By 04, Senate had voted twice to nix Intel. purchase for satellite program

[Rose Siding]

Via Laura Rozen who wrote, "This December 2004 Rockefeller objection to a classified satellite acquisition program in the intelligence authorization bill has been nagging at me since reading Tice's letter."

Rockefeller, Wyden, Levin and Durbin all opposed the program. It's classified, so they couldn't even really discuss any particulars. Someone must have thought they said too much as it was -a clarification was issued by Jay's office the next day (also at the link provided)

snip>
Mr. ROCKEFELLER......My decision to take this somewhat unprecedented action is based
solely on my strenuous objection--shared by many in our committee--to a
particular major funding acquisition program that I believe is totally
unjustified and very wasteful and dangerous to national security.
Because of the highly classified nature of the programs contained in
the national intelligence budget, I cannot talk about them on the
floor. But the Senate has voted for the past 2 years to terminate the
program of which I speak, only to be overruled in the appropriations
conference. The intelligence authorization conference report that I
expect to be before the Senate later today fully authorizes funding for
this unjustified and stunningly expensive acquisition. I simply cannot
overlook that.
My decision is shared by a number of my colleagues. Speaking for
myself, if we are asked to fund this particular program next year, I
will seriously consider and probably will ask the Senate to go into
closed session so the Senators can understand, fully debate, become
informed upon, and then vote on termination of this very wasteful
acquisition program.

http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2004/12/wasteful.html