Congress Grants 15-Day Extension To Surveillance Law

[bemildred]

Source: eFlux Media

The intelligence surveillance law got a 15-day extension from the House and Senate yesterday, after the White House administration proposed to grant telephone companies immunity from lawsuits that may appear if the companies agree to cooperate with authorities in terrorist investigations.

The extension approval passed by unanimous votes in both chambers and the White House also agreed to it, considering the law would have expired this Friday. The Bush administration proposal, called Protect America Act, failed to get a permanent approval, just like it did in August, when the Congress agreed to it as a temporary measure.

The House and the Senate bills still have not reached an agreement. The Republicans support a bill that allows the government to wiretap phone conversations in case of terrorist suspicions and also grants immunity to telecommunication companies that collaborate without warrant. The Democrats on the other hand wish to limit or eliminate retroactive immunity for telecommunication companies.

The whole situation started after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when AT&T, Verizon Communications Inc and Sprint Nextel Corp faced dozens of lawsuits accusing them of violating the privacy of the American people after quietly agreeing to participate in the government’s communications spying program.

Read more: http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Congress_Grants_15_Day_Extension_To_Surveillance_Law_13383.html

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Notice how quickly our Congress can do something when it chooses. And heaven forfend they not be able to spy on us for two weeks.

[annabanana]

1. well well well. . I thought an "extention" was out of the question.

Good for Harry on this one. For once he seemed to understand the game of "chicken". .

[roody]

2. I have to remember to say f*** Bush and Cheney

during every phone call I am on.

[JBoy]

3. I love the names of these "Acts"

It seems the more evil and disgusting the legislation, the more wholesome and innocuous is the name of the Act.

Who could vote against the "Protect America Act" or the "Patriot Act"? It would be like voting against the "Save the Cute Furry Puppy Act".

[Deny and Shred]

4. So true, JBoy. Orwellian, to say the least. a few of my favorites...

Operation Just Cause, or Just (Be)cause as I refer to it - ousting Noreiga.

Operation Enduring Freedom

Estate Tax became Death Tax

Huckabee is pushing the FairTax - lower income taxes and increase taxes on purchases. Reward wealth, disproportionately tax those with low incomes.