The Senate Intelligence Committee has put its foot down.
A Senate panel says it will not consider legislation to expand the executive branch’s surveillance authority until it receives long-withheld presidential orders authorizing the warrantless eavesdropping program.
In the report accompanying the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s fiscal 2008 intelligence authorization bill, the panel wrote, “The administration’s refusal to satisfy these document requests spans over a year and hampers the committee’s ability to move forward on the legislation before it.”
The report said the panel also needs Justice Department opinions on the legality of the program. Before the committee will act on any legislation, it says it must first complete its review of the administration’s proposal and alternatives. President Bush’s orders and department opinions are crucial to that review, the panel says. ... More here...
