[Infowarrior] - Sen. Specter Threatens to Block NSA Funds

[Richard Forno]

Sen. Specter Threatens to Block NSA Funds
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/27/AR2006042700
977_pf.html
By LAURIE KELLMAN
The Associated Press
Thursday, April 27, 2006; 2:09 PM

WASHINGTON -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter said
Thursday he is considering legislation to cut off funding for the Bush
administration's secret domestic wiretapping program until he gets
satisfactory answers about it from the White House.

"Institutionally, the presidency is walking all over Congress at the
moment," Specter, R-Pa., told the panel. "If we are to maintain our
institutional prerogative, that may be the only way we can do it."

Specter said he had informed President Bush about his intention and that he
has attracted several potential co-sponsors. He said he's become
increasingly frustrated in trying to elicit information about the program
from senior White House officials at several public hearings.

The amendment amounted to a warning to the White House from a powerful but
frustrated Senate chairman.

"I'm not prepared to vote for it myself," Specter told reporters.

According to a copy of the amendment obtained by The Associated Press, it
would enact a "prohibition on use of funds for domestic electronic
surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes unless Congress is kept fully
and currently informed."

The move got the White House's attention, but not its immediate cooperation.
Bush has insisted that the program falls within his authority and has
staunchly refused to allow administration officials to answer many of
Specter's questions.

"The appropriate members of Congress have been and continue to be informed
with respect to the Terrorist Surveillance Program," said White House
spokeswoman Dana Perino. "The Administration remains confident that a
majority of members of Congress continue to recognize the importance of
protecting Americans through lawful intelligence activities directed at
terrorists."

Specter also agreed with Democrats who say that any of the bills to tighten
guidelines for National Security Agency program and increase congressional
oversight could be flatly ignored by an administration with a long history
of acting alone in security matters.

"It is true that we have no assurance that the president would follow any
statute that we enact," Specter said. He said he's considering adding an
amendment to stop funding of the program to an Iraq war-hurricane relief
bill being debated by the Senate this week and next.

Senior Republican officials said they had not received guidance about the
legislation and could not say when it might come to the Senate floor.

Specter's announcement came a day after the House passed an bill 327-96 to
dramatically increase spending on intelligence programs. In the process,
Republicans blocked an amendment to expand congressional oversight of the
NSA's warrantless surveillance program.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., said
allegations that NSA domestic wiretapping operations are abusive or
unconstitutional are outrageous and that Congress is committed to vigorous
oversight of the program.
© 2006 The Associated Press