Reyes: Deal on FISA all but done
posted at 11:30 am on March 3, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Over the weekend, we noted that the Left needed to prepare itself for yet another capitulation by House leadership, this time on FISA. House Intel chair Silvestre Reyes all but confirmed it on CNN, saying that a vote should occur within the next week. He also indicated that his past opposition to telecom immunity may have changed as well:
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee hinted Sunday that a battle over an expired eavesdropping law might be moving toward a conclusion that gave phone companies the retroactive legal protections long sought by President Bush.
The chairman, Representative Silvestre Reyes, Democrat of Texas, said in an interview on CNN that the committee had been talking to the companies “because if we’re going to give them blanket immunity, we want to know and understand what it is we’re giving immunity for.”
Mr. Reyes did not specify what provisions a House bill might contain. But his use of the words “blanket immunity” suggested that he might be moving toward a Senate bill, backed by Mr. Bush, that would protect phone companies that assisted in a federal program of wiretapping without warrants after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“I have an open mind about that,” Mr. Reyes said.
Reyes actually taped the interview on Friday, before word began moving around Capitol Hill that the House would split the bipartisan Senate bill into two parts for separate votes in order to move the legislation. Both parts will win approval; Nancy Pelosi knew that much when she held the bill for after the President’s Day recess. The compromise would allow the few Democrats who support the FISA reform but oppose the telecom immunity to have that specifically reflected in the record.
Reyes may not be one of the House members to take advantage of the opportunity. He sounded as though he may have changed his mind and fallen in line with Jay Rockefeller, his counterpart on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He spent last week doing something he apparently hadn’t considered doing before announcing his opposition to the bill — talking with the telecoms and reviewing the documentation supplied by the White House. Something in those efforts reopened Reyes’ mind, and that may prove very influential in scheduling the vote.
Of course, it’s not like there’s any urgency to this. The House has had this bill for almost a month now, and the Democratic leadership allowed the restrictions on American switching equipment and the unnecessary impediments that they impose on intel-gathering to come back into force. Even bipartisan solutions can’t make it through the Pelosi-led House, it seems, even when national security is at stake.
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As a longtime constituent of Rep. Reyes, I can assure you that “Intelligence”, House or otherwise, does not play a big role in describing him.
Very nice gentleman, otherwise.
TexasJew on March 3, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Here’s the score heading into the fourth quarter …..
Bush Administration 96, Pelosi 0
A New Direction for America [snicker]
fogw on March 3, 2008 at 11:37 AM
The delay was just Pelosi and the House pandering to the far-left. They need to hope that nothing bad happens while they’re playing games.
TooTall on March 3, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Another big patch of straw just standing in the field, waiting for some crafty Republican to make hay out of it.
Immolate on March 3, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Morning TexasJew.. any oil over yonder?
As for this Bill…. it makes me wonder.
If they FINALLY get this through… does that mean the constipation of the other bills that were held up due to this bill, will come rushing out like a spray?
upinak on March 3, 2008 at 11:39 AM
This is good news for the safety and security of America. Daily Kos won’t like it. Keith Olbermann will probably do another “Special Comment”. But this new FISA legislation will make us all safer and I for one am all for it.
SoulGlo on March 3, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Another day of clubbing the donkey on the bean, with a Louisville Slugger.
Coupled with Clinton and Obama at each others throats, life is good.
NoDonkey on March 3, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Can anyone tell me if this position is anything but a sop for trial lawyers?
I have an idea for cleaning up our entire country: holding a law degree and/or having been an attorney at any point in your career history disqualifies you from holding public office. Ever.
shibumiglass on March 3, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Is Pelosi actively campaigning to be worst Speaker evah or does this come naturally to her?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 3, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Well I’ll give the Dems this much: They may be wrong all the time, but at least they don’t have the courage to stand by their convictions.
trubble on March 3, 2008 at 11:49 AM
You Sir, are correct. It’s a sop to trial lawyers. Imagine the money to be made on behalf of lefties with feelings of persecution. The lawyers get new cars and beach houses. The lefties get lots of cash to donate to their favorite causes. All at the expense, ultimately, of anybody who pays a phone bill. What’s not to like?
trigon on March 3, 2008 at 11:51 AM
I know that this is s.o.p. for politicians, but is anyone else surprised that this FISA hold-up hasn’t brought this practice into greater light? It’s seems obvious that money is the only reason for this, but I’m hearing NOTHING about it. All reporting, even from concervatives, speaks in broad terms about the opposition to the bill. This is why I wondered if there was some other reason…?
shibumiglass on March 3, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Jeez. If you’re going to lose Congress, these are definitely the idiots to lose it to.
Chuck Schick on March 3, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Time to get it done.
Philip on March 3, 2008 at 12:28 PM
The very act of delaying a bill, even for a moment, that puts our country in danger is treasonous! I pray the American people see this when it’s time to oust these assholes from congress! It’s more important now than ever to get out there and vote out the pelosi’s, reeds, murthas, etc from the house & senate.
kcd on March 3, 2008 at 12:34 PM
how many “republicans” will vote against this because its supposedly ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘violates civil liberties’ and other fear mongering.
jp on March 3, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Well, what do you expect? Look at his name. Do you think when he goes home at night he thinks about what’s good for America? No. He goes home, kisses his larvae goodnight and seeps easy knowing that he and traiors like Juan “Hernandez” McCain are setting our natioin up for La Raza.
Hee Haw Damien on March 3, 2008 at 12:45 PM
The ‘wiretapping’ aspect should be expanded to encompass all domestic internet traffic too. ISPs should be forced to allow unrestricted access to all accounts to allow government to monitor email/IM/web communications where at least one participant is a suspected terrorist.
As well as communications-intel, the government needs the power to monitor all financial transactions, as there is no possible way a court can respond fast enough to issue a warrant in time to track terrorist funding.
LimeyGeek on March 3, 2008 at 12:51 PM
These same ‘republicans’ will refuse to accept any responsibility for terrorist carnage that could have been stopped if they were not so petty and childish about their so-called ‘rights’.
LimeyGeek on March 3, 2008 at 12:53 PM
thats because all terror acts are the result of a non-isolationist US foreign policy. the terrorist are not at fault here, its US foreign policy. Therefore, any attacks on US Soil have nothing to do with common sense national security measures which secure the very first Civil Libert: national security
jp on March 3, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I enjoyed being your satirical two-step dance partner ;)
LimeyGeek on March 3, 2008 at 1:07 PM
After thorough review, it’s clear the Dems chose an apt symbol to represent their party. Events to date are another affirmation of the wisdom of this choice.
irongrampa on March 3, 2008 at 2:00 PM
In laymans terms, they’re ALL ASSES!
kcd on March 3, 2008 at 2:47 PM
upinak
Lots of oil, and here in West Texas, it’s sunny and it’ll be back up in the 70’s later this week.
No ANWR oil, it seems, in our lifetime.. looks like the Chinese will get it - they’re not as stupid as our leftwing politicians!
TexasJew on March 3, 2008 at 4:22 PM
I don’t know that that is the solution. Some lawyers do honorable jobs. Some lawyers truly deserve to have their backs up against the wall for a firing squad. How do you distinguish? I’m not sure if it could be done, but I do think lawyers with very high incomes should pay a special income tax for parasitism. For instance, any one who earns legal fees over $1,000,000 in a year would pay income taxes at an 80% federal rate. I believe that this is one tax that could help the economy.
thuja on March 3, 2008 at 4:49 PM