GOP pushes discharge petition to force FISA vote

House Republicans Wednesday began circulating a discharge petition to force a vote on the Senate version of a bill seeking changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

{mosads}GOP leaders hope that enough Democrats will support the effort to get the vote.

“We have no choice but to take this step to force House leaders to bring this bipartisan anti-terror bill to the floor for a vote,” said Rep. Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.), one of the leaders of the effort.

To force a vote on the Senate bill, which passed with bipartisan support earlier this year, 218 lawmakers need to sign on to the discharge petition.

“There is no excuse for the Democratic majority’s refusal to bring this bill to the floor,” said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), adding, “Foreign surveillance is the most important tool our intelligence and law enforcement officials have to protect Americans from future terrorist attacks. House Democrats have spent nearly a year putting liberal interest groups above the needs of our intelligence officials.”