Specter and FISA, something to keep in mind until it is over

[slipslidingaway]

Could this be brought up as an amendment?

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/32984prs20071205.html

ACLU Says Specter Substitution Misses the Mark in FISA Debate

(12/5/2007)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 202-675-2312 or [email protected]

Washington, DC – "The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to thoroughly scrutinize a new bill offered by ranking member Senator Specter (R-PA). Senator Specter’s bill, the FISA Intelligence Surveillance Substitution Act of 2007, would remove the telecommunications companies and insert the federal government as the defendant in cases currently pending over domestic spying. The bill will be marked up by the full Judiciary Committee this Thursday.

The following can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:

"Letting the administration step in as the defendant in these cases may prevent a public airing of the facts. Three daunting hurdles could derail these cases if the administration steps in as the defendant – state secrets, executive privilege and sovereign immunity. Unless something is done to ensure that these defenses cannot be used to shut down these legitimate and crucial lawsuits, substitution is just immunity in sheep’s clothing..."

[peacetalksforall]

1. So can Spector do this? Who's running the show there. Did Mukasey tell

Specotr to do it - or was it Addington? Or the President of the Federalist Society? Or kkkarl

[slipslidingaway]

2. Who suggested this and who gave permission, good questions...

also just wanted to make sure you noticed the date. That being said, it is good to be aware in case they try and add this as an amendment.

:shrug: