The Senate today rejected three amendments that would have withheld immunity from telecomms that participated in the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. AP sums up the votes:
Just under a third of the Senate, including presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, supported an amendment proposed by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., that would have stripped immunity from the bill. It was defeated on a 32-66 vote. Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain did not vote.
Specter proposed an amendment to require a district court judge to assess the legality of warrantless wiretapping before granting immunity. It failed on a 37-61 vote.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., proposed that immunity be delayed until after a yearlong government investigation into warrantless wiretapping is completed. His amendment failed on a vote of 42-56.
When the chamber votes on the overall surveillance bill later today, they are expected to pass it.
Update
The surveillance bill passed, 69-28.
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