Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 8, 2008 3:53:36 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Senate OKs Spying Program

Posted Aug 4, 07 8:12 AM CDT in Politics,  Technology 

(Newser) – The Senate voted last night to temporarily extend the government's controversial surveillance program, the Washington Post reports. The contentious 60-28 vote, a  concession to the White House by Democrats, will allow for the continued interception of electronic communication between Americans and overseas parties without  a court order. The measures will be reconsidered in 6 months.

President Bush threatened to hold the Senate into an emergency summer session until the GOP bill was approved, a clear message to Dems who had dragged their feet over provisions they consider too broad. "We're at war. The enemy wants to attack us," countered Sen. Joe Lieberman. "This is not the time to strive for legislative perfection."

Source Washington Post

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Senate passes FISA, 69-28

    Jul 9, 08 2:50 PM CDT
    Senate passes FISA, 69-28 The Senate approved a bill today overhauling the rules on secret US government eavesdropping and granting immunity to telephone companies that helped it listen in after 9/11. The so-called FISA bill passed by a large margin of 69-28. The upper house also voted against three amendments that would have watered down, delayed, or stripped away the immunity provision. More »

  • Bush Presses Congress for Snooping Law

    Sep 19, 07 9:26 PM CDT
    Bush Presses Congress for Snooping Law Bush pressed lawmakers for extra snooping rights today, the AP reports. Yet many Dems already regret the current law, which allows Feds to spy on some Americans without a warrant. One senator says that "the law did provide authority for collection, but it did not include sufficient protections for Americans." Bush argues that today's surveillance law, which will be up for review, should be made permanent.  More »

  • FBI Data Requests Go Beyond Terror Suspects

    Sep 8, 07 5:44 PM CDT
    FBI Data Requests Go Beyond Terror Suspects US terror suspects are drawing friends and colleagues into the net, the New York Times reports. FBI docs show that probes have sought info on people who suspects call or email the most. Phone companies already keep such data on hand for marketing and fraud protection, one expert says. Such “analysis is extremely powerful and very revealing." More »

  • Bush Signs Law Expanding Wiretap Powers

    Aug 6, 07 5:26 AM CDT
    Bush Signs Law Expanding Wiretap Powers President Bush signed into law yesterday measures significantly expanding the government's authority to eavesdrop on millions of phone calls and e-mails going in and out of the US without warrants. The law, passed by Congress after bruising battles, effectively legalizes secret surveillance being conducted by a controversial National Security Agency eavesdropping program, the New York Times reports. More »

  • House Passes Surveillance Bill

    Aug 5, 07 11:47 AM CDT
    House Passes Surveillance Bill A bill set to expand the government's warrantless spying program cleared the House last night by a 227-183 vote, the Washington Post reports. Many Democrats put aside profound  reservations, yielding to pressure from the White House and fearing being branded "weak on terror" as the campaign heats up this fall. More »

President Bush, right, accompanied by Vice President Dick Cheney, makes comments after meeting with the Counterterrorism Team, Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, at the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington....   (Associated Press)
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft talks to reporters after meeting with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence about the controversy regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,...   (Associated Press)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., right, accompanied by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., discusses the committee's issuance of subpoenas for the legal basis of the Bush administration's...   (Associated Press)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., right, accompanied by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., discusses the committee's issuance of subpoenas for the legal basis of the Bush administration's...   (Associated Press)
Mike McConnell speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington in this Jan. 5, 2007 file photo during his nomination by President Bush to director of National Intelligence. The national...   (Associated Press)
Senator Joe Lieberman, ID-CT, speaks during the announcement...   (Getty Images (by Event))
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

George W. Bush  • Senate  • warrantless wiretapping  • Joe Lieberman  • surveillance  • wiretap  • NSA


Loading...

Today's Most Popular


Other Home Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »