Senate GOP objects to considering FISA bill, calls for vote on House version

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to bring up the bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), but a Republican objected.

“FISA, this is an important piece of legislation as imperfect as it is, it is necessary to protect us from the evil in this world,” Reid said on the floor Tuesday evening. “We need to finish this by the end of the week.”

Reid wanted S. 3276 to be considered with a limited number of amendments, but Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) objected and said he didn’t understand why the Senate couldn’t just pass the House FISA bill. He referred to a letter stating that the Obama administration supports the House-version.

Reid said his reason for the limited number of amendment was because of time constraints — he wants to finish work on the bill before leaving for Christmas.

“I will continue to work on a path forward,” Reid said. “But Christmas is not more important than this legislation. I hope I’m not offending anyone, but it isn’t.”

Reid said he believed the Senate would be on “thin ice” if it waited to pass a FISA bill until after Christmas.

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