Democrats Seem Ready to Extend Wiretap Powers

DEMOCRATS SEEM READY TO EXTEND WIRETAP POWERS
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Eric Lichtblau and Carl Hulse]
Two months after insisting that they would roll back broad eavesdropping powers won by the Bush administration, Democrats in Congress appear ready to make concessions that could extend some crucial powers given to the National Security Agency. Administration officials say they are confident they will win approval of the broadened authority that they secured temporarily in August as Congress rushed toward recess. Some Democratic officials concede that they may not come up with enough votes to stop approval. As the debate over the eavesdropping powers of the National Security Agency begins anew this week, the emerging measures reflect the reality confronting the Democrats. Although willing to oppose the White House on the Iraq war, they remain nervous that they will be called soft on terrorism if they insist on strict curbs on gathering intelligence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/washington/09nsa.html?ref=todayspaper
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