Usurper83
09-29-2006, 09:25 AM
Don't kill the messenger. Again, I don't feel like finding the linky.
Points of interest--the House Majority leader has a funny last name.
US House passes warrantless domestic spying measure
By Thomas Ferraro
595 words
28 September 2006
22:18
Reuters News
English
(c) 2006 Reuters Limited
(Updates with party breakdown of vote, Boehner comment)
WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would provide congressional authorization for President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program but subject it to new rules.
With a court battle waging over the program's legality, the House, controlled by Bush's fellow Republicans, approved the measure on a largely party-line vote of 232-191, and sent it to the Senate for needed concurrence.
The Senate, however, has been unable to agree on such legislation, preventing Bush from getting a final measure to sign into law before members of Congress go home to campaign for the Nov. 7 elections. That had been a top Republican goal.
With both parties bickering over who can best protect America, the bill outlines when and how a president can order warrantless surveillance. The president would be permitted to do so, for example, after an "armed attack," "terrorist attack" or when the president deems there is an "imminent threat."
Backers contend the legislation would bolster congressional oversight and protect civil liberties. Critics charge it would expand presidential powers and further threaten the rights of law-abiding Americans.
Republicans plan to wave the bill in their campaigns against Democrats. House Majority Leader John Boehner took an opening shot shortly after it passed with 177 Democrats voting no. Just 18 Democrats joined 214 Republicans in voting yes.
"The Democrats' irrational opposition to strong national security policies that help keep our nation secure should be of great concern to the American people," said Boehner, an Ohio Republican.
Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, charged: "Hidden in the fine print are provisions which grant the administration authority to maintain permanent records on innocent U.S. citizens, granting the administration new authority to demand personal records without court review, and terminating any and all legal challenges to unlawful wiretapping."
Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Bush secretly ordered the National Security Agency to monitor the international telephone conversations and e-mails of U.S. citizens without court warrants while in pursuit of suspected terrorists.
The program was publicly disclosed last December, prompting critics to charge Bush violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which requires warrants for all electronic eavesdropping inside the United States.
Bush argues he has inherent powers to protect the country.
A federal judge last month declared the program unconstitutional. Bush appealed. The case is expected to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. The new legislation, if it becomes law, would likely be challenged in court as well.
The House measure would authorize the president to order surveillance for up to 90 days after a "terrorist attack" -- if there is a reasonable belief that the target is communicating with a terrorist group. The president could submit subsequent certifications to congressional intelligence committees and a judge to get an additional 90 days.
The measure would also allow a president to order electronic surveillance for up to 90 days following an "armed attack." Current law allows such action for 15 days and after a congressional declaration of war.
In addition, the president would be permitted to authorize for up to 90 days warrantless electronic surveillance when the president determines there is an "imminent threat of attack." The president could submit unlimited subsequent certifications to extend the warrantless action.
SECURITY-EAVESDROPPING-LAW (UPDATE 1)|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|ABN |E|M|D|RNP|PGE
Document LBA0000020060929e29t00045
Points of interest--the House Majority leader has a funny last name.
US House passes warrantless domestic spying measure
By Thomas Ferraro
595 words
28 September 2006
22:18
Reuters News
English
(c) 2006 Reuters Limited
(Updates with party breakdown of vote, Boehner comment)
WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would provide congressional authorization for President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program but subject it to new rules.
With a court battle waging over the program's legality, the House, controlled by Bush's fellow Republicans, approved the measure on a largely party-line vote of 232-191, and sent it to the Senate for needed concurrence.
The Senate, however, has been unable to agree on such legislation, preventing Bush from getting a final measure to sign into law before members of Congress go home to campaign for the Nov. 7 elections. That had been a top Republican goal.
With both parties bickering over who can best protect America, the bill outlines when and how a president can order warrantless surveillance. The president would be permitted to do so, for example, after an "armed attack," "terrorist attack" or when the president deems there is an "imminent threat."
Backers contend the legislation would bolster congressional oversight and protect civil liberties. Critics charge it would expand presidential powers and further threaten the rights of law-abiding Americans.
Republicans plan to wave the bill in their campaigns against Democrats. House Majority Leader John Boehner took an opening shot shortly after it passed with 177 Democrats voting no. Just 18 Democrats joined 214 Republicans in voting yes.
"The Democrats' irrational opposition to strong national security policies that help keep our nation secure should be of great concern to the American people," said Boehner, an Ohio Republican.
Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, charged: "Hidden in the fine print are provisions which grant the administration authority to maintain permanent records on innocent U.S. citizens, granting the administration new authority to demand personal records without court review, and terminating any and all legal challenges to unlawful wiretapping."
Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Bush secretly ordered the National Security Agency to monitor the international telephone conversations and e-mails of U.S. citizens without court warrants while in pursuit of suspected terrorists.
The program was publicly disclosed last December, prompting critics to charge Bush violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which requires warrants for all electronic eavesdropping inside the United States.
Bush argues he has inherent powers to protect the country.
A federal judge last month declared the program unconstitutional. Bush appealed. The case is expected to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. The new legislation, if it becomes law, would likely be challenged in court as well.
The House measure would authorize the president to order surveillance for up to 90 days after a "terrorist attack" -- if there is a reasonable belief that the target is communicating with a terrorist group. The president could submit subsequent certifications to congressional intelligence committees and a judge to get an additional 90 days.
The measure would also allow a president to order electronic surveillance for up to 90 days following an "armed attack." Current law allows such action for 15 days and after a congressional declaration of war.
In addition, the president would be permitted to authorize for up to 90 days warrantless electronic surveillance when the president determines there is an "imminent threat of attack." The president could submit unlimited subsequent certifications to extend the warrantless action.
SECURITY-EAVESDROPPING-LAW (UPDATE 1)|LANGEN|AFA|CSA|LBY|RWSA|RWS|REULB|GNS|G|RBN|ABN |E|M|D|RNP|PGE
Document LBA0000020060929e29t00045