Staff Reports
Get ready to pop the confetti cannons, conservative patriots, because it’s a grand ol’ victory for the Republicans! The power players in the Rules Committee have thrown a wrench in the works for those pesky bills aiming to reauthorize and reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The House Judiciary and Intelligence Committee bills won’t be gracing the voting stage this week, thanks to the Rules Committee wielding its authority like a mighty sword.
Speaker Johnson reverses course again on FISA and pulls both bills https://t.co/hqiv6iGYP9
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 12, 2023
Rep. Thomas Massie, a brave warrior from the great state of Kentucky, spilled the tea to the Washington Examiner that these FISA reauthorization and reform bills are being tabled for the time being. It’s like hitting the pause button on a runaway train — finally, a moment of respite from the chaos.
The original plan was to have both bills face off in a royal rumble-style vote, with the House backing the one that garnered the most cheers. But hold onto your cowboy hats, y’all, because things took a wild turn at a conference meeting. Rep. Warren Davidson, standing tall from the great state of Ohio, gave Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner a piece of his mind, accusing him of throwing around fabrications like confetti at a birthday party. The drama was sizzling, and the “queen of the hill” scenario blew up like a malfunctioning firework.
After the dust settled, the war cries for Speaker Mike Johnson to pick a side and stick to it echoed through the chambers. Rep. Darrell Issa, a wise soul from the golden state of California, urged for patience and diligence in getting these bills right. It’s like making a perfect batch of cookies — no rushing, no shortcuts, just pure dedication to excellence.
Now, with these bills taking a time-out until the next year, committees have a chance to smooth out the wrinkles. As if that’s not enough excitement, the House is set to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, complete with a temporary extension of FISA until April 19, 2024. You can bet your bottom dollar that some members aren’t thrilled about this extension, and they’re not mincing words about it.
Rep. Andy Biggs, a vigilant guardian from the state of Arizona, expressed deep disappointment in settling for a mere four-month extension. He’s all about rolling up those sleeves and hammering out a solution that truly hits the right notes. There’s no time for half-baked compromises in his book!
The heart of the matter lies in the differences between the two bills, particularly the spicy topic of warrant requirements. The Judiciary Committee’s version pushes for all FISA queries involving U.S. citizens to jump through the hoops of probable cause warrants. Meanwhile, the Intelligence Committee’s version sets its sights on the FBI officials and only slaps a warrant requirement on select situations.
Speaker Mike Johnson, the man of the hour (for better or for worse), decided to sit this showdown out and let the two committees duke it out behind closed doors. Boy, did things get heated behind those closed doors! Turner threw down accusations about the Judiciary bill letting unsavory characters walk free, and Davidson lobbed some choice words in Turner’s direction. It was like a bad soap opera, but without the charm.
This rollercoaster ride of indecision from Johnson has folks scratching their heads in bewilderment. First, he hoisted the flag for a short-term extension of the program, then did a dramatic switcheroo, and later announced a clean short-term extension bundled with the NDAA. But just when folks thought they had it all figured out, he veered off-course once more, and both bills were yanked back.
