligence committee and after that it is referred to the judiciary committee. They have both done their work and they have done good work. What some may want to do is take what I thought was the best out of one and the best of the other and bring it to the floor. I cannot do that unless I trample the system. Under regular order, I will bring the intelligence committee bill to the floor and the first operative action after that is the judiciary committee. Senator Leahy is an experienced veteran legislator here longer than I and he knows what it do. The Senate will work its will as to what needs to be done with FISA. I'll guarantee you right now, one thing that's going to occur: not everyone will be happy.
The move comes after weeks of speculation over whether Reid would prefer the Senate Intelligence committee's version - a bill favored by the Administration -- or the Senate Judiciary's version. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut has a hold on the Intel bill, since it includes amnesty for telecoms being sued for helping with the government's secret, warrantless wiretapping program, but Reid decided to override that hold.
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On Wednesday, 14 senators urged (
http://feingold.senate.gov/pdf/ltr_reid_121207.pdf) Reid to start with the Senate Judiciary bill, since it was written up in an open, rather than secret, process.
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Dodd To Hillary And Obama: Will You Make Good On Your Promise To Support My FISA Filibuster?
By Greg Sargent - Dec14, 2007 -
http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/dodd_demands_hillary_and_obama_make_good_on_promise_to_support_his_fisa_filibuster.phpThis morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on the Senate floor that the Senate FISA renewal bill containing immunity for the telecoms would go to the floor on Monday. The move, which many expected, dismayed opponents of telecom immunity.
Now the campaign of Senator Chris Dodd, who has promised to put a hold on and filibuster the bill, has just sent out an email to supporters containing a challenge for the other Dem Senators running for President:
VIEW LETTER with ACTION links here:
Support the Filibuster. Check out what the Dodd campaign just put out!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2472113Leahy:
"The Senate should act to add protections for Americans' rights that were not included in the Protect America Act. I have been consulting with Leader Reid and Chairman Rockefeller about how to proceed, and support the decision to proceed by regular order. Senator Reid is right to bring this legislation to the floor and is doing so in a way that allows consideration of the many improvements made by the bill reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee. I oppose retroactive immunity for the telephone companies that would eliminate the courts as a check on the illegality of the warrantless wiretapping of Americans that the administration secretly engaged in for almost six years. I will continue to work to ensure that the government is held accountable for its actions and that those whose rights were infringed not be left out in the cold. I look forward to a vigorous debate next week and to seeking to make the final bill considered by the Senate as good as it can be."
Wyden:
I want to say a word about the process which the distinguished senate majority leader has jus touched on. I was one of two in the senate intelligence committee to oppose the intelligence committee's version of the legislation. I am strongly opposed to granting telecommunications companies total retroactive immunity when they have been accused of wrongdoing in the president's wireless wiretapping legislation. It was the major reasonable why i opposed the legislation.
I do, however, respect Senator Reid's decision to hold the debate on this legislation under the regular senate rules. certainly, the distinguished majority leader has been under a lot of pressure from all sides to change the rules that in one way might favor one side or the other, but i think the majority leader has made the right decision by insisting that this debate go by the book.
I've had the chance now to work with the distinguished majority leader for more than a quarter of a century. I know how much respect he has for the senate and for this institution. He firmly believes in the committee process. He firmly believes in the senate rules and traditions, and he worked to carry those beliefs out as both the minority whip and the minority leader.
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