FISA Reauthorization Includes Immunity Provison; Vote Set Today

Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives has joined Senate Democrats in embracing a Republican-orchestrated proposal to provide telecommunications firms that complied with Bush Administration warrantless wiretaps with retroactive immunity. A vote is expected today (Friday, 20 June).

According to AP, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said the bill "balances the needs of our intelligence community with Americans' civil liberties and provides critical new oversight and accountability requirements."

The White House has insisted on the immunity provision, threatening to add a FISA veto to its short list of vetoes executed by this Presidency.

In effect, this immunity provision penalizes Verizon for doing the right thing and refusing to comply with the Administration request. Do the right thing and watch your competitors suckle the federal treasury teat ... and then get a "Get Out Of Jail Card" to boot. More on this story.

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In other capitulation news, the Democratically-controlled House of Representatives also approved $162 billion for the war in Iraq on Thursday.