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

[BadChristian]

Kudos to Feingold... But where are the presidential candidates? Did they come back for this important vote, or are they out pressing flesh?
Where is the media on this?

I can't believe these guys swore an oath to protect the Constitution. What a bunch of cowards. They are bobble-head dolls.

[davedave]

if an individual breaks the law, mitigating circumstances might be considered.

if a corporation breaks the law, can we put it in jail? the only way to deter bad behavior by corporations is prosecution.

tough, consistent, fair...

d

[hopeless277]

Showdown? Puuuuulease! More like Showboat! The Dems will cave. Well, it's not really caving when you are both on the same side, right? The Dems will 'enable'. There, that's better. They will enable the Republican Party to turn the United States of America into a facist dictatorship. Complete with secret police and 'neighborhood captians'. Just like in China!!! How fun. I just can't wait until the Blackwater 'employees' start patrolling our streets with MRAPs and automatic weapons. Little tip, if you're in front of a Blackwater vehicle, MOVE OVER!!!! They have authorization to shoot on site anyone who 'impedes' the keeping of the 'peace'.

[darcy]

Harry Reid, step down! You are not working for the people.

[Dap]

There ya go Senator Feingold, that's leadership and a *Great Voice*, thanks Senator Dodd, a true Patriot.

[AnnArky]

It's time to dump Reid & Pelosi. These two-faced politicians are in lockstep with Bush and they represent no one except the right wing of the Democratic Party. When Bush & Co. are brought up on charges, hopefully Reid & Pelosi won't be far behind. It's called "being complicit."

[trippin]

Email to Reid

------

It's a crime.

It's a crime that once again, the Republican in Democrat clothing, the man who plays a dottering old feckless fool on TV but in reality is as sly as a corporatist fox, Majority "Leader" Harry Reid is once again floating a FISA bill granting immunity for the criminal actions of the telephone companies who aided and abetted this criminal administration in the conduct of warrantless wiretapping in clear violation of the Constitution that Senator Reid took a sworn oath to uphold and protect.

Senator, this makes you and all the supporters of this immunity full-fledged co-conspirators in this administration's shredding of the fundamental tenets that once separated America from the Soviet Union and other totalitarian regimes.

...edited to fit

In your increasingly threadbare attempts to keep "impeachment off the table" you overlook over nine hundred documented lies that took us to war in violation of international law...edited to fit...in summary, you write a pass to everyone who has made a mockery of our system of justice, and by insisting that impeachment is off the table in clear violation of your oath of office, you not only enable, you encourage these criminal acts to continue unchecked.

So now we come to this: outright immunity for corporate lawbreakers cum campaign donors. There is no excuse. Quest Communications knew better. Don't suggest that the other corporations' lawyers are of any less caliber. They knew full well they were violating the law.

Suggestions that not granting immunity would hinder future cooperation are ludicrous in their face. If anyone, corporation included, resists a legal court order, they should receive the harshest penalties provided under law. You know that, I know that, we all know that. Stop belittling our intelligence: we're way ahead of you on this, Senator.

This telcom immunity is wholly unacceptable, and will be exacted from Democrats who prematurely fancy themselves as recipients of yet more power to squander in 2008.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.

[EspressoAtNoon]

This should serve as proof that there is no rule of law in this country. The Dems are just as complicit as the Repubs.

[scooperss]

Glad you respect reid Senator, because I sure don't have anything but contempt for him and pelosi.

[Bobby]

Remember this about Russ Feingold...

He was the ONLY Senator to vote aginst the Patriot act.

He voted against the Iraq war resolution.

He wanted to at LEAST censure Bu$h and Cheney, but Reid wanted none of that.

He has been the loudest voice against illegal wiretapping in the Senate, although Chris Dodd has done a fine job recently.

America needs more politicians like Russ, and less like gutless Pelosi and Reid. And of course less of the lemmings like Graham, Lott, Boehner and most of the Rethug rubber stampers.

[speakingtruth2power]

Obama should make a cameo at least if Dodd needs help on his filibuster, that would force Hillary to do the same.

Barack could give US a great lecture from the Senate floor, on the rule of law and how it is demanded by our now almost forgotten Constitution. The soundbites would drive Billary crazy!!!

[EtOH]

We can't lay all of this at Harry's feet. He is putting through the bill as written in a manor that the majority will support. That is the way the Senate works in theory. But we all know that there is more to the inner workings of the Senate than just majority rules. I guess you can admire Reid on the one hand for not resorting to some of the underhanded tactics the Republicans used when they were in the minority. I have to admit I would really like to see some on our part on this bill.

[Moshe]

Harry Reid raised his hand and swore to uphold our Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic.

The Bush Administration knowingly went forward with a plan they know was illegal, caused a fire-storm even withing their own justice department, and the telecoms had lawyers who also told them this was illegal. At the end of the day though, the Bush Administration choose the expansion of power over their obligation to the Constitution, and the telecoms choose currying favor with the Bush Administration over complying with the law.

Now they have been caught, and they want a get out of jail free card. Be certain that every member of Congress that supports this is being well paid for that support, including Harry Reid.

Time to toss the traitors over board, including the current DEM leadership, and hold everyone that has knowingly broken our laws and violated our rights and Constitution fully accountable.

No exceptions. You have failed us and yourself. Goodbye Mr. Reid.

[OhPlease2007]

Do you think Obama and Hillary will deflate their over bloated egos on the campaign trail to go back to the jobs that tax-payers elected them to do, to fight for OUR Constitutional rights?

Congress has a WORSE approval rating than George W. Bush after 'the people' did not get 'the change' they demanded in the '06 election!
But since Obama and Hillary are on the campaign trail more than they are in the senate, who could ever blame the people for giving congress such a dismal approval rating lower than Dubya!

I think Dodd should be the new majority leader in the senate, and that Feingold is increasingly looking like a D.C. insider.

Edwards '08!

[altara]

So it seems that Reid would force Dodd to stage a real filibuster after giving Republicans a free pass to stop legislation with just the threat of a filibuster.

Wr need a new majority leader - Dodd?

homer www.altara.blogspot.com