House Democrats yesterday refused to revisit an update of America's domestic wiretapping rules before they expire tomorrow at midnight, causing Republicans to storm out of the chamber in protest. The dispute has led both Democratic and Republican leaders to accuse one another of playing political games with national security.
Republicans said it was a "disgrace" that Democrats decided to call a vote on contempt charges against White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers in the 2006 firings of U.S. attorneys instead of addressing the surveillance measure. "We have space on the calendar today for a politically charged fishing expedition, but no space for a bill that would protect the American people from terrorists who want to kill us," said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).
House Democrats, who control the chamber, said they would rather let the surveillance law lapse without replacement legislation than rush through a bill at the last minute on such an important issue. "Democrats have made it abundantly clear that we are prepared to sit down with the White House and Republicans to work together," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland). "But we will not succumb to divisiveness and fear-mongering."
The House of Representatives passed the contempt measure by a vote of 223-32, setting up a possible legal showdown with President George W. Bush's administration. The White House said the roles of Mr. Bolten and Ms. Miers in the attorney firings are protected under executive privilege. Democrats disagree, saying the conservative Republican president is constitutionally bound to allow the two to testify as part of a congressional inquiry.
My response: Why was this surveillance law bill last-minute, creating a lapse in the first place? Surely politicians knew that it faced expiration. House Democrats are playing with our national security which benefits jihadists, which ain't good at all.
House To Let Surveillance Law Lapse
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They avoided it because they do not want to deal with the constitutional issues inherent in the Bill. The balance of power between the Executive and the Congress is a serious issue. If accepted as written it gives the President great power to designate whom he thinks is a terrorist or who is aiding a terrorist or what the determination of aid is and how it is served by communication with or from abroad. This power together with other provisions of the Patriot Act should be examined and resolved. I'd rather they got it right rather than get it fast. Protect my rights first then do what you have to do.
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