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Democratic Leaders Refuse to Let House Vote on Bipartisan Senate Antiterrorism Legislation; National Security in Jeopardy
Key Terrorist Surveillance Capabilities Set to Expire
February 15, 2008 - The House of Representatives remains in recess having failed to extend critical antiterrorism legislation passed by a vote of 69 to 29 in the Senate. Despite pleas from national security officials and broad support in the Senate, there is no indication that House Democratic leaders will relent and permit a vote on the measure.
Today the director of national intelligence reiterated the serious nature of the government’s potential lapse in terrorist surveillance capabilities. “‘For almost two years, we [the administration] have worked with Congress to modernize FISA and ensure that the intelligence community can effectively collect the information needed to protect our country from attack -- a goal that requires the willing cooperation of the private sector,’ he [Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell] wrote in the Washington Post. Without long-term legislation that includes liability protection, we will be delayed in gathering -- or may simply miss -- intelligence needed to protect the nation.” [“Lapse of US wiretap law exposes political tug-of-war,” Agence France-Presse, 02/15/08]
“… the bill absolutely must be passed by the House or our foreign intelligence collection is going to collapse … the House is planning to recess on Friday without taking up the Senate bill ... This is a game of roulette with our national security, spearheaded by the Democratic leadership in the House … This is not politics, folks. For grown-ups, this is life and death.” [Andy McCarthy, “FISA: High Noon at Midnight Friday,” The Corner blog, National Review Online, 2/14/08]
“We simply cannot allow intelligence collection to shut down while our soldiers are at war abroad. Nor should we forget that the enemy they confront on the battlefield has shadowy allies around the world, supported from abroad, whose fondest goal is to reprise 9/11 on an even more barbarous scale. Yet House Democrats — doing the bidding of the MoveOn.org crowd — are courting just that risk. They are playing roulette with our security for no better reason than to preserve the ability of the ACLU, CAIR, and other anti-Bush activists to press their lawsuits.” [Editorial, “Dems’ Dangerous FISA Game,” National Review Online, 2/14/08]
“A day of intense House debate over an update of electronic eavesdropping rules ended with a rebuff of Democratic leaders — and little clarity about what would come next. The House rejected Wednesday a 21-day extension of a temporary law governing electronic surveillance. Dozens of Democrats defected, as the short-term bill (HR 5349) failed, 191-229.” [Tim Starks, “Blue Dogs Defect on Surveillance Bill,” CQ Today, 2/13/08]
“No Republicans voted for the 21-day extension, while 34 Democrats — a mix of liberals and conservatives — voted ‘no.’ ‘We need to address this and get it over with. I want us to vote on the Senate bill,’ said Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., one of 21 conservative Blue Dog Democrats who have endorsed the Senate bill and who voted against the short-term extension.” [Tim Starks, “Blue Dogs Defect on Surveillance Bill,” CQ Today, 2/13/08]
“The extremely rare defeat of a House bill on the floor came on a 229-191 vote, after Republicans spent much of the day forcing parliamentary votes to protest House leaders’ refusal to allow a vote on a long-term expansion of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act passed Tuesday by the Senate, 68-29. … Republicans argued that Democratic leaders were thwarting the will of the House given that 21 Blue Dog Democrats already have signed off on the Senate bill, which Democratic leaders prevented from receiving a vote.” [Steven T. Dennis, “Democrats Trip Over Spy Bill,” Roll Call, 2/14/08]
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