Washington – The House approved a bill Thursday that would grant legal status to President Bush’s warrantless-wiretapping program with new restrictions. Republicans called it a test before the election of whether Democrats want to fight or coddle terrorists.
“The Democrats’ irrational opposition to strong national security policies that help keep our nation secure should be of great concern to the American people,” Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement after the bill passed 232-191.
Democrats shot back that the war on terrorism shouldn’t be fought at the expense of civil and human rights.
The bill approved by the House, they argued, gives the president too much power.
“It is ceding the president’s argument that Congress doesn’t matter in this area,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
Colorado’s congressional delegation split along party lines, with the four Republicans voting “yes” and the three Democrats voting “no.”
The bill would give legal status under certain conditions to Bush’s warrantless wiretapping of the calls and e-mails of Americans suspected of having ties to terrorists if it is determined that there is an “imminent threat” to the United States.
The Senate could vote on a similar bill before Congress recesses at the end of the week.
Leaders concede that differences between the versions are so significant they may not be able to reconcile them into a final bill that can be delivered to Bush before the Nov. 7 elections.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Detroit who struck down the warrantless-surveillance program turned aside a government request for an indefinite stay Thursday. U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor gave the government a week to appeal.
