Essential Estrogen

Iowans -- especially those who live in the districts represented by Congressmen Steve King, Tom Latham and, yes, even Leonard Boswell -- need to let their voices be heard about retroactive telecom immunity.

The U.S. Senate was unsuccessful in keeping the provision that granted such immunity to the large telecom corporations who were complaisant in Pres. George W. Bush's domestic spying program out of the FISA reauthorization bill. Pressure is now being placed on the U.S. House of Representatives by the White House to pass a similar bill.

Today in the House a bill calling for a 21-day extension of the existing law was considered and subsequently rejected. Although Bush has stated that he would veto any such extension passed by Congress, he has also stated that any lapse in his domestic spying program would threaten national security. The existing law under which the spying is being done is set to expire Feb. 16.

So-called "Blue Dog" Democrats were encouraged today to break ranks with Democratic leadership and reject the extension. Boswell (once again) chose to side against party leadership and vote mostly with Republicans to bury the extension. It failed by a vote of 199 to 229, with 34 Democrats voting against.

Democratic Congressmen Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley both voted in favor of today's extension; however, it is still important that they hear from constituents that do not want the telecom corporations to have retroactive immunity.

The death of the extension leaves the House with few choices. If they do not act, the provision expires. Some legal experts argue the expiration could force any future wiretaps to be handled as they were prior to Bush's domestic spying program. That is, law enforcement could tap for up to 72 hours before it would have to seek a warrant from the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court. (Proceedings carried out in private to ensure security.)

The other House option -- and the option those serving are being pressured to do -- is to pass a bill similar to the Senate, which would not only extend the current program (wiretaps without FISA warrants), but would provide retroactive immunity to telecom corporations. Immunity language would allow the telecommunications companies facing lawsuits to walk -- without the cases ever being heard in a court of law.