House Dems blasted for inaction on FISA

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush criticized the House Democratic leadership Friday for not taking up legislation to update U.S. intelligence-gathering.

"House leaders blocked a good piece of legislation that would give our intelligence community the tools they need to protect America from a terrorist attack," Bush said after speaking with congressional Republican leaders.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said they would not be bullied into a quick consideration of the Senate measure that would reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before an interim intelligence-gathering measure expires Saturday.

They also said intelligence-gathering would not end because the 30-year-old FISA regulations remain in effect and provisions in the temporary Protect America Act extend one year out.

Bush called upon the House to take up the Senate measure as soon as possible after its week-long Presidents' Day recess, which began Friday.

At issue is whether to include immunity for telecommunications companies that cooperated with the federal government by providing records without warrants. The Senate bill includes the immunity; the House version doesn't.