SPECTER BILL WOULD GIVE PRESIDENT STRONG WIRETAPPING POWERS

摘要

A new draft of legislation sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chmn. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) would make it easier for the executive branch to conduct electronic surveillance without a warrant, privacy advocates said. The bill would extend the oversight of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court, which would get the ability to authorize domestic surveillance. 揑t抯 shocking that they would move forward with a bill that would entrench such authority in the immediate aftermath of evidence that the President has violated provisions?of the existing law, said ACLU Legislative Counsel Lisa Graves. The Specter bill clarifies that the FISA court has the 揳uthority to review electronic surveillance programs and pass upon their constitutionality.?In effect, Graves said, this allows the executive branch to operate as it chooses. nnThe bill抯 (S-2453) primary intent is to require significant congressional oversight of electronic surveillance programs. Every 180 days the Attorney General would submit a classified form detailing electronic surveillance activities to all congressional intelligence committee members. The report must include operational procedures, the number of communications subjected to the program, the identity, if known, of any U.S. citizen whose communications were intercepted, and a description of the information obtained. The legislation would impose common-sense requirements so appropriate authorities can be kept informed, said PrivacyToday.com editor Rob Douglas. 揟his draft tries to make sense of what has been lacking,?which is meaningful congressional oversight, he said.