Washington – Republicans cleared procedural hurdles today in the House and Senate on the way to giving President Bush authority to detain, interrogate and try terrorism detainees before military commissions.
House Republicans succeeded on a vote in blocking any Democratic amendments to the legislation. In the Senate, GOP leaders won an agreement from Democrats to debate the bill for less than a dozen hours and then vote on it.
Four Democrats and Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania are being given opportunities to offer amendments in the Senate, but all were expected to fall with lawmakers eager to adjourn this weekend to devote the next five weeks to campaigning for re-election.
Specter’s amendment would strike a provision in the bill that denies terrorism suspects the right to appeal their detention in court.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urged quick action on the overall detainee legislation.
“Until Congress passes this legislation, terrorists … cannot be tried for war crimes in the United States and the United States risks fighting a blind war without adequate intelligence,” Frist said. “That’s simply unacceptable.”
