Congress approves sweeping surveillance powers - Timothy B. Lee, ars technica

The House, in a rush to get out of town and fearful of being branded as soft on terrorism, approved legislation on Saturday that gives the Bush administration new authority to engage in warrantless surveillance. The Senate approved the legislation on Friday. The White House began a full-court press for the legislation last week after the secret court charged with reviewing foreign surveillance reportedly limited eavesdropping on communications between two foreign parties that pass through the United States. The White House and House Minority Leader John Boehner charged that Congress would be putting Americans in danger if it didn't pass legislation overruling the decision before the August recess.

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