Telecom immunity- The Simple Version: Leahy Stripped It From The Bill

[cali]

Isn't this the sort of thing that people have been demanding of dem leaders? Leahy simply took the bull by the horns and tossed it out of the ring.



UPDATE FROM WIRED

In Twist, Senate Judiciary Spying Bill Lacks Immunity for Telecoms
By Ryan Singel November 15, 2007 | 5:13:35 PMCategories: NSA

<snip>.

But after a long day of complicated finagling over technical amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and proposed alternatives to total immunity for companies such as AT&T and Verizon, committeee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) decided to send the bill out of committee without an agreement on immunity.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/11/in-twist-senat...

[Lasher]

1. Yay! Way to be, Leahy!

Some people don't fully appreciate the advantages of having majority control.

[cali]

2. It's sad as hell that DUers have been screaming at the Dems

about this, but can't even acknowledge when they do something right.

[Lasher]

4. Let's see how much attention this thread gets.

I'm going to vote it up right now.

[malaise]

9. Yep

K & R

[Matariki]

12. Yes. So true.

another rec. for this thread.

[Th1onein]

3. Does anyone have his contact information?

Leahy deserves our thanks.

Thank GOD the Dems aren't laying down on this one!

[cali]

5. You can contact him here:

http://leahy.senate.gov/contact.cfm

[Th1onein]

18. I sent him an email.

Thank you so much!

[Lasher]

6. Here, let me show you how to find that

Go here:

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Then click on Senate in the left hand column.

Look in the top right corner, where you will see a window labeled Find your Senators You can search by state in the top window or just type the last name of the Senator in the second one.

See? Now you can find contact information for any member of the Senate or House anytime you want.

Lasher

[Th1onein]

19. Thank you, too, Lasher.

n/t

[cali]

7. Leahy's comments about the bill:

Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
On The Judiciary Committee’s Action
On Legislation To Amend The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
November 15, 2007



The Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a better, stronger and more balanced bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including reducing the sunset provision from six to four years, to make it easier to make further improvements in the years to come. I am proud of the contribution the Judiciary Committee has made to the process of setting down clear laws to govern the wiretapping of Americans.

These improvements protect our security without sacrificing the people’s rights against government abuse of these powerful surveillance tools. We have found practical, workable answers that keep faith with American values. We have struck a better balance that does credit to the reasons we have FISA in the first place.


When we give the government sweeping surveillance powers, there need to be clear rules and checks and balances to prevent abuses against the American people.

The full Senate will yet need to resolve the immunity issue. I supported the Feingold amendment, which did not prevail in the committee. While I appreciate the problems facing the telecommunications companies, the retroactive immunity issue to me is not about fixing blame on the companies but about holding government accountable. Passing a law to whitewash the Administration’s undermining of another law would be a disservice to the American people and to the rule of law.

[caseycoon]

8. Way to go Leahy! n/t

[L. Coyote]

10. LOL. The real TRUTH behind the Republican DECEIT on the FISA debate and the VETO threat.

In effect, this is a law requiring Bush to report his own crimes :rofl:

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.
Because the House Version passed today "Requires an Audit of the President’s Surveillance Program and Other Warrantless Surveillance Programs"

MORE: LOL. The real TRUTH behind the Republican DECEIT on the FISA debate and the VETO threat.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2294411

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

[Lasher]

11. Well cali this one got 3 votes and 10 replies

But the thread about Reid shutting down Junior's recess appointments is getting lots of action.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2296511

[SIMPLYB1980]

13. More good news.

Better than bashing our own party. Go Dems!

[williesgirl]

14. Good first step, now Reid needs to get EVERY Dem Sen. in line for the full vote. rec'd

[Bongo Prophet]

15. Yes! MOST of our Dems have been doing a GOOD job in many respects

Too much either/or trashing of "ALL" when we should focus our ire on the BushDogDems and GOP.

We just need more of them to help out the other good ones.
Thanks for this, and I agree!

[nashville_brook]

16. shit-howdy. that's good news.

[tblue37]

17. K&R