House Judiciary passes RESTORE Act.
House Judiciary passes RESTORE Act.
In 20-14 vote today, the House Judiciary Committee passed the RESTORE Act, which seeks to update the hastily-passed Protect America Act and restore a balance between civil liberties and security. Upon the passage of the bill, Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) said in a statement that the bill gives “the Director of National Intelligence everything he said he needed” while still protecting the “vital rights of Americans“:
Those who oppose this bill are doing so for one reason: they are trying to convince Americans that those of us who support this legislation are somehow less committed to protecting this country from attack. They will pretend this bill doesn’t meet our nation’s security needs, despite the fact that it gives the Director of National Intelligence everything he said he needed.
“Americans are willing to make sacrifices to meet true national security imperatives, but they should not give up their rights unnecessarily, just to allow one political party to score points. This bill–the RESTORE Act–successfully provides the national security tools needed to go after terrorists and protects vital rights of Americans. The bill’s opponents know this but find it more convenient to pretend otherwise.
An amendment offered by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), which would have given immunity to telecoms, was defeated 14-21.
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Go Johnny Go, Go, sorry Forbes, your criminal buddies are going to be exposed.
go ahead chympie, veto it.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:36 pmI love it. Unmask the criminals. Don’t be surprised when they work in the govt.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:37 pmLet the suits of our telecommunication companies begin!
October 10th, 2007 at 3:37 pmTell Bush to go puck himself!
October 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pmImmunity to Telcoms forever & ever, amen.
Bullshit!
Monopolistic practices coupled with campaign contribution ‘kickback favors’ and a willingness to do King George’s bidding is not reason to grant any immunity.
Thank you, Mr. Conyers. And thank you for explaining ahead of time why you and your committee’s vote will be rebuked by repukes and vomited on by Limpballs and Insannity.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:39 pmThank God at least some of our politicians are waking up to the Orwellian nightmare of Imperialist policies!
Bless you Mr Roosevelt.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:41 pmBe sure to drink plenty of liquids today, Mr. President.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:43 pmAll that sweating will lead to dehydration if you’re unmindful.
Can’t wait for the trolls to try to discuss this thread. Exploding heads will be the order of the day!
October 10th, 2007 at 3:46 pmFinally, some actual progress
October 10th, 2007 at 3:49 pmIF, the Telecoms did not violate the law, they have nothing to worry about, right?
That the excuse they give us about illegally wiretapping Americans, right?
October 10th, 2007 at 3:50 pmNo more crisis management!
NO MORE CRISIS MANAGEMENT!!
October 10th, 2007 at 3:52 pmThis is a good first step. Does anyone have any information on how this is expected to fair in the Senate?
October 10th, 2007 at 4:00 pmSo, how many of ya think Congress’ ratings go up a few points because of this? I think so!!! :-D!!!
October 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pmAll that sweating will lead to dehydration if you’re unmindful.
Comment by Nevar — October 10, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Ummm… Nevar? “Sweating” jes’ might not be the only, or even biggest, source of dehydration here… jes’ sayin’, ya know???
October 10th, 2007 at 4:08 pmThis is a good first step. Does anyone have any information on how this is expected to fair in the Senate?
Comment by Chris L
Not sure, but this is a win-win for the Democrats as long as they don’t cave to the Republicans and give them what they want. If the Republicans filibuster it or Bush vetoes it, then the law will expire in 4 months. Then we will be in a position to start prosecuting people for spying on us, assuming the Democrats have the nerve to follow through.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:09 pmNot sure, but this is a win-win for the Democrats as long as they don’t cave to the Republicans and give them what they want.
Comment by bilbobaggins — October 10, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
#
Agreed. While I don’t count on the dems to show some spine and actually make the repubs filibuster it, I am hoping that the repubs will start to see the writing on the wall for the ‘08 election, and think twice before trying to obstruct this one. Maybe they could still be a bit gun-shy on Bush’s reaction to SCHIP? Either way, if they could pass this one, that would be a good next step. Then we just have to pray that it avoids the veto pen. (not likely)
October 10th, 2007 at 4:19 pmThen we just have to pray that it avoids the veto pen. (not likely)
Comment by Chris L — October 10, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
oh, Shrub will veto it, all right. And like the S-CHIP veto, this will make him look bad, to some of us, and hopefully, MORE and MORE of us.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:22 pmYeah – now let’s see what happens when it’s on the floor for all the House to vote. Come on, Rep Jim Gerlach (R-PA 6), we know you will vote “nay” and give your opponent more ammunition to kick your ass out of the House.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:32 pmUnfortunately this bill isn’t much of an improvement. Read what Bruce Fein (a former member of the Regan administration) has to say about the bill:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bruce_Fein_New_Demwiretap_bill_1010.html
It looks to me like the Dems are caving again, but placating the liberals by adding a few things that look like they are actually turning back the damage they did before. In the end, Bush is getting pretty much what he wants.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:49 pmThen we will be in a position to start prosecuting people for spying on us, assuming the Democrats have the nerve to follow through.
Comment by bilbobaggins — October 10, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
That seems to be the biggest hitch in the plan from the historical perspective of the 110th.
October 10th, 2007 at 5:26 pmI think this is emblematic of Democrats – protest that which you have sanctioned, so that you aren’t blamed when things get messy.
Why do Dems even hold elected office? To actually vote for the things you want to protest? I know the answer, you just want to feel like you are part of the big game – how sad.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:07 pmCould someone post a link to the full text of the bill, if it has been released?
Thanks.
October 10th, 2007 at 10:07 pmA summary of the bill is right here on this site.
http://thinkprogress.org/restore-act-summary/
October 11th, 2007 at 1:49 pm