Senate Postpones Telecom Immunity in Domestic Spying Bill
Responsing to pressure from the left across the United States on Monday, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid abruptly postponed a measure to give immunity to telephone companies that participated in President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program.
"Everyone feels it would be to the best interest of the Senate that we take a look at this when we come back after the first of the year," Reid said on the Senate floor as seen on C-SPAN.
Reid's surprise announcement came hours after Bush's demand for immunity for the companies seemed to win an initial victory when the full Senate voted 76-10 to clear a procedural hurdle and move toward consideration of the so-called FISA bill.
The legislation would have bolstered judicial oversight of federal surveillance of suspected terrorists, according to the official line, but Senate leaders were unable to agree on a schedule to vote on amendments and the bill before Congress ends work for the year this most likely on Friday.
"We have tried to work through this process, and it appears quite clear at this stage on this bill we're not going to be able to do that," Reid said.
The Senate is expected to take up a massive, catchall spending bill on Tuesday to keep the government running and provide additional funds for the Iraq war. Reid said the Senate would return to the surveillance bill when the 2008 session of Congress begins in mid-January, accordin to Reuters.