Senate OKs spy plan that ends suits against phone companies

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

________________________________________
From: lynn [lynn () ecgincc com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 3:55 PM
To: David Farber
Subject: Senate OKs spy plan that ends suits against phone companies

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-senate-surveillance-vote,0,288926.story


Senate OKs spy plan that ends suits against phone companies

By Nicholas Johnston and James Rowley | Bloomberg News
    2:13 PM CDT, July 9, 2008

The Senate gave final congressional approval to legislation that overhauls
U.S. electronic spying and ends lawsuits against telephone companies that
aided government wiretapping of suspected terrorists.

Democratic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois interrupted his presidential
campaign to return to Washington and vote for the measure, which was
passed 69-28. His Republican opponent, Senator John McCain of Arizona,
campaigned today in Pennsylvania and didn't vote.


snip


The measure would end more than 40 lawsuits seeking billions of dollars in
damages from phone companies, including AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp..
They are accused of violating their customers' privacy by cooperating with
the spying without court warrants. The companies could win dismissal of
the cases by showing the government assured them the surveillance was
legal.

The Senate defeated, 32-66, an amendment that would have allowed the
lawsuits. The amendment was supported by Obama, who last year voted
against expanding the wiretapping program for six months.

snip




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