WASHINGTON (AP) - The House on Saturday delayed action on a Senate-passed bill to expand the government's abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States. Lawmakers in both parties said they expected the measure to pass late Saturday or early Sunday.The bill would update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. It would give the government leeway to intercept, without warrants, communications between foreigners that are routed through equipment in United States, provided that ``foreign intelligence information'' is at stake.
| Seems like a reasonable bill to me, but then, I'm interested in seeing our intel services nail the bad guys. |
Bush and his allies demanded that Congress approve the FISA changes before starting its August recess. ``Al-Qaida is not going on vacation this month,'' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Congressional Democrats won a few concessions in negotiations earlier in the week. New wiretaps must be approved by the director of national intelligence and the attorney general, not just the attorney general. The new law would expire in six months unless Congress renewed it. The administration wanted the changes to be permanent.
Update: it passed --WASHINGTON (AP) - The House handed President Bush a victory Saturday, voting to expand the government's abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States.
The 227-183 vote, which followed the Senate's approval Friday, sends the bill to Bush for his signature. He had urged Congress to approve it, saying Saturday, "Protecting America is our most solemn obligation."