Feingold: "I Really Do Disagree" With Reid On FISA

A long-debated provision over whether or not telephone companies would get a free pass for aiding the U.S. government in warrentless surveillance hits the Senate floor today. And it threatens to open up fissures within the Democratic Party.

In an interview with the Huffington Post on Thursday morning, Sen. Russ Feingold, who opposes granting immunity to those companies, expressed disappointment that his party's leader, Sen. Harry Reid, was not doing more to help strike the provision from a newly considered version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

"Of course I have great respect for the Majority Leader," said Feingold. "He is a good friend of mine. But I really do disagree with his way of proceeding."

At issue is the likely passage of a version of FISA that contains retroactive immunity over one that doesn't. Reid has said he supports the former, but legislatively, the path has been paved for the passage of the latter. In addition, there is debate over an amendment offered by Sen. Chris Dodd, to strip immunity from any FISA bill. If that fails -- and it seems likely -- Dodd has threatened to filibuster the whole bill. On Wednesday, Reid was interpreted as saying any such filibuster will be the standing and talking variety as opposed to an agreed-upon 60-vote minimum threshold. Feingold, who supports Dodd's stance, took slight issue with that approach.

"We should have a normal process were this is debated based on a majority vote in the senate," said the Wisconsin Democrat. "That's the way it should have been done and I regret that it's not being done that way. Of course, I support Senator Dodd. He and I were principally involved in making sure this didn't get jammed through before the holidays and I will be supporting him again. But this decision does make it harder."

Speaking on the Senate floor Thursday morning before the debate, Reid addressed these concerns. He noted that he himself supported the Judiciary Committee version of the FISA bill, which would not give telecom companies a free ride from potential lawsuits.

Later in the day, however, that measure was tabled by a vote of 60 to 36. The Majority Leader has previously argued that, in the absence of the Judiciary bill, the Senate would consider the Intelligence Committee version, which grants immunity. Senators who objected to any amendment -- such as the one to be offered by Dodd -- would have to stand and argue for as long as they could.

"Senators Dodd and Feingold will seek to strike the immunity title entirely. I oppose immunity, and will support their amendment," said Reid. "If this amendment is not adopted, there will be other amendments to limit the immunity provisions in the Intelligence bill... As I have said before, if there are senators who don't like these amendments and think they should be subjected to 60-vote thresholds, these senators are going to have to engage in an old-fashioned filibuster."

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By the end of Thursday debate had been postponed to Monday, after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell moved for a vote on cloture on the Intelligence committee version and Reid objected.

Senator Dodd was spared having to filibuster. But if it does resort to that, Feingold said he will do what he can to help strip telecom immunity from any measure.

"I started this fight two years ago when they first announced the illegal program and I've been working on it every day," he said. "And it has been a great help that Chris Dodd made it a part of his presidential campaign and now that he is back to work with me and others... It's a big help. It's very hard to do it alone."

Feingold was also happy to have the support of both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. The two Democratic frontrunners have said they oppose retroactive immunity. But, with the primary season heating up, it is unlikely they will offer anything more than rhetorical assurances.

"I'd love to have them back," said Feingold. "But it is not my job to tell them what to do on their campaigns. My understanding is that both of them have indicated support for what Senator Dodd and I are doing. So that's good. If we see real opportunity for a vote we can win, then yes. I would love to have them back."

Comments

[cae]

I disagree with Sen. Reid's way of proceeding too. Please Sen. Feingold--HELP!!

[Bobby]

As John Lennon once said...Ima­gine. Just imagine what would have happened if Russ Feingold had Harry Reid's job and Dennis Kucinich had Nancy Pelosi's. Think we'd be better off?

[Indyfromny]

I would encourage anyone really interested in the expansion of the FISA bill. To visit this sight.

http://judiciary.senate.gov/documents/FISA%20commrpt%20Jan22%20FINAL.pdf

Heres a clip from it.

The bill also would allow federal law enforcement officers to compel communications service providers, including libraries and other public institutions, to provide information about their customers and users. Based on information from a recent survey of public libraries, CBO estimates that the number of requests and associated costs would likely be small. The bill also would direct the federal government to compensate entities for providing such information.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Oh look!!! It's B Boxer, that beady-eyed two-face traitor in the background. I just cringe when I see that ugly dog snout!

[ystasino]

Harry Reid = Speak like a Democrat, act like a republican

[faith]

Fire Harry Reid. Fire Nancy Pelosi. Replace both these democratic leaders with REAL democratic leaders. You know the type: those who will stand against this power regime how running the government. Those who will say no to unauthorized surveillance and eavesdropping. Those who will tell this administration that it is wrong to torture. Wrong to preemptively strike another nation, wrong to continue no bid contracts worth billions for seven years.etc.­etc.etc.
Fire Harry Reid. Fire Nancy Pelosi.

[mpeachhead]

So, why is Reid effectively tying his party's hands? Why didn't he force the Republicans to use an "old fashioned" filibuster last year when they were blocking votes with procedural filibusters? Is he in league with the Republican leadership?

[wm1066]

Harry Reid is the Barney Fife of the senate.
How he got elected leader is beyond me.
He's got one bullet and he keeps it in his pocket.
Russ on the other hand is a true Democratic Senator. the real deal! Everytime he opens his mouth I find myself saying 'YES!'

[IowaDem]

Time to flood Harry Reid's office with phone calls and emails to get him to pay attention to his oath of office. I'm sick of his backing the republicans all the time instead of sticking up for the American people's constitutional protections.

[PoliticalAnimal]

Harry Reid gives more consideration to Republican senators than to the Senators of his own party. Who is he serving? Bush?

Why did he honor every single god-damned hold placed by every insignificant little Republican Senator, but refused to honor Senator Dodd's hold? From a fellow Democrat?

Reid is Bush's lapdog, and despite his words to the contrary, he has been doing everything in his power to do Bush's bidding.

He should either resign or lead the Democratic Party that put him in power.

[dotmafia]

I know most of you will find this hard to swallow...

But America as you remember it is dead and a thing of the past.

If you truly believe the Democrat leadership is working to uphold and maintain the ideals established in your Constitution -- think again.

The Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same corrupt corporate coin.

America is dead -- Long live the North American Union.
_

[ResistanceisFutile]

What good are these Democrats?

I really believe that the Democratic leaders in the Senate and the Congress have been threatened by Bush/Cheney with death or maybe something worse.

What else would account for their refusal to confront the administration and force an end to the war. They have given the administration every thing that they have wanted.

[lgillooly]

Stop letting these criminals off the hook.DO THE RIGHT THING NOWor the Democratic Party is lost.

[mpeachhead]

I've got a genuine question here, not a political point. Last year, when the Republicans in the Senate were killing Democratic bills left and right, they were able to do so with a filibuster--the idea that if there wasn't a 60 person majority, the thing got tabled.

Now Reid is saying that Dodd and company will have to do an "old fashioned" filibuster to prevent these non-immunity bills from going to the floor. Why the difference, and who makes the rules?

[MikePatronSaintofTruth]

Russ Feingold is the ONLY Democrat I would EVER consider voting for in a presidential election. Although I have voted Democratic my entire life... I'm done with the Democrats. I will be voting Green Party across the board. I just wish I lived in Wisconsin so that I could vote for this truly intelligent and courageous American. Keep the dream of America alive, Russ. Good going!