Russ Feingold Threatens to Filibuster FISA Telecom Immunity Bill

Russ Feingold: the conscience of the Senate. On June 20, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 239-129 in favor of a revision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would grant immunity from prosecution to telecommunications companies involved in the Bush administration’s domestic surveillance program. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed the Republican bill through the House with scant regard for the legal, constitutional, and political ramifications of the wide-ranging legislation, which the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called unconstitutional and outrageous. “In March we thought the House leadership had finally grown a backbone by rejecting the Senate’s FISA bill,” declared Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office. “Now we know they will not stand up... [read full story]