Bush Threatens Veto of Unpassed Law

George Bush, via his proxy Attorney General Michael Mukasey, is threatening to veto unpassed terrorist surveillance legislation that does not include retroactive immunity for illegal activity by telecoms. Mukasey claims no one will help them in the future with their unlawful acts if they are going to be held liable for their actions. What's wrong with this picture? Of course the spineless Democrats will cave in to his demands. That's what they do best.

WASHINGTON - President Bush threatened a veto Tuesday in the debate to update terrorist surveillance laws, assailing Democratic plans to deny protection from lawsuits for telecommunications providers that let the government spy on U.S. residents after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The threat came in a 12-page letter to Senate leaders from Attorney General Michael Mukasey and National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell. It was issued as lawmakers prepare to vote on legislation seeking to update a 1978 surveillance law without violating privacy rights.

"If the president is sent a bill that does not provide the U.S. intelligence agencies the tools they need to protect the nation, the president will veto the bill," wrote Mukasey and McConnell.

The letter was sent to Senate leaders and the top Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the letter was premature since there still isn't any legislation yet.

"It's a little early to have a veto threat," he said.

The existing surveillance law will expire Feb. 15. Bush has said he would resist extending it again.

After nearly two months of legislative wrangling, Reid announced the Senate would begin voting on amendments Wednesday. Debate began Tuesday evening.

The administration's veto threat was aimed at amendments that would bar retroactive immunity to phone companies and other telecom providers that have given the government access to e-mails and phone calls linked to people in the United States. Without the retroactive protections, the letter noted, telecom providers might be unwilling to help the government track down terror suspects in the future as they were asked to do in the days following the 2001 attacks.

"Private citizens who respond in good faith to a request for assistance by public officials should not beheld liable for their actions," Mukasey and McConnell wrote.