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Stalling Spy Bill Hurts Intel, Admin Asserts

Letter pushes House Dems to pass new wiretapping rules

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 23, 2008 8:45 AM CST
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(Newser) – As House Dems refuse to pass the Senate’s wiretapping bill, the administration is heaping more pressure on them to change their minds, reports Muckraker. A letter to the House intelligence committee from top administration officials claims that the failure to pass the bill is causing “lost intelligence information” as private companies fear the consequences of continued warrantless cooperation.

“Exposing the private sector to the continued risk of billion-dollar class action suits” makes them “reluctant to cooperate,” wrote the director of national intelligence and the attorney general. But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer fired back that “any intelligence gap would be one of (the GOP’s) own creation,” since members won’t agree to retroactive immunity for wiretapping practices.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., left, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., center, and Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., pause during a news conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007 in Washington. House Democrats have refused to pass a new wiretapping bill. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., left, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., center, and Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., pause during a news conference on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Dec. 19,...   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by FOX News, House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer appears on Fox News Sunday in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. House Democrats have refused to pass a new wiretapping bill. (AP Photo/FOX News Sunday, Freddie Lee) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this photo provided by FOX News, House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer appears on "Fox News Sunday" in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. House Democrats have refused to pass a new wiretapping bill....   (Associated Press)
U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks during a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. Mukasey co-wrote a letter to the House intelligence committee claiming that intelligence has been damaged by a failure to pass the Senate wiretapping bill. (AP Photo/Ali...
U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaks during a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. Mukasey co-wrote a letter to the House intelligence...   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by FOX News, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell appears on Fox News Sunday in Washington, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. McConnell co-wrote a letter to the House intelligence committee claiming that intelligence has been damaged by a failure to pass the Senate wiretapping bill.(AP Photo/FOX...
In this photo provided by FOX News, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell appears on "Fox News Sunday" in Washington, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. McConnell co-wrote a letter to the House intelligence...   (Associated Press)
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Attorney General • Steny Hoyer • surveillance • Mike McConnell • Michael Mukasey • warrantless wiretapping • House Democrats • Director of National Intelligence • wiretapping bill

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