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December 2, 2008 11:08:05 AM CST

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Democrats Withdraw Spy Bill

Posted Dec 18, 07 3:20 AM CST in Technology,  Politics 

(Newser) – Legislation that would have granted retroactive immunity for phone companies that cooperated in the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program was abruptly withdrawn by Senate majority leader Harry Reid late yesterday. The legislation, favored by the White House, had deeply divided Democrats. Reid said the Senate would deal with the bill in the next session.

"He blinked," Caroline Fredrickson, Washington director of the ACLU said of Reid, according to the Washington Post. "It's clear that this was not going to be easy. He wanted to rush this process and think he could strong-arm everybody to giving up their rights as senators. They threw sand in the gears."

Source Washington Post

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    House Rejects Immunity for Telecoms Again The House again spurned President Bush today, passing a version of an anti-terrorism surveillance bill that does not grant retroactive immunity to the telecom companies that participated in the government's warrantless-wiretapping program. The vote was 213-197, far less than the two-thirds majority needed to override a promised presidential veto, Reuters reports, and followed an unusual secret session convened last night. More »

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is a leading opponent of legislation that would give immunity to phone companies that co-operated in the government's warrantless surveillance...   (Associated Press)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill. He abruptly withdrew legislation that would have given immunity to phone companies that co-operated in the government's...   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is a leading opponent of legislation that would give immunity to phone companies that co-operated in the government's warrantless surveillance...   (Associated Press)
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Harry Reid • warrantless wiretapping • FISA • Christopher Dodd • immunity • telecommunications companies • American Civil Liberties Union • FISA Court


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