[IP] Here it comes ...

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Randall <rvh40@insightbb.com>
Date: February 13, 2008 2:23:03 PM EST
To: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
Subject: Here it comes ...

House Republicans Will Force Vote on Senate's Electronic Surveillance  
Law

As the House turned to a 21-day extension of a temporary law governing  
electronic surveillance, Republicans prepared a motion to force a vote  
on the long-term version passed Tuesday by the Senate.

House Republicans engineered a series of procedural votes Wednesday in  
a bid to derail the Democrats' proposed extension, which President  
Bush said he would veto. They argued that the House should simply take  
up and send to the White House a surveillance overhaul bill that the  
Senate passed by 68-29.

Because 21 conservative Blue Dog Democrats have endorsed the Senate- 
passed bill, Republicans might be able to win approval of the Senate  
bill through a motion to recommit the extension with instructions to  
amend it with the text of the Senate bill.

Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Minority Leader John A. Boehner , R-Ohio,  
confirmed that GOP members would give it a shot. "Twenty-one Blue Dogs  
will be able to vote their conscience," he said.

The shorter, stopgap measure is designed to give House and Senate  
conferees time to resolve their differences over the long-term  
legislation overhauling the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. A  
temporary law expires Feb. 16, a day after lawmakers leave for the  
Presidents Day recess.

"All we're asking for is an extension of 21 days," said Michael  
Arcuri , D-N.Y. "When you think of it in the grand scheme of things,  
21 days to think about whether this bill continues to give the  
American people the liberty they have had, that's not much to ask."

But Rep. Heather M. Wilson, R-N.M., said Democrats could not continue  
to authorize surveillance on "a month-to-month basis" without harming  
intelligence operations.

Earlier, Bush drew a hard line against another extension. "Congress  
has had over six months to discuss and deliberate. The time for debate  
is over. I will not accept any temporary extension," the president said.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000002670510

http://snipurl.com/1znbx


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