Democrats to Offer New Surveillance Rules

Washington Post ^ | October 7, 2007 | Ellen Nakashima

[Kaslin]

House Democrats plan to introduce a bill this week that would let a secret court issue one-year "umbrella" warrants to allow the government to intercept e-mails and phone calls of foreign targets and would not require that surveillance of each person be approved individually.

The bill is likely to resurrect controversy that erupted this summer when Congress, under White House pressure, rushed through a temporary emergency law that expanded the government's authority to conduct foreign surveillance on U.S. soil without a warrant. The Protect America Act, which expires in February, has been criticized as being too broad and lacking effective court oversight.

The Democrats' legislation, drafted by the Intelligence and Judiciary committee chairmen, is aimed to reconcile civil liberties, privacy and national security concerns. It would overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a 1978 law amended many times that the Bush administration argues has been outstripped by technology.

[Kaslin]

You can be sure if the democrats win complete control that there wioll be another terrorist attack. Because this is exactly what el Qaida and Hezbollah are waiting for

[Brilliant]

When Democrats do it, it’s OK. It’s just when the GOP does it that it’s unAmerican.

[expatpat]

The Echelon program was started during the Clinton administration. Many here objected at the time.

[traviskicks]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[gondramB]

I have to say I am more concerned about the virtually certainty of the Dems abusing all the new government powers - far beyond what Bill Clinton had.

[eyedigress]

If the democrats would stop mis-leading and stop dividing the rational vote vs the emotional vote we would be much better off.


Liberals piss me off.