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Surveillance Law Extended
For 15 Days
Dan Eggen
Washington
Post
Friday February 1, 2008
President Bush signed a 15-day extension for a temporary surveillance
law yesterday, signaling a brief reprieve in an ongoing battle
with Democrats in Congress over whether to immunize telephone
companies from lawsuits alleging invasions of privacy for helping
the government conduct warrantless wiretaps.
The delay marked a partial concession to Senate Democrats who
wanted to continue deliberations, but Bush said during a campaign
swing through Las Vegas yesterday that he will not agree to further
postponements.
"This will give people and Congress time to pass a good
piece of legislation that makes sure that our professionals have
the tools necessary to do their job," Bush said. Only days
earlier, he had threatened to veto a proposed 30-day extension.
(Article continues below)
Congress has been wrangling for months over the future of legislation
named the Protect America Act, a temporary law passed last August
that gave the government broad new authorities to conduct wiretapping
without court oversight.
The law was scheduled to expire today. If the deadline had passed,
the government's surveillance authorities would have reverted
to those in place last summer, which the Bush administration has
characterized as inadequate.
While many lawmakers appear to support renewing the law as it
stands, the White House and its Republican allies on Capitol Hill
are insisting on adding legal protection for telecommunication
companies.
The Senate is considering a bill supported by the White House
that includes the immunity, but Democrats have blocked Republican
attempts to cut off debate to curtail amendments. The House has
passed a significantly different bill that does not include telecom
immunity.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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