The U.S. Senate voted 67-31 against Sen. Russ Feingold's amendment to deny telecom companies retroactive immunity when involved in surveillance of U.S. citizens. Here's what Feingold, D-WI, had to say about the vote:
"The Senate passage of this FISA bill, while not surprising, is extremely disappointing. The Senate missed a golden opportunity to pass a bill that would give our intelligence officials the tools they need to go after suspected terrorists while also safeguarding the privacy of law-abiding Americans.
"Instead the Senate, with the help of too many Democrats, is yet again giving the administration sweeping new powers – and letting it off the hook for its illegal wiretapping program. I hope that our House colleagues will hold a stronger line, and refuse to accept the deeply flawed Senate bill.
"The calls from Americans tired of having their rights and their Constitution trampled on by this administration are only growing louder. Congress should stand up for the American people, and the Constitution, by opposing such a badly flawed bill."
The Washington Post's story is HERE.
Feingold's testimony before the Senate is HERE.
Our earlier story about the defeat of two other Feingold amendments to the FISA bill is HERE.
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