Today in Washington D. C. - Jan 24, 2008

On The Floor: Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today and resumed consideration of S. 2248, the FISA modification bill. The FISA bill is based on the bipartisan bill passed out of the Senate Intelligence Committee. A substitute amendment with the text of the Judiciary Committee’s bill, which does not include immunity for telecom companies that assisted with terror surveillance, is expected to be the first amendment considered.

In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republican Leader John Boehner, and Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson continue to work on a plan for an economic growth package. Details of a deal on the package could come sometime today. On Monday, President Bush will deliver his annual State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress.

From Senate & News Sources: As the Senate moves to the FISA reform bill this morning, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressed his hope that Congress will be able to come together and pass legislation which is critical to protecting Americans. Sen. McConnell said on the floor, “I was encouraged to see that my good friend the Majority Leader believes we can pass a FISA bill with sufficient time to get it signed before it expires. And I was very pleased to see that the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee believes the bipartisan version reported out of his committee last fall will be the one we ultimately pass by Feb.1. This is good news not only because the Intelligence Committee’s version is the best, but with some modification is also the only one the President will sign.”

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) said yesterday he thinks that his committee’s version will prevail and expected that threatened filibusters Democrats such as Sen. Chris Dodd would be defeated. Speaking at The Heritage Foundation yesterday, Vice President Cheney urged Congress to pass a FISA reform bill which takes account of the changes in technology since FISA was originally passed in 1978 and upholds the principle that “that those who assist the government in tracking terrorists should not be punished with lawsuits.”

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