‘Fixing’ FISA...Pelosi and Reid Help Neo-Conservatives Spy on Americans illegally

On top of everything else that’s going on this week, the Senate is practically rushing through an overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), at the president’s behest.

Under pressure from President Bush, Democratic leaders in Congress are scrambling to pass legislation this week to expand the government’s electronic wiretapping powers.

Democratic leaders have expressed a new willingness to work with the White House to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to make it easier for the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on some purely foreign telephone calls and e-mail. Such a step now requires court approval.

The White House has already conceded that it’s blowing off existing law, it won’t disclose to Congress the extent of its legally dubious surveillance efforts, and Congress is ready to hand over more power? Here’s an idea: maybe Bush can start following the law before Congress starts amending it?

For more, the ACLU has put together a very helpful “Myth vs Fact” sheet, and McJoan and Jeralyn both have excellent posts on the subject.