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U.S. Senate bows to Bush, approves surveillance bill
Summary from Canada, from articles in English
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Bowing to President Bush's demands, the U.S. Senate approved and sent the White House a bill Wednesday to overhaul bitterly disputed rules on secret government eavesdropping and shield telecommunications companies from lawsuits complaining they helped the U.S. spy on Americans. (article 1)
The 69-28 vote came after a lengthy and heated debate that pitted privacy and civil liberties concerns against the desire to prevent terrorist attacks. (article 1)
It ended almost a year of wrangling in the Democratic-led Congress over surveillance rules and the president's warrantless wiretapping program that was initiated after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. (article 1)
The bill is very much a political compromise, brought about by a deadline: Wiretapping orders authorized last year will begin to expire in August. (article 1)
Without a new bill, the government would go back to old FISA rules, requiring multiple new orders and potential delays to continue those intercepts. (article 1)
Civil rights groups are already preparing lawsuits challenging the bill's constitutionality, and four suits, filed against government officials, will not be dismissed. (article 1)
Numerous lawmakers had spoken out strongly against the no-warrants eavesdropping on Americans, but the Senate voted its approval after rejecting amendments that would have watered down, delayed or stripped away the immunity provision. (article 1)
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Story keywords
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FISA, surveillance, wiretapping, bill, immunity |
Source articles
- U.S. Senate bows to Bush, approves surveillance bill (cbc.ca, 07/10/2008, 881 words)
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blaster@cs.columbia.edu
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