Reid urges cooperation on FISA improvements

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Wednesday urged his colleagues to work together and create lasting legislation to improve the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

{mosads}“The Democratic Congress will pass legislation to strengthen the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, while also respecting the privacy of law-abiding Americans,” Reid said. “Neither the White House nor congressional Republicans should use this process to create a political wedge issue. We must work in a bipartisan fashion to pass a good bill that will protect Americans and American values.”

Earlier in the day, President Bush had made his case for a lasting legislative fix to FISA, saying it is the job of Congress to give intelligence officials the tools they need to protect the country.

Bush praised lawmakers for passing a law in August that “helped close a critical intelligence gap” but pointed out that it was a short-term solution that expires in a little over four months.

“The threat from al Qaeda is not going to expire in 135 days,” Bush said in urging Congress to make the FISA reforms permanent. “Without these tools our country will be much more vulnerable to attack.”

The president took a swipe at some Democrats who “want to restrict the tools.” Bush argued that such limitations would “reopen gaps in our intelligence that we had just closed.”