Wiretap Compromise in Works

WIRETAP COMPROMISE IN WORKS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Ellen Nakashima and Paul Kane]
House and Senate Democratic leaders are headed into talks today that they say could lead to a breakthrough on legislation to revamp domestic surveillance powers and grant phone companies some form of immunity for their role in the administration's warrantless wiretapping program after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A senior House Democratic aide said a bill could be sent to President Bush as early as next week. But significant issues remain, including those surrounding immunity, said Wyndee R. Parker, general counsel of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Parker, who said she hopes the House can take up the compromise legislation as early as this week, said a resolution has been delayed partly by the need for all members of the House Judiciary Committee to gain access to the letters and other relevant documents sent to the phone companies by the administration requesting their assistance. House Democratic leaders demanded such access before they would contemplate immunity, and the administration granted full access last week.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/03/AR2008030302814.html
(requires registration)