Blog - FISA Moving Forward

The House is going to vote later today on their updated FISA bill, which does not contain telecom immunity. Despite near-unanimous opposition from House Republicans and the President, it is probably going to pass. But a group of conservative, Blue-Dog Democrats, big enough to swing the vote, still haven’t said where they stand.

McJoan at Daily Kos put together this list — call them if you feel strongly one way or another (they control the vote):

• Rep. Leonard L. Boswell, D-Iowa — Phone: (202) 225-3806, Fax: (202) 225-5608
• Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark. — Phone: (202) 225-4076, Fax: (202) 225-5602
• Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark. — Phone: (202) 225-3772, Fax: (202) 225-1314
• Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. — Phone: (202) 225-2611, Fax: (202) 226-0893
• Rep. Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, D-Ala. — Phone: (202) 225-4801, Fax: (202) 225-4392
• Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Ill. — Phone: (202) 225-3711, Fax: (202) 225-7830
• Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C. — Phone: (202) 225-6401, Fax: (202) 226-6422
• Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga. — Phone: (202) 225-2823, Fax: (202) 225-3377
• Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla. — Phone: (202) 225-5235, Fax: (202) 225-5615
• Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif. — Phone: (202) 225-6161, Fax: (202) 225-8671
• Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla. — Phone: (202) 225-2701, Fax: (202) 225-3038
• Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn. — Phone: (202) 225-4714, Fax: (202) 225-1765
• Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah — Phone: (202) 225-3011, Fax: (202) 225-5638
• Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn. — Phone: (202) 225-4311, Fax: (202) 226-1035
• Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn. — Phone: (202) 225-6831, Fax: (202) 226-5172
• Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind. — Phone: (202) 225-4636, Fax: (202) 225-3284
• Rep. Tim Holden, D-Pa. — Phone: (202) 225-5546, Fax: (202) 226-0996
• Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La. — Phone: (202) 225-4031, Fax: (202) 226-3944
• Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan. — Phone: (202) 225-2865, Fax: (202) 225-2807
• Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa. — Phone: (202) 225-3731, Fax: (202) 225-9594
• Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio — Phone: (202) 225-6265, Fax: (202) 225-3394

Final passage of a FISA bill is still a long way off. If the House bill passes today, it will go back to the Senate once Congress returns from their two-week Easter recess. The Senate will probably attach a telecom immunity provision to it, sending the two versions of the bill to a rocky reconciliation process. Then, of course, there’s President Bush who has said he will only sign a FISA bill that contains immunity.

Talking Points Memo has more on the bill and its prospects moving forward.