Telecommunication Company Immunity within FISA Debated on the Senate Floor

Many Senate Democrats are holding firm to their objections to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA   The legislation went to the Senate floor for debate this morning.  The most contentious issue is a Bush Administration-backed push to grant telecommunications companies immunity from lawsuits for participating in the warrantless wiretapping program after 9-11.   Currently there are dozens of civil cases filed.

Majority Leader Harry Reid has told Republicans that if they are interested in keeping Democratic changes to FISA – such as eliminating immunity protections - from going to a simple majority vote, they would have to live up to their threats, and filibuster.  

But not all Democrats are against giving immunity to the telecommunications firms.  West Virginia Democrat Jay Rockefeller spoke out in their defense.

(Rockefeller quote) – they were doing what they were told to do and should be protected.

A version of FISA from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which did not include the immunity clause, was defeated this afternoon.  

(Sound Clip) – announcing vote count

Following the vote, Senator Rockefeller introduced a bi-partisan amendment to FISA that would offer further protections for Americans living outside the United States.   Senator Chris Dodd is expected to introduce amendment that would once again make telecommunications companies legally responsible for sharing private information.   

The US's current surveillance law expires on February 1st, and the Bush Administration is pushing to have its replacement in place before then.   Bush has even, after months of denying requests, granted access to secret document about the warrantless wiretapping program to members of the House in an effort to win support for keeping telecommunications immunity in the bill.