Debate Continues On Eve Of Expiration Of Surveillance Laws
By Veronique Masterson
EL PASO — A deadline is approaching and a highly sensitive piece of ‘anti-terror’ legislation is set to expire if legislators do not act quickly.
House Democrats have to decide whether or not to reauthorize surveillance laws designed to allow U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor foreign phone calls and e-mails. The Protect America Act expires as of midnight Saturday and lawmakers are still arguing over the details. Making the situation even more challenging is that House Democrats are now on a 10-day recess.
The Senate passed a bill earlier in the week, but the House version is different. Democrats there want to negotiate and resolve the differences between the two pieces of legislation.
Bush sharply scolded House Democrats in his presidential radio address, stating, “They are wrong. Because Congress failed to act, it will be harder for our government to keep you safe from terrorist attack. At this moment, somewhere in the world, terrorists are planning a new attack on America. And Congress has no higher responsibility than the tools to stop them,” Bush said.
House members retaliated in kind, saying they would have accepted a temporary extension of the current legislation. They also downplayed the severity of the expiration, accusing President Bush of ‘fear-mongering’.
“Make no mistake: if the surveillance law expires, if any intelligence loss results, it is President Bush’s choice. Period. Fortunately, the president’s decision to allow the Protect America Act to expire does not, in reality, threaten the safety of Americans,” Democratic party leaders said in their response address.
