Specter eyes measure to curb surveillance

[sabra]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060220-113654-2825r.htm

Specter eyes measure to curb surveillance

THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter is drafting legislation to curtail President Bush's warrantless surveillance program that the president touts as a tool to stop and capture terrorists.

While it is not clear how such a law would work -- or even if Congress has the authority to pass such legislation -- Mr. Specter said he hopes to offer something in the coming weeks.
The Pennsylvania Republican is among several members of his party who have expressed reservations about the program, which monitors the international communications of suspected terrorists.
...

Still, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, Kansas Republican, said last week that the White House had reached an "agreement in principle" with congressional leaders to include more lawmakers in the oversight of the program.

...

Mr. Specter's bill, however, would go further.
He wants to place the entire program under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court, which is responsible for granting warrants for domestic surveillance in pursuit of foreign intelligence. He also has suggested that the program should expire without express congressional approval every 45 days.

[wtmusic]

1. And if it doesn't "curb surveillance", that's ok

we'll just draft some more legislation :eyes:

[no_hypocrisy]

2. He will be in a collision course with Sen DeWine (R-Ohio) who is going

to propose that a president need not employ the NSI court at any time if surveillance is for "national security".

[rodeodance]

3. who is going to stand up and yell STOP the NSA program NOW unless

the WH follows the law with warrents.

[katinmn]

4. More Repuke bullshit. Specter wouldn't even put Gonzo under oath

Don't ever trust Specter. He's just another tool for BushCo.

[annofark]

5. Specter

I can not figure out this guy. He is a loose canon and I just can't tell which team he is playing for.

[loveandlight]

6. place it under the FISA court??

As if it doesn't already belong there and there is a need to make it so??!! The point of all of this investigating is that Bush ignored the court in running this program. The law already stands that says it should be under FISA. They are wiretapping US citizens, here in the US, not on foreign soil, a massive surveillance that includes way more info than they need. I think the extent of the program is not completely known and they don't want it known, that is why they resist oversight. It needs to be contained. No new bills are needed, what would be the point, when the Congress chooses not to enforce the ones that already exist. This is so how they change the direction of things to make us think they are taking care of something instead of just distracting us from the real issues at hand.

[sendero]

7. There is already a law..

.... what good will it do to pass another?

[gratuitous]

8. As Sen. Wyden said . . .

How do you "reform" a program that you don't know anything about? The corrupt Bush administration is clearly in violation of the law as now written, but Congress seems completely uninterested in insuring compliance with the laws it passes.