[UPDATE by Jeff:] House Democrats were unable to whip enough votes to get their way. Today, they were against a simple vote on a Republican proposal to protect America’s intelligence agencies ability to fight Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. That’s it - they were against that and fought desperately today to kill it.
When they failed, they pulled the entire FISA bill.
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[UPDATE by Erick:] House Democrats have fallen into disarray. They are currently holding the FISA legislation from the floor until later in the day, so they can have more time to work their voting numbers. If the vote were held right now, the Republican motion would pass. Dems are working their moderates furiously right now. Just a reminder, the proposal Democrats are working against simply protects the ability of our intelligence agencies to protect America from Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
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On the subject of FISA and terrorist surveillance, Democrats in the House, behind H.R. 3773, are fighting the White House’s Protect America Act on several key points, including oversight, types of intelligence that can be collected, and permanence of surveillance authorization. Claiming to be protecting America against purposely nameless and faceless “terrorists” while “also protecting the Constitution” (Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-MD), the ability of the U.S. government - and, specifically, its intelligence community - to gather information and evidence on terrorist organizations and individuals who are actively working against America and her people is something which must be recognized and safeguarded by all branches of government.
To this end, House Republicans are doing what they can procedurally, and, in an effort to get House Democrats on the record against America’s terrorist enemies, are today filing a Motion to Recommit on a very brief, specific amendment. The amendment simply says:
Nothing in this Act [H.R. 3773] or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to prohibit the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4))) from conducting surveillance needed to prevent Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, or any other foreign terrorist organization designated under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189) from attacking the United States or any United States person.
Very cut-and-dried, and an opportunity for Democrats who have been calling the War on Terror a war simply against Osama bin Laden a chance to go on the record, before America, and reaffirm their commitment to capturing him and to thwarting (and defeating) his terrorist network.
It’s nice to have Republicans in leadership with the cajones to press an issue like this. As Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) put it on his blog, “Later today, on the House floor, lets put all Members of Congress on the record - which do they care more about, pleasing their MoveOn.org liberal base or making sure America is safe and secure?”
What will the Democrats do?