TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Senate Expands Spying Powers

ADVERTISEMENT

The New York Times

Published: July 10, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Senate gave final approval on Wednesday to a major expansion of the government's surveillance powers, handing President Bush one more victory in a series of hard-fought clashes with Democrats over national security issues.

The measure, approved by a vote of 69-28, marks the biggest restructuring of federal surveillance law in 30 years. It includes a divisive element that Bush had deemed essential: legal immunity for the phone companies that cooperated in the National Security Agency wiretapping program he approved after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Bush promised to quickly sign the measure into law, saying it was critical to national security.

The measure gives the executive branch broader latitude in eavesdropping on people abroad and at home who it thinks are tied to terrorism, and it reduces the role of a secret intelligence court in overseeing some operations.

Supporters maintained that the plan includes enough safeguards to protect Americans' civil liberties, including reviews by several inspectors general. There is nothing to fear in the bill, said Sen. Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo., who was a lead negotiator, "unless you have al-Qaida on your speed dial."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT