Chuck Schumer's spokesman tells us that he's going to oppose the current version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act legislation, which immunizes telcom companies for past implementation of Bush's requests and expands the government's capacity to surveil without court approval.
If Schumer backs an effort to remove the immunity provisions, that could be a big deal. Obama has come out against those provisions, but Schumer is a strategic signal caller in the Senate. The key question: Will Schumer support a filibuster on removing immunity from the bill?
If the provisions come out, the compromise legislation could fall apart. But civil liberties advocates have mounted a strong campaign against the idea of Democrats retroactively approving Bush's exercise of surveillance powers outside the FISA law's statutory scheme.
No signal yet from Sen. Clinton on her position, and it's not clear whether the Democrats will have enough votes to successfully attack the immunity issue. All of Long Island's House members supported the bill with telcom immunity in it, except for Steve Israel.
Comments (2)
Way to go Chuck! Grab our junior senator next time you see her & shake her into line on this one. I heard she was going to be involved in some "party unity" event later this week, no better place for that than the floor of the senate protecting our constitutionally insured rights.
Thank you -- are Schumer & Feingold the only two US Senators who take their oath to uphold the Constitution seriously? Sen. Schumber, please make sure Sen. Clinton follows your lead.