KPCC Election 2008

Senate approves FISA bill, grants immunity to phone companies

The Senate voted Wednesday in favor of a bill restructuring the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The bill will broaden the government's surveillance powers, and also shields phone companies from civil lawsuits for their participation in the Bush administration's domestic wiretapping program.

The bill passed 69 to 28, with 47 Republicans, 21 Democrats, and one independent voting in favor, and 27 Democrats and one independent voting against it. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama voted in favor of it, while Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain didn't vote on the bill. McCain was out on the campaign trail. Obama's former Democratic primary rival Senator Hillary Clinton voted against the bill.

Many activists who have supported Senator Obama are strongly opposed to the bill, particularly its granting of immunity to the phone companies that participated in the Bush administration's program allowing wiretapping without a warrant. Obama had previously expressed his opposition to the phone company immunity, going as far to say he would filibuster any bill that included telecom immunity, but argued that passing other provisions in the bill was more important than to continue working for a different compromise.

What do you think about the FISA bill? Do you think that Senator Obama made the right decision, with regards to policy and/or politically? What sort of legal restrictions on wiretapping should there be? Tell us your thoughts in our comments!

Link: FISA bill vote summary

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• July 9, 2008 3:56 PM
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