House OKs Surveillance Oversight Bill

[LeighAnn]

Source: AP

The House voted Thursday night to strengthen court oversight of the government's surveillance of terrorist suspects but stopped short of providing legal immunity to telecommunication companies that helped eavesdrop on Americans.

The Democratic bill, approved 227-189, was a rebuke to President Bush, who has promised to veto any legislation that does not shield telecom companies from civil lawsuits. About 40 civil suits have been filed alleging the companies broke wiretapping and privacy lawsuits for monitoring phone calls and e-mails without permission of a secret court created 30 years ago for that purpose.

Bush argues that such lawsuits could bankrupt the telecoms, reveal classified information and discourage cooperation with legal surveillance requests.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., left the door open to an immunity deal in the future. But he said the White House must first give Congress access to classified documents specifying what the companies did that requires legal immunity.

"Until then, it's out," Conyers said.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hJKgeE0Z-SivATjok-utYBdh9wDwD8SUFI800

[msongs]

1. john conyers should shut up until he enforces his own subpoenas nt

[acmavm]

4. No shit! Every time it looks like we may have a way to put a halt to some

of the shennanigans, they figure out some way to back down and blow the whole thing. I don't think Harriet is too worried about what Congress wants. Or Condi. Or KKKarl. Or any of 'em. Only little Denny Kucinich, God Bless His Soul (and I mean that, has the where-with-all to really do something.

Shit!

[Zhade]

2. Conyers is even CONSIDERING immunity?

That's extremely disappointing. Guess he doesn't believe in the Bill of Rights either.

[EVDebs]

3. Good news. I hear even DiFi voted against the R's this time. Who'da thunk it !

"This evening, the Senate Democrats finally stood up to President Bush. And it was all because of DFA members like you.
Senate Democrats are now refusing to let Bush get away with his latest egregious abuse of power. They voted unanimously for a bill WITHOUT retroactive immunity to the major telecom companies who broke the law.

Everyone expected Dianne Feinstein to vote with the Republicans, but because of your work Senator Feinstein did the right thing and voted for the bill without retroactive immunity.

DFA stepped in. We sent a call to action, and you stepped up. With over 175 calls per hour totaling 2,399 reported calls to Senate Majority Leader Reid, DFA members across the country put the pressure on Democrats to do the right thing. And we won!"

From an email by DFA just a minute ago.

[jamesinca]

5. and MoveOn

I had e-mails from both of them asking to call either Sen. Reid or Sen. Feinstein's office. I did both.

The cat got let out of the bag a few days ago, so I can say it here. A particular caucus of the California Democratic Party is going to try and have Sen. Feinstein censured at the e-board meeting this weekend. Most likely it will fail, but it is worth a try.

[pinto]

6. Saw that, as well. Unanimous Dem vote.

:kick:

[rodeodance]

7. Under bill, companies could face privacy suits [House passes FISA without Immunity}

Source: usatoday

Under bill, companies could face privacy suits

Updated 23m ago


By Richard Willing, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Congress appeared headed toward a confrontation with President Bush on Thursday over House and Senate plans to require that telecommunication firms that aided the administration's warrantless surveillance program be subject to lawsuits from American customers.

The House of Representatives approved Thursday night a Democrat-sponsored foreign surveillance bill that would block retroactive immunity from lawsuits for telecoms that facilitated wiretapping or shared customer information with the federal government from the Sept. 11 attacks until this past January. The bill passed 227-189.

Bush has promised to veto any measure that does not include such immunity. In a statement, the White House said, "House Democrats passed legislation that would dangerously weaken our ability to protect the Nation from foreign threats."

"The House Democrat's bill to reauthorize the Protect America Act (PAA) fails to give our intelligence community the tools it needs, and it fails to protect companies facing massive lawsuits for allegedly stepping up and answering the nation's call for help after the 9/11 terrorist attacks," the statement read.




Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-11-15-fisa_N.htm?csp=1

[Bitwit1234]

8. This is one time bush will be up a creek without a paddle.

If he vetoes the bill, the temporary one congress sent him will expire. And then it reverts back to the ORIGINAL 1978 FISA ACT. Which means no wiretapping with out a warrent and Telecoms won't get immunity.

So whichever way he goes...he won't get what he wants. Hurray......

[rodeodance]

9. Is that the way it works? (but we don't know what senate will do , they screw up alot)

[DCKit]

21. How 'bout a veto WITH a signing statement?

Veto the bill and scribble in "I hereby give permission to lil' Dumbya to do whatever he wants Signed, War pResident Jorge's Dad".

[City Lights]

24. If a signing statement doesn't work he'll try a Dubya Decree.

If the past is any indication, Lil' George will find a way to get his way.

