GOP wants to tack FISA bill onto war supplemental

[Robbien]

Source: The Hill

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) announced Thursday that he will try to attach a measure updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as an amendment to the war supplemental bill.

Lewis, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, said he would make the move if the war funding bill is taken up by the panel.

“It’s time for the Democratic leaders to put our national security ahead of the desires of trial lawyers and pass the FISA bill that was passed by the Senate,” the lawmaker said. “This Congress should make this legislation one of its top priorities until the intelligence gap is closed.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gop-wants-to-tack-fisa-bill-onto-war-supplemental-2008-04-24.html

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and from Politico
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0408/Lewis_will_try_to_add_FISA_update_to_war_supplemental.html


Congressional Republicans have made a lot of noise about what they won't accept on upcoming legislation to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But there's at least one thing they would embrace with open arms: An updated foreign surveillance law that would protect telecommunications companies that shared information with the government in the aftermath of Sept. 11.

California Rep. Jerry Lewis, the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee, announced Thursday that he would offer Senate-passed legislation to expand the current surveillance law to an upcoming spending bill for those two wars when his panel considers that measure in the next few weeks.

. . .

Lewis would need support from committee Democrats to successfully attach the FISA update to the spending bill, making it almost impossible for him to add it. But, at the very least, he would put members of the majority on the record rejecting the Senate bill, something Republicans have done repeatedly since Democratic leaders in the House allowed a stopgap measure Congress approved over the summer to lapse.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. If we were remotely interested in honest government, we'd outlaw tacking bills onto unrelated bills

[Deny and Shred]

2. You can't turn your back on these guys for a second

Congress never read the Patriot Act, maybe we can sneak FISA telecom retroactive immunity past the House this way.
Great googlie mooglie - January can't come fast enough.

[maddezmom]

3. whatever happened to the investigation on Rep Lewis?

[sellitman]

4. Bastards!

For all those planning on not voting for the Democrat if it isn't your choice this Bill is on you.

[bluesmail]

5. well he's getting brave, isn't he? I don't know what his status is

regarding his relationship with criminal lobbyists either. But my guess it's been stalled for a twisted reason.:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[Orsino]

6. They're betting that our Dems are still too timid to defund the war...

...and they are absolutely correct.

[slipslidingaway]

7. K&R n/t

[razors edge]

8. We could tack on Universal Health Care

and watch this whole thing drop like a rock.

Problem solved.

[Doctor_J]

9. Luckily they're in the minority, so they can't do to a fucking thing about it

Oh, shit

[Pastiche423]

10. It REALLY pisses me off

when the MSM repeats the lie, "...in the aftermath of 9/11".

It's been known for a long time that they started spying on us months and months before 9/11.

:grr:

[hootinholler]

11. HEY LAAAYYDDDIIIEEEE!!!

Where's Dean Martin to bitch-slap him?

-Hoot

[Supersedeas]

12. Yellow chickenshit chickenhawks without a clue

[lonestarnot]

13. Sons of bitches! as in dogs! Motherfuckers!

[AzDar]

14. Well, there's another good reason to torpedo that bullshit 'supplemental' .

:grr:

[bdamomma]

15. these repigs are just disgusting.