Prospects Dim on Spy Agency Overhaul. JK needs to use this Bush failure!

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-security-congress.html?pagewanted=print&position=

October 22, 2004

Prospects Dim on Spy Agencies Overhaul Bill
By REUTERS

Filed at 5:10 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers said on Friday it was increasingly unlikely they could deliver a measure to overhaul U.S. spy agencies to President Bush by the Nov. 2 elections, a delay some supporters said could imperil the post Sept. 11 reforms.

Putting a brave face on what has been slower-than-expected negotiations between the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on intelligence reform, lawmakers said they still hoped to make progress on a final bill over the weekend to get it to the president by the elections. But they conceded it would be difficult.

``There is progress, but it would be unrealistic to say that there was not sufficient work that still needed to be done,'' said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra, a Michigan Republican who is heading the negotiations. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who is a leading Senate negotiator, said the goal was ambitious but they were still aiming for it.

With national security a top concern for voters, the Nov. 2 elections have been a major force behind the push to quickly enact intelligence reform legislation that would create a new national intelligence director post based on the recommendations made in July by the Sept. 11 commission.

more...9/11 familess very unhappy