White House Cut Deal on FISA

This story is getting interesting. So the White House cut a deal with the Senate Intelligence Committee to pass a FISA bill, along with immunity for the telecommunications companies? And they didn't let the Judiciary committee in on the details? Hmmm.

It will be interesting to see if the White House cuts the same deal with the Judiciary, or if they have to come up with a new strategy. I guess it depends on if that whole wire-tapping dealie had scooped up some intel on the Intelligence members, eh?

[Excerpt]

Senators Say White House Cut Deal With Panel on FISA

Senate Judiciary Committee members yesterday angrily accused the White House of allowing the Senate Intelligence Committee to review documents on its warrantless surveillance program in return for agreeing that telecommunications companies should get immunity from lawsuits.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the ranking Republican, said any such agreement would be "unacceptable," signaling that legislation granting immunity to certain telecom carriers could run into trouble. Leahy and Specter demanded that the documents, which were provided only to the Intelligence Committee, be turned over to the Judiciary Committee as well. . .

Read the whole story at: WashingtonPost.com