[BadgerKid]

10. Foreign threats?

I think it's the domestic one (sic) that we're concerned about :evilfrown:

[skoalyman]

11. those poor

poor tele-con's :sarcasm:

[pinto]

12. Senate passed companion bill, unanimously, with no immunity clause.

:kick:

[L. Coyote]

14. The Senate Judiciary Comm. reported one version to the Senate today.

The DEM members of the Committee voted unanimously to report that version after the Committee voted for immunity.

It is a bit confusing. More here:

Thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2288799

Post 11: US Senate Panel Causes Confusion With Action Over FISA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2288799#2293149

[EFerrari]

17. That's. great news.

:kick:

[L. Coyote]

13. ROFLMAO: In effect, this is a law requiring Bush to report his own crimes

Why are Bush and the Rs really in a tizzy? Why the veto threat, and why is team-player Mukasey taking the fall for the veto idea.
In effect, this is a law requiring Bush to report his crimes :rofl:
The House Version Requires an Audit of the President’s Surveillance Program and Other Warrantless Surveillance Programs

=======
Summary Of The RESTORE Act of 2007 (Responsible Surveillance That is Overseen, Reviewed and Effective)
http://thinkprogress.org/restore-act-summary /

Bill Summary

Security and Liberty: The bill provides the Intelligence Community with effective tools to conduct surveillance of foreign targets outside the United States but restores Constitutional checks and balances that were not contained in the Protect America Act (PAA–the Administration’s FISA bill.)

The RESTORE ACT:

1. Clarifies that No Court Warrant is Required to Intercept Communications of Non-United States Persons When Both Ends of the Communications are Outside the United States.

2. Requires an Individualized Court Warrant from the FISA Court When Targeting Persons in the United States. (Same as current law.)

3. Creates a Program of Court Authorized Targeting of Non-U.S. Persons Outside the United States. Grants the Attorney General (AG) and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) authority to apply to the FISA Court for an order to conduct surveillance of foreign targets, or groups of targets,

.....

8. Requires an Audit of the President’s Surveillance Program and Other Warrantless Surveillance Programs. This audit mandates a report and documents related to these programs be provided to Congress in unclassified form with a classified annex.

MORE: ALERT: Tell them NO IMMUNITY = Senate and House Moving on Spying Bills
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2288799

[LeftCoast]

15. It sure would be nice to hear some praise for the Democrats for pulling this off

Yeah, it took a lot of pushing and prodding, but they finally got it right. Just like rewarding a puppy when it finally makes a poopy outside not inside...maybe we should think about giving a pat on the head to our Congressfolk?

[Robbien]

20. Oh bull, it took thousands of calls & visits by citizens to get DiFi to back down

This is a victory for the American citizen, not Congress. Congress knew they were in deep shit when the Democrats pulled that smarmy late night stunt to get their good friend torturer lover Murkasey approved.

[bonito]

16. Kick

[sasquatch]

18. Veto proof that sucker baby!

[sss1977]

19. screw them...

"it fails to protect companies facing massive lawsuits for allegedly stepping up and answering the nation's call for help after the 9/11 terrorist attacks"

I hate comments like that. How can anyone be so stupid as to make a comment like that? Stepping up my ass. They stuck their tails between their legs.

[DCKit]

22. Except that the Telecoms let them in BEFORE 9/11

If this program works, then why weren't they able to stop 9/11?

[Enrique]

23. that wording is hilarious

"allegedly stepping up and answering the nation's call for help"

:crazy:

[Tarc]

25. Um, that is a quote for Bush

Why are you using that to slam the Democrats?

[lonestarnot]

26. Read much?

[Tarc]

29. More than you, apparently

[orleans]

27. "hello?"

"hello. can i help you?"
"i'm having a security issue."
"i know. i've been listening."
"listening? what do you mean?"
"i mean, i know you burned the mashed potatoes last year at thanksgiving and you've been fighting with your cousin because no one wants aunt edna to come for dinner."
"wait. how do you know all that? that's not why i was calling."
"we know everything. we're the phone company. now, about that guy trying to break into your house..."
"yes! that's why i called."
"i know. i would suggest you just stay put in the upstairs bedroom you're in right now. it's your cousin benny. he looks drunk. he can't find the key you gave him when you went to hawaii last spring and you wanted him to watch the house. let him sleep it off in his car. but since you're in the master bedroom, i would suggest you do a little dusting. we're getting dust blurring the lens lately--looks like orbs floating around the room."
"you can see me? there's a camera in my bedroom?"
"what? oh no. i was just trying to suggest some sort of activity to keep your mind off your cousin at the front door."
"oh."
"and by the way. that shirt really clashes with your eyes. might i suggest you donate it to that clothing pantry you volunteer at two days a week."
"what?"
"um...never mind. thanks for calling at&t."
"yeah, thanks. i think."

--another example of how bush lets companies answer the nation's call.

[bemildred]

28. "bankrupt the telecoms, reveal classified information ... discourage ... surveillance requests"

So, what's the downside of this?