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House Declines To Vote On Telecom Immunity

Posted by Soulskill on from the ain't-over-till-it's-over dept.

freedom_india alerts us to news that the House of Representatives declined to bring the surveillance reform bill to vote, prompting House Republicans to walk out in the middle of a session. The bill, recently passed by the Senate, includes retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies who assisted with illegal domestic wiretaps. The walk-out comes after a proposal was shot down on Wednesday that would have extended the current legislation for another three weeks.

3 of 341 comments (clear)

  1. Re:good by Hellcom · · Score: 0, Troll

    Come on mods, don't be so stingy. Mod him insightful.

  2. Re:Of course, the reality is that you do not know by AKAImBatman · · Score: 0, Troll

    We have absolutely NO idea why they walked out.

    This is true. Which is why it's important for all the facts to be presented so that the reader can make up his own mind.

    You also have NO idea of what the media was told.

    This is untrue. The news program I was listening to had interviews with several of the Republicans who walked out. They explicitly pointed to the issue over contempt of Congress.

    Calling it spin makes you just as guilty of what you are accusing the media of doing.

    And this is just outright wrong. Can the argument be made that the Republicans were actually looking to get the bill passed? Sure. But withholding key information about the event to provide an inescapable conclusion is the worst kind of sensationalist reporting. And to be perfectly honest, I take offense at your accusation that I'm attempting the same thing.

    When you can show that I was intentionally withholding information to make an accusation into an inescapable conclusion, then you may feel free to call me out on it. Otherwise I would ask you to keep your unfounded accusations to yourself.
    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
  3. Re:Bush's comments on the issue by Poppa · · Score: 0, Troll

    You can thank Bush that you don't have to be skeered of no terrorists.

    Political posturing just to further your own power at the expense of our safety is irresponsible. Clinton policies brought us 9/11. Bush policies have prevented a recurrence. But, it wouldn't matter to you; the fact that he is a Republican means he gets blamed whether or not we get attacked.

    The Democrats are so far out of reality to push their scare tactics of Global Warming being worse than Islamofascism.