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Bush plays hardball on FISA legislation |
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By Klaus Marre
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Posted: 02/13/08 09:16 AM [ET] |
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In a move that puts great pressure on the House, President Bush said Wednesday that he would not sign any more temporary extensions to legislation updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Bush praised the Senate for passing a long-term FISA fix Tuesday by a “wide, bipartisan” majority. He added that there is “no reason” why the House could not “immediately” pass the same bill. Congress last summer passed a FISA update but, in the hopes of revisiting the issue, included a sunset provision that would have let it expire earlier this year. When work on a long-term bill was not completed by the deadline, congressional leaders and the White House agreed to a two-week extension. However, Bush’s statement indicates that he has had enough. He blasted the House for having “failed to pass a good bill” since last summer. A main sticking point is a provision included in the Senate legislation that would provide retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated with the government. Bush said the companies “won’t help protect America” without such liability protection. The president stated that terrorists must communicate with each other and exchange information to carry out their plans and argued that enlisting the help of telecommunications companies is crucial in uncovering their activities. |
