by James Oliphant, and updated
UPDATE: The House is scheduled to go into closed session tonight at 8 pm to debate FISA. The session will last one hour.
Rep. Roy Blunt, the House's minority whip, wants to get down to the nitty-gritty.
Blunt was pushing the House to meet in a closed session to debate proposed amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
He says he wants the House to meet in private to keep political theater to a minimum -- and perhaps to share some classified information. The last time the House did so was back in 1983.
The battle lines over FISA have been drawn. The White House and congressional Republicans are exhorting House Democrats to support a bill passed last month by the Senate that upgrades FISA, gives the administration expanded surveillance powers, and provides telecom companies with civil immunity from lawsuits over aiding the government's wiretapping efforts.
The House this week floated a new proposal, which would offer some limited immunity and give the telecoms the chance to contest some lawsuits in closed courtrooms. It also would force the Justice Department to get approval from the secret court that oversees surveillance of foreign agents before any new wiretaps are put in place. The Senate version gives Justice officials five days after a tap to obtain approval.
Today, Blunt said:
“[House Democrats] have a bill that actually takes a step back in reaching a bipartisan solution and breaks with many of the areas that were carefully negotiated for months between the intelligence community, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and the White House.
A closed session is necessary today so that every member can hear the compelling and classified reasons for continuing our intelligence programs. Once they do, I am confident they will join our calls for swift action."
The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), today said such a session seemed to be more trouble than it would be worth:
A closed session is something of such seriousness that we would do it in advance, know that you're going to have to clear the chamber for hours before so that it can be swept and what is the purpose of that. And then we have the session for -- we don't know how long, and then again, pushing back. They did this in the Senate too, so they could delay taking up their bill, so it's not a new tactic. But again, if there is some merit to having a closed session that is worth pushing back consideration of the bill, let's hear what their purpose is.
The House currently is debating budget issues, but has scheduled an hour of debate on FISA before it adjourns tomorrow for a two-week spring break.
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Comments
Wow!, the tidal wave of Republicans who are going to be voted out of office in 08 is going to be HUGE...
These GOPer idiots don't seem to understand that it's way past time to stop lockstepping with lameduck Republican Prez 19% and his insistence that Congress pass a law protecting him from illegally spying on Americans...and this illegal spying was going on even BEFORE 9/11.
http://www.attytood.com/2008/02/worse_than_watergate_bush_scor_1.html
Posted by: John Hussein E | March 13, 2008 5:18 PM
How sad our government insist on turning this beautiful country into a police state. Ben Franklin was right: "They who are willing to give up esential liberties for a littel temporary security deserve neather liberty nor security"
Posted by: Jorgen E. Agger | March 13, 2008 6:03 PM
Why is Bush still in office? Why is this even an issue? Pelosi, why did you take impeachment off the table?
Posted by: Bob | March 13, 2008 6:09 PM
Blunt = Gestapo apologist
Posted by: TheReamer | March 13, 2008 6:10 PM
This Congress has been and is a do nothing group of government employees suching money from hard working Americans. We need for them to get to work on what is best for the country. One good bill would be pass a time limit for holding office in the congress,two terms for the senate ane four for congress. Some of the old duffers need to get out now guit damaging our country.
Posted by: Robert Quaintance | March 13, 2008 6:11 PM
I'm sorry, did you not even bother with the context of this article?
The FISA has nothing to do with spying on americans, and even if it did, illegality has no play here.
The FISA is concerned with tapping foreign phone transmissions. It has nothing to do with "spying on Americans."
Posted by: Gabriel K. | March 13, 2008 6:29 PM
So basically, Nancy Pelosi is saying that her mind is made up and no amount of information, classified or otherwise, is going to change her mind? Is she capable of doing anything besides her knee jerk reaction against anything Bush is for? The so-called "Senate delay tactic" of a closed session didn't stop the Senate from acting like grownups and coming up with a workable bill, which is much better than the House has done, even so much later. The House should just pass the Senate bi-partisian bill and be done with it instead of acting like spoiled brats who have to have their way on everything.
Posted by: Helen | March 13, 2008 6:37 PM
"TOM DELAY, ROY BLUNT, AND THE BOEHNER SPEAK"
HEY LETS HAVE A SECRET MEETING ABOUT ALL THE SECRET EAVESDROPPING, WIRETAPPING, AND DATAMINING OF AMERICAN CITIZENZ FOR POLITICAL GAING, USE, AND MISTRUST.
HEY IS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL. WHO CARE, IT'S A SECRET AND SECRETS MUST STAY SECRET.
"THINK IMMUNITY" ROY
"THINK IMMUNITY" BOEHNER
OR I GOT SOME SECRET STUFF TO SHARE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FORGET THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND "THAT WOMAN" SPEAKER.
HOW DO WE SELL THE "HOUSE"
TO HAVE A SECRET MEETING ABOUT SECRET STUFF THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN NEVER KNOW ABOUT, BECAUSE IT IS SECRET STUFF THAT WE DID IN SECRECY AND WITHOUT IMMUNITY OR PROTECTION FROM PROSECUTION, I MEAN, "TORT LAWYERS" WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE SECRET STAYS A SECRET IN AND HAVE A SECRET MEETING FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL?
NO BUT IT'S WHAT THE COMMANDER GUY WANTS, AND WHAT THE COMMANDER GUY WANTS HE GETS.
NOW GO HAVE THAT "SECRET HOUSE MEETING" FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
OKAY!
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 13, 2008 7:22 PM
"But again, if there is some merit to having a closed session that is worth pushing back consideration of the bill, let's hear what their purpose is."
-Nancy Pelosi
So basically, Nancy Pelosi is saying that her mind is made up and no amount of information, classified or otherwise, is going to change her mind?
Posted by: Helen
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I guess English isn't your first language.
Posted by: Bruce Y | March 13, 2008 8:18 PM
I understand the concern of Dems regarding the Senate's amendment to give immunity to Telecommunication companies. Ok, issue raised and debated. There is a court system already setup that is one the best systems created to deal with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance. Why would anyone want to slow down the process by getting another approval from the Justice Dept.? The Justice Dept is not setup to deal with Foreign Intelligence gathering. This madness is an attempt to empower lawyers that will make Millions of dollars and drag these Telecommunication companies into bankruptcy over court fees. The lawsuit will not only involve Telcom companies but will suck up our tax dollars as well.
Plus, lawsuits would drag on for years, which will cause the whole system to suffer.
Wake up America because Google knows more about you than the government. Telcom's have always had to get approval so everyone is covered if they abuse the system.
I support renewing this bill along with the Senate's amendment to protect Telcom companies from unnecessary lawsuits.
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Posted by: tony | June 17, 2008 10:02 PM