Civil Rights

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) called former White House adviser Karl Rove's decision not to show up to a committee hearing Thursday "an insult."

Rove was called to testify for Thursday's hearing after Conyers subpoenaed him in May to try to force Rove's disclosure of information on the White House's alleged politicization of the Justice Department.

"Mr. Rove's absence today is an insult to the American people and to the system of checks and balances that are the basis of our constitution and our democracy," Conyers said.

"I will seriously consider all available options to obtain Mr. Rove

As expected, the Senate on Wednesday defeated by wide margins a trio of amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) overhaul, clearing the way for final passage later in the afternoon.

By votes of 32-66, 37-61 and 42-56, senators defeated three amendments that would have struck down or restricted retroactive legal immunity for telecommunications companies that complied with the Bush administration's electronic surveillance program. The amendments were offered by Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).

The legislation, which is considered a victory for the White House, would revamp the 1978 FISA program. The fight over whether to immunize telecom firms had frozen talks between both parties and both chambers for several months.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) delayed final FISA votes until 2:15 p.m., to allow time for a Republican lunch, but passage is likely.

- J.T. Rushing

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says that despite the Supreme Court decision to strike down its gun ban, the District of Columbia will still be able to regulate firearms.

"I think it still allows the District of Columbia to come forward with a law that

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Friday that he will try to get a telecommunications immunity provision stripped when the Senate takes up the FISA rewrite.

"I'm going to try real hard to have a separate vote on immunity,'' Reid said on Bloomberg TV. "Probably we can't take that out of the bill, but I'm going to try."

A FISA rewrite including immunity passed the House earlier Friday, outraging several House Democrats, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) who called the bill "unacceptable."

House Democratic leadership supported the bill's passage.

The House passed a rewrite of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, 293 to 129, that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.

The outcome is considered a win for the White House and loss for liberals.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) expressed his displeasure, calling the result "unacceptable."

"Every American deserves their day in court, and we deserve to learn the truth about the President

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Thursday that Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) will replace the late Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) as co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. McGovern joins Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), the other chairman, as head of the Caucus.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's said California Supreme Court decision knocking down the state's ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional is a "significant milestone" in a statement released Thursday.

"I welcome the California Supreme Court

Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.) is the latest congressman to serve on the National Rifle Association's board of directors.

"The Second Amendment is an important part of Oklahoma and this nation's heritage, and I pledge to uphold it for all who wish to keep their families safe and for sportsmen, shooters and hunters everywhere,'' Boren said, according to the Tulsa World.

Former Attorney General John Ashcroft and former White House lawyers John Yoo and David Addington will testify to the House Judiciary Committee on Bush Administration interrogation and torture policy following a long legal bout with the committee.

Earlier this morning the committee voted to subpoena Addington, a top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney and one of the legal architects of the administration's war on terror policies.

The AP reported earlier that Yoo and Ashcroft agreed late Monday to appear in front of the committee.

Under Secretary of Defense Douglas Feith, and former Assistant Attorney General Dan Levin will also testify.

Former CIA Director George Tenet has not yet agreed to appear, but is reportedly negotiating with the committee.

A bipartisan group of House members sent a letter Thursday to Senate leaders Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urging the Senate to take up a House-passed media shield law.

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.), who rarely agree on anything, joined the bill's sponsors Reps. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), and Rick Boucher (D-Va.) in writing Reid and McConnell.

"Our bill would provide a federal shield law to better protect the free press that our founders knew would be needed to create our vibrant country," the lawmakers wrote. Read the full letter after the jump.

The Pence-Boucher Free Flow of Information Act passed the House by a vote of 398-21 in October.

All three presidential contenders have voiced support for the bill.

